Graceada Park

Great pickle ball experience and it is a very lovely park just a little bit of a pain to drive here with the traffic

Awesome park with a big play structure and lots to do. There is a splash pad and swimming pool, as well as lots of picnic tables and tennis courts. However, there is a serious deviant problem going on. It is frequented by homeless and unsavory individuals. I was there on Thursday and witnessed a prostitute situation go down.

This place remains one of the classier places in Modesto. From hosting concerts in the summertime, to Earth Day, two events throughout the year, this place can serve your needs.Sooner or later, if you grow up in Modesto, you probably will end up on stage at the Mancini bowl, it's like a coming of age . I have many fond memories as a child going with my parents to see a concert or something on the stage there and having a picnic and listening to music. I got to do the same with my children that are now adults, listening to patriotic music with the trucks serving snowcones, and all sorts of wonderful treats. Hopefully this park remains a staple of modesto for generations to come.

Nice place to have lunch under the awning near the tennis courts.However the restroom leave something to be desired, lots of homelsss and developmentally disabled hang out there.

First of all, the play structure is AMAZING. It is extensive, has lots of slides and types of climbing areas (including a mini- rock-wall for the toddlers that is low and slanted and safe) I took my 2.5 year old twins here and they couldn't get enough of it! Visibility is good if you want to sit on one of the benches provided to the parents. There are plenty of places for them to run around and play. And there is even a tree in the middle of the park that is strong and low and good for climbing. Lots of shade as well. Only reason I knocked off a star is because there were homeless people hanging out, one of them went i to a bathroom and started yelling, so I didn't feel comfortable using the bathrooms or letting my kids in there.

It has potential. The park is nice, needs to be updated. The only issue I have is the restrooms have zero doors so no privacy for kids. There was a lady there that was sweet enough to clean it up for my child.

Motown doesn't have a City Park, a la SF's Golden Gate Park, but this is good enough. And boy is it good.When one thinks of Modesto, a few things come to mind. "Water, Wealth, Contentment, Health" is what the city fathers want, says so on the I Street Arch. "Cowtown" is another; "endless tract housing" is another; sadly, "meth" is another. Oh yes, and the Gallos live here. But Graceada Park is located in an unexpected pocket of classic houses from several generations ago, on what was once THE street to live on (Sycamore). You see the park when you speed down Needham, but if you want to experience the park and the neighborhood, just park the car and walk in.It's large. It's peaceful. It's heavily treed. It has a nice playground, tennis courts, and the Mancini Bowl bandshell. It has a lot of open space for throwing the football or frisbee. Or you can lay out a blanket, have a picnic, or just do nuthin'. It feels like the Midwest; not surprising, seeing that Modesto was a magnet for Okies in the 1930s. When you're 1-2 blocks north, the traffic of the big cowtown seems far, far away.And I finally parked the car and walked in; ballet performance at the bandshell. Felt very old-school in a good way, such a gorgeous setting, and it couldn't have been pulled off in any other park in town. It helped that we ate at the A&W Drive-in before coming here; all we needed was to be driving a `53 Cadillac.For those of you into old MGM musicals, here's a fitting ending to this review: If Fred & Cyd were to redo "Dancing In The Dark" in Graceada Park, it would come out almost as magical as it did in "The Band Wagon".

Came here for the Alzheimer's Walk last year and it was nice with all the vendors, colors, and people!We came as a team for work on a Saturday and it was eventful! The park itself has a nice large outdoor auditorium where Senator Jeff Denham came to speak. It's location is close to downtown. Nice and uniquely built homes in the surrounding neighborhood. A great park to have events such as the Alzheimer's Walk but I didn't see any playgrounds or a dog park.

HISTORY: Question: Does anyone remember where the name "Graceada" Park came from? Answer: It was from the names of the of the wives of the two developers of the local homes. It was to honor their wives: Grace and Ada. I LOVE this park-- in the 60's I waded in the park's wading pool-- no longer there.The Mancini Bowl...Had music in evenings, in the 60's--I was age 7...summer evenings. Picnic with mom and dad.In the late 70's I taught swim lessons in the 3 ft. deep pool for, 1/2 hr. lessons, ages 4-6. It was my summer job for 8 years.-Modesto Parks and Rec.--Jean Heckendorf was my boss-- an amazing lady. (how many other people in Modesto Parks and Rec. know her name?)My parents in the 60's brought out their tennis rackets (that needed to be kept in a frame) and played on the courts in Graceada Park-- I took Modesto Parks and Rec tennis lessons in the 70's on these courts. I never could play well. I ate lunch with my my boyfriend's father, Harry Bruggeman, in this park--after I had taught swim lessons. -- An amazing time and many memories. The slides (no longer there)...the swings...the self push carousel (also no longer there)--I guess it is an insurance risk. But I have my memories--as do so many others.

Great Pickleball courts. They have 12 courts and very nice. Central Valley Pickleball Club. Highly recommend.