Picnic Perfect

This is a good time of year for a trip to Soule Park in Ojai. It’s an idyllic setting for a picnic after a leisurely drive through the Ojai Valley--and the weather hasn’t yet reached the point where the unwary burst into flames.

To reach the park, take California 33 off the Ventura Freeway and drive the 14 miles to Ojai, past Foster Park, Casitas Springs, Oak View and Mira Monte, all the mini-metropolises of the Ojai Valley.

Upon reaching the Y--the decision point between California 33 and California 150--turn right on 150 and cruise the main drag, Ojai Avenue, through town.

Soule Park is just outside downtown Ojai, adjacent to the Soule Park Golf Course and San Antonio Creek. Take a right on Boardman Road, which is lined with large pines and healthy orange orchards, and then it’s less than a mile to the park.

Visitors are greeted by a parking machine that takes your money. It costs a buck to enter Soule Park on weekdays, $ on weekends, and the machine that takes your money actually works, unlike its saltwater-damaged brother at Surfers Point in Ventura. Not only is honesty the best policy--it’s smart, too. Not paying could cost you a $30 fine.

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Zaidee Soule donated 192 acres for a golf course and a park in 1958, which, added to existing county-owned land, allowed for the present 223-acre Soule Park and the adjacent 183-acre golf course to be built.

The park is a sea of grass and large shade trees, including lots of pines, oaks and sycamores planted in the early ‘60s--a necessity when summer comes to Ojai.

According to Pam Gallo of the Ventura County Parks Department, “Soule Park is probably our most popular park, and we consider it the jewel of the system. It has the largest contiguous green grass area of any park.”

In addition to the sea of grass--great for playing Frisbee or just lounging--is a baseball diamond near the entrance. There are also two tennis courts, bunches of picnic tables, several barbecue pits large and small, and even a few large covered eating areas for groups. In fact, Soule Park is a perfect site for the company picnic.

There are perhaps more horse owners in the Ojai Valley than in any other area in the county, and the horse arena at one end of the park is used a least twice a month for shows. The first Sunday is the Equestrian Trails Inc. horse show; the Ventura County Saddle Club has the third Sunday.

The park is bordered by the golf course on the east, a heavily wooded mountain on the south and San Antonio Creek on the north. The creek is a raging river at times, but it’s dry right now.

Soule Park is also the destination of choice for schoolkids from all over the Ojai Valley.

In fact, during an otherwise quiet weekday at the park, several vehicles suddenly pulled into one of the many parking lots, discharging a sea of screaming preschoolers who attacked the rocket- and satellite-shaped monkey bars with fervor.

“They’re studying space in school, and since this place has a space theme, we thought we’d bring the kids here to spend their recess,” said one of the drivers, Janice Tate of Ojai.

For a family outing, the best plan is just to show up, as the smaller picnic areas are on a first-come, first-served basis and cannot be reserved.

The larger areas--the ones suited for company picnics--cost up to $200 and must be reserved three weeks in advance.

The baseball field is generally available and costs $10 per hour, with a three-hour minimum. Expect to be on hold for a while when calling to make a reservation, since the local weather outlook is rapidly nearing perfection.

DETAILS

Soule Park, 1301 Soule Park Drive, Ojai, open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. No camping. COST: $1 per vehicle, $3 weekends. CALL: 654-3951 for reservations.