Christopher Columbus Park

This is my favorite park in Tucson besides Reid Park.
First of all, it is a huge park. It comprises two little lakes, a dog park, a very large green area, and equally big sandy walking areas.
The grass is so green and pretty and soft. I love walking my dog on the grassy area. The grass area is so big that you can just walk in circles and it will still not be too repetitive. Walking alongside the lakes is also nice. The ground there is sandy but it is still very pretty. There are many trees all over the park, which adds to the beauty of the park and also provides shade when you need to take a break. There are trash cans and drinking fountains all over as well and everything is very clean and well-​maintained.
The dog park is great as well. It is divided into a small park (for small dogs, I suppose) and a bigger park. The small park is just dirt but the bigger park has a grassy area. There are benches and some trees for shade. There is a water hose and a tub, so you can clean your dog if the dog got dirty, which I find super convenient! Also, some people left toys there, so you don’t even need to bring your own toys. You can just play with the ones that are already there.
The crowd that comes here is mostly people fishing in the lake and people walking their dogs. A lot of the dog walkers are people volunteering at the dog shelter that is close by. They take the shelter dogs for a walk. So be prepared to meet many dogs when you come here. However, the shelter dogs seem to actually be some of the more well-​behaved dogs. In general, there is never any problem. Everyone just peacefully walks their dogs. In addition to fishers and dog walkers, there are sometimes people flying their model airplanes or playing with their model motorboats. The motorboats are very loud, so that can be a little annoying. Speaking of noises, sometimes you can hear the dogs from the shelter nearby barking. I personally don’t mind and my dog just ignores it but if that is something that bothers you, this park might not be ideal for you.
All in all, this is a really great park. I love coming here.

Top 4 reasons to avoid this park;
1.Rusty playground equipment that is falling apart and therefore dangerous.
2. A murder during daylight hours occurred at this park.
3. It’s known for being a late night rendezvous (men hooking up in the bathroom and bushes)
4. A disgusting lake that screams health hazard.
Please avoid this depressing park…

Really pretty park in the middle of the desert!
Was here for a Unofficial Unilocal Event. The lake provided a beautiful scene. Lots of space to play. You can bring a boat or a kayak to get onto the lake or go fishing alongside. You can bring your dog and let them run & roam around and play. And the kids will love feeding the ducks & all the room to run and play too! Nice place to hang out, have some fun & have a picnic.
BTW, If you’re wanting to have a party in one of the ramadas or pavilions, it’s easy to reserve a spot. It only costs $ 25 for the whole day! (Go online & look up Tucson Parks & Rec. for more details)

In addition to all its other features (including the most unnaturally aquamarine «lake» I’ve ever seen in my life), Christopher Columbus Park has a great dog park. I visit it second most after Reid Park’s Miko’s Corner, even though it’s a bit farther from me.
Although it’s almost all dirt, the large dog section has several picnic tables (two under a ramada and one under a giant pine tree), a basic dog obstacle course, a rope that dangles from the pine tree, and several pools of water that serve as drinking bowls.
The large dog section also has a hose, which is good, because Maggie likes to curl up in the bowls of water. After that, she rolls in the dirt and sometimes jumps on people. Sorry! We have a routine when we leave, during which Maggie gets a hose bath. Two birds, one stone!
VERY importantly, most people are nice, and I’ve never seen an aggressive dog here, unlike at Reid Park and the dog park on Sixth. There is, however, an aggressive man who brings his two standard poodles. He kicked my dog once when she jumped on his picnic table, and he screamed at a lady another time. If you see him, leave or at least watch him closely. As I told him, he’s a mean, mean man, and he needs to expect to get dirty at the DOG PARK.
One thing that gets my goat is that it’s so close to the animal shelter. You can hear the dogs crying, and there are so many that the county has had to build outdoor tents to house them all. Once, when they were making a cacophony, Maggie stopped to look that way, listen, and sniff the air. I don’t want to know what she was smelling.
Other than that, good stuff.

Okay dog park off of the I-​10 with bathrooms. Not amazing, but it gets the job done.

Nothing like a man made lake in the desert. The color is way off… but it does attract the birds-​esp. herons. Great place to nerd out and get your birding on. It is also a stocked lake, and the fishermen are super friendly. There is another lake for miniature RC boats. And it has a small and large dog park. Good way to spend a day!

Having recently moved from the west side of town, I can now look back and say that one of the best parts of the west side of Tucson is certainly Columbus Park. The amenities at this park are far above and beyond most. Here’s a little glimpse:
1. An awesome dog park with water, shade, toys and a special area for small dogs. My dog is in LOVE with this area!
2. Occasionally you’ll notice loads of motor homes parked for days at a time. This would be the RC junkies that run competitions here at the park. Why you ask? They have an RC race track, a large area and runway for RC planes as well as a large lake (by Tucson standards) for RC boats. It’s an RC haven for sure! We see planes flying on a regular basis. A lot of fun to take the kids down there to watch.
3. In the aforementioned, the lake is a popular destination and the biggest draw to the park. Many enjoy feeding ducks, boating or fishing. I believe they stock the lake 3 or 4 times a year. Good luck trying to figure out what the secret bait is that will actually get you a fish! Oh… and make sure you have your license. Fish and Game are on site and check regularly to see if you’re legal.
4. Great playground and covered picnic areas for parties and family time.
5. A trail around the lake area that, by my estimation, is about a mile altogether. Great views and very serene for your walking or running.
6. Since the river trail was improved along the Santa Cruz, the bike/​walk trail now runs alongside Columbus park so you can go for a really nice walk on the much improved trail.
Overall, this park has pretty much everything you need, minus the ball fields that you may be looking for. There is a baseball field that is supposedly part of the park at Ruthrauff and Silverbell, but you have to leave Columbus to get there. Eventually the park will be built up and the two will connect. If you haven’t yet taken advantage of Columbus and it’s amenities, you may want to choose it for your next party. You’ll fall in LOVE with it just like my family did!
On a side note: the only reason I didn’t give it a 5 is because there is really no grass area to sit and enjoy. It’s all dirt or sand, so bring your chairs!

Christopher Columbus Park is one of the best parts of the 85 745 west Tucson zip code. For crying out loud, there is a lake in the middle of the park! How awesome is that? Now, I can’t compare it to Kiwanis Park in Tempe or anything; there is not a lot of grass here. But look north and you can see the mountains — how awesome is that? There is plenty of shade, picnic areas, palm trees, and a dog park. Love it! North of Pima Animal Control on Silverbell.