Riverside Park — Attraction in Grants Pass

The first time I visited this park it was OK I had my 62 year old mother with me and the very last time I went to the park we had more then one individuals fallow us around in the park stalking both my mom and I so I made the mistake of having to use the bathroom in this park that when all hell broke lose almost got robed of a 108.00 dallors in my wallet had an individual walk right up behind me at the last minute and I turned on him with the quickness good thing I was packing a good old knife on me almost had to pull it on him but luckily I did not have to do that to the guy left the park real fast with my mom had 4 guys on all different kinds of bmx bike pop up out of know where and stood my ground with my mom! The homeless problem in getting out of control all over grants pass oregon Vist at your own risk and be aware of your surroundings at all times listen to your inner voice! Just to let you all know I'm from the reno and sparks area where it's not so nice so I would know what I'm talking about! Sorry if anyone takes this the wrong way but please please be safe to all the people of grants pass oregon! Thought I left all the crime and drugs and bs behind in nevada but guess not! Ps. Is it just me or do grants pass police department just don't care I see alot of bad things going on in grants pass the sad part is it should not be like this at all in a small little town with less than 50 thousand people. I no longer Cary a wallet with me or wear my gold jewelry at all all I have on me is my I'd card and peper spray for self defense more and more homeless people are becoming unreasonable with wanting what you have including money. All we do now is pickup what we need and go straight home. Grants pass has not always been like this I know what's going on anymore more guess drugs and alcohol are worth more to some people cant belive we have people fighting over what ever they can get there hands on. Also I have seen more then one hypodermic needles laying around in the park real disgusting...

I've been going to this park for 12 years now and I really enjoy being here even as an adult because there is SO much more than just a play structure. Nice lush grass, picnic tables, a couple covered gazebos, parking and baseball field right next to a great spot on the river. Play ball with friends, fetch with your canine, have a picnic, relax and read along the river or just sit and think. I get a DB cinnamon spice tea in fall and find a nice log touching the water to sit on and just watch the water. KIDS: of course, kids love the new play structure and after going today it looks like they are almost finished with the new water park addition too (water squirts out of the ground and the kids run through type of water park). BEWARE: there are extremely questionable characters in the park at most hours. A woman was recently sitting next to this park asking little ones to come with her and that she was a family member (when she was absolutely not) so keep a very close eye on your kids. GEESE: there are a lot of geese here that will beg for food. Please do not feed them bread. It will actually cause a condition called "angel wing" in young geese that eat it often where the wing bones grow outward making it impossible for them to fly. Do research on things they would normally eat and bring that instead :) BATHROOMS: they do have bathrooms. Whether they are cleanish or not depends on your luck that day. BOATS: there is a boat ramp but watch how far you back up carefully because it usually barely if at all goes low enough to be in the water and then there is an abrupt 2 foot drop. Getting a truck out of that situation would be very difficult. Happy lounging. P.S. sometimes BINGO is hosted in the big gazebo! This is also the location for the famous Boatnik(sp?)...

It is so disturbing to see our once beautiful city park in its current state. Having grown up here, I have wonderful memories of softball games, picnics, cheerleading practices, social gatherings, GP Museum of Art events, dance lessons and scout meetings at the historical Izaak Walton building, children's playtime at the playground, swimming and boating and, of course, community events such as our beloved Boatnik - all at Riverside Park. Now, we barely can find an area to stop in our car to eat a quick lunch, having to compete with the many permanent vehicles seemingly staking out their territories with furniture, appliances and trash piled up outside and the extensive number of tents set up throughout the park. Again, garbage everywhere. As I was disposing our lunch wrappers in the overflowing garbage can as we left, I almost was cut by a discarded used syringe. The condition of our local recreation treasure disgusts and saddens me. It is a city retreat designed and equipped for relaxation and recreation, not residency. I fully understand the current court mandate that has resulted in this tragedy but place full responsibility on City leadership for failing miserably in solving this problem. How is it that other communities have been able to manage similar issues with...