West Wetlands

Would anyone be surprised to know that Yuma West Wetlands has been named Yuma's Best Park?

Or that it's also been voted Best Picnic Spot in the Recreation category?

"(The Yuma's Best title) speaks highly for the direction the West Wetlands development has been going, and it also speaks for the beautification of the north side of our city," said Dave Nash, city of Yuma spokesman.

"Certainly, the centerpiece of that park is the Stewart Vincent Wolfe Creative Playground, something this community all came together to pitch in and build. It's a first class facility for our children that undoubtedly weighed in on the votes."

The tree-lined Colorado River makes a nice backdrop for picnics by the pond under covered ramadas equipped with barbecue grills, he said.

Access to the river via a boat launch, and "large patches of wide, open land that are very amenable to kite flying, Frisbee throwing and things of that nature" also add to the park's popularity, he said.

"We're making the park better all the time, including the installation of a Pebble Flex surface that withstands heat, provides soft landings off slides … and makes the playground more accessible to those in wheelchairs.

"It's a park for everybody."

West Wetlands is located just past the levee north of 1st Street and 22nd Avenue.

Park hours are from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. For ramada reservations that can be made as much as a year in advance, call 373-5243.