On most afternoons, Pueblo Park is full of activity. Kids play on the playground, people walk their dogs around the paths, and there’s always people playing on the basketball court. The large field, which is always taken care of, the basketball court that’s always full of people from other neighborhoods, the tennis court which is always being used 24/7, and the playground, which has different entertainment sections. All of this is only a few steps away from my house, making it the perfect place to waste time.
When people think about places that are important to them, they usually think of their house, school, or somewhere they have traveled to. For me, it’s Pueblo Park in Santa Venetia. It sits right across the street from my house, and even though it may look like a normal neighborhood park, it has created an everyday routine for me.
I recently moved to Santa Venetia, towards the end of February, but during my time here, I never realized how much time I spent at the park. If I want to spend time outside, the park is there, literally. If I want to play basketball, it’s there. I want to take my dogs on a walk or to play fetch, I don’t have to walk much of a distance to get to my destination.
One of my favorite things to do at the park is to shoot hoops with my younger sibling. Sometimes we’ll be sitting at home with nothing to do, and one of us will ask, “Wanna go outside?” Within a few minutes, something even seconds, we’re walking across the street while dribbling the basketball in our hands.
Most of the time, we’re not even playing a serious game. Actually we never do. But instead we take turns shooting, making fun of each other’s misses, and seeing who can make the craziest shot.
“That didn’t count,” is always mentioned whenever someone throws a lucky shot that somehow goes in.
“Yea it did!” she’ll say while laughing. “You’re just mad you can’t make it in.”
Even though those games are simple, they’re some of my favorite moments. In a world where everyone spends so much time on their phones, it’s nice to have a place where you can hang out and have fun, especially when it’s a loved one. Every minute counts.
The park has also made me have an interest in pickleball. A few weeks ago, I started playing on the tennis court there, and now it’s a favorite activity of mine. What started as something to do when I was bored turned into something I genuinely enjoy.
The field at the park has also created some of my favorite times with my dogs. I have 4 of them. 3 of them being poodle mixes while the fourth one is a Belgian Malinois. All of them are rescues, so I try to give them a good life. And by doing that I take them out everyday.
Whenever they have extra energy, I grab a tennis ball and head to the field. The second they realize where we are going, their excitement is always adorable. Their tails start wagging, and they race and tangle with each other up as they race to the door.
As soon as we reach the grass, I try to throw the ball far. They sprint after it while racing one another. Watching them run freely always puts me in a better mood, it helps me relax and enjoy the moment.
There is always something happening, some days there’s always a group of kids playing in the court also with the swings. Other days there are families having picnics and people walking their dogs. It’s honestly a place that brings people together.
This small neighborhood park has given me a place to play, enjoy time and create one of my favorite moments with the people and pets I care about the most.
Sometimes the places that shape some part of us the most are the ones that we hardly notice at first. For me personally, Pueblo park helps relieve stress. The stress that drains me, and needs to be relieved so I can spend my time more freely.
Whenever I go to new places, or to places that I enjoy. I always sit down and just sit there. I noticed that it was helping and now I do it all the time.
