Howarth Park, Santa Rosa

Howarth Park is a super fun place to be during the summer and on weekends when the carousel, petting zoo, pony rides, train rides, and ice cream shop are in full gear. The mini-train takes you over Howarth Lake and a 100-year-old bridge.

Year-round, your kids will enjoy the playground with the space net, a huge netted climbing structure, that they can jump and sway on. There's a wonderful new playground in pale grey, red, and blue with slides, curvy monkey bars, and little stations where kids can move beads and make designs of their own. There are pretend cows and saddles to ride, a pretend pig to give water to, teepee huts, an extensive kid-sized Old-West town complete with jail cell and sleeping guard, and there's a toddler playground. There are lots of beautiful trees, shade, and grass, which makes for a lovely environment. A wooded trail around a deep blue lake is filled with happy folk walking their dogs and kids come to look at the ducks. You can hike or bike ride on the bike path here. Some hikes go all the way from Lake Ralphine to Spring Lake and Annadel Park. You can rent paddleboats, kayaks, SUPs, sailboats, rowboats, and canoes on Lake Ralphine at Howarth Park on weekends and in the summer.
Just a short walk from the playground in the opposite direction of the carousel are a rock-climbing wall, swings, and two finger parks which are little towns that you can drive your miniature Hot Wheels cars or Tech Deck skateboards over with your fingers.
My son has a blast every time we visit this playground! He rides a pony, grabs a snow cone to cool off, and then jumps to his heart's content on the space net while girls scream in fear below!
If you're hungry, grab a picnic at the good deli at Whole Foods Market at 1181 Yulupa Avenue, on the block between the main streets of Hoen and Sonoma (from the park, turn left on Summerfield, right on Sonoma, left on Yulupa).
To visit some lovely gardens, head along Sonoma Avenue from Howarth Park to Luther Burbank Gardens, which are small and easy to visit, and fun for kids. Also nearby is 4th Street and Downtown Santa Rosa, with its nice sidewalk cafes and coffee shops, and a large mall at the west end of 4th St.

Directions

Howarth Park is located at 630 Summerfield Rd, Santa Rosa CA 95405. Parking is free. Exit Highway 101 at Hwy 12 and follow signs to Sonoma. You will come to a choice: left lanes will go to Napa, middle lane to Farmers Lane, and right lane somewhere else. Take the middle lane. You will be going along Hoen Street. Turn left on Summerfield, which is just past Yulupa Ave. Follow Summerfield past Sonoma Ave and the park will be on your right. There is plenty of parking in the parking lot or along the road.
Carousel, petting zoo, or train $3
Pony rides $6
Boat rentals $12 per hour.
The petting zoo/animal barn is open in summer only.
Carousel, pony rides, and train rides are open every day from 11-5 in summer and during spring break, and on weekends in spring and fall.

Click on map for interactive view