Community Park
Location: 480 St. Mary's Road -- 1,500 feet south of the Lafayette Community Center
The 68-acre site of Lafayette Community Park contains a diverse array of topography, wildlife and recreation opportunities. The south-end has two sports fields that are used for baseball in the Spring and soccer in the Fall. There is a group picnic area that can be reserved and several single picnic tables. A Tot Playground with an adjoining lawn is near the picnic area and fields. A footbridge leads people from the parking lot, located at 480 Saint Mary’s Road, to the fields, picnic area and public restrooms. A natural trail meanders through the entire park. Click here for a park trail map.
Bordered by Las Trampas Creek and Saint Mary's Road is a Pétanque site (French version of bocce) and picnic tables. Access is provided by a pathway from the Lafayette Community Park’s south-end parking lot. Local Pétanque players successfully assisted the Parks, Trails & Recreation Department with the construction of the courts and provide ongoing maintenance, lessons and tournaments. Click for more information about the Lamorinda Pétanque Club.
Las Trampas Creek has formed a narrow meandering strip with steep-sided banks along the western edge of the park and Grizzly Creek runs along the northern edge. Zones of dense riparian vegetation accompany the creeks. Flatlands along Las Trampas Creek were originally floodplains, and prior to the 1960’s were used for growing walnuts and pears. Remnants of these orchards still remain. The rolling lands form the highest ground and comprise the majority of the overall site. They support a variety of vegetative communities, including a well-developed oak woodland, open grassland and two eucalyptus groves. Wildlife and vegetation include:
trees | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Box Elder |
Madrone |
Valley Oak | ||
California Buckeye |
Black Walnut |
Mulberry |
||
White Alder | Coast Live Oak | Arroyo Willow | ||
California Bay |
shrubs | ||
---|---|---|
Coyote Brush | Toyon | Canyon Gooseberry |
Ninebark |
Coffeeberry | Wild Rose |
Blush Lupine | Honeysuckle | California Blackberry |
Hazelnut | Tefoil | Snowberry |
Poison Oak |
birds | ||
---|---|---|
Red Tail Hawks | Stellar Jays | Woodpeckers |
Great Horned Owls | Rufus Sided Towhees | Mocking Birds |
Cooper's Hawks | Brown Towhees | Black Headed Grossbeaks |
Sparrow Hawks | Turkey Vultures | Quail |
California Jays | Sparrows | Red Shafted Flicker |
Ravens | Western Bluebirds | Titmouse |
White Breasted Nuthatch | Audubon Warbler | Ruby Crown Kinglet |
Robin | Chickadee |
reptiles | ||
---|---|---|
Blue Bellied Lizards | Gopher Snakes | Garter Snakes |
Northern Alligator Lizards | Ringed Neck Snakes | Green Racer Snakes |
mammals | ||
---|---|---|
Deer | Opposum | Rats |
Raccoons |
Fox |
Moles |
Red Squirrels |
Skunks |
Gophers |
Mountain Lion |
Mice |
Shrews |
amphibians | ||
---|---|---|
California Newts | California Tree Frogs |
Click Here for a printable version of this chart