Parks & Pool

Proctor Park
Proctor Park, located on Highway 87 South, is the largest of California’s parks. It is a peaceful community park surrounding a small lake. You can enjoy fishing, walking trails, nature study, picnicking, lighted tennis courts, sand volleyball, public exercise equipment, and playground equipment in four separate locations. Public restrooms and four different shelter houses are also available. Call 573-796-2968 to reserve a shelter house.

Railroad Park
Railroad Park is located where the old railroad depot once stood immediately north of present day City Hall. It provides an open-air shelter with bench seating and is decorated with period lighting, and native flowers and bushes.

Smith-Burke Park
Located on the site of a Union Pacific Railroad Hotel, the original structure was a three story dwelling built over 100 years ago in the heart of California. After many years of service, the Hotel deteriorated so much that it was unfortunately beyond restoration. California Progress, Inc. purchased the building, razed the structure, and designed, financed, and constructed a new park in its place. Smith-Burke Park is now a beautifully landscaped area with terraced plantings of colorful bushes and flowers, a water sprinkling system, a small gazebo, picnic tables, aggregate sidewalks, period lighting, and benches which offer a pleasing place to sit and take in the view. The small park covers less than a city block along the north side of Versailles Avenue next door to the Wood Place Library and west of the City Hall building.

City Park
California’s oldest park was recently improved to include two full basketball courts, a tennis court, covered picnic table area, several park benches and a small playground. It lies along the north side of Highway 50 one block east of the junction of Highways 50 and 87.

City Pool
The California City Pool is located on West Stella Street just northwest of the California Elementary School and offers a 25 meter indoor pool with lane lines in addition to a outdoor splash deck for small children. The California City Pool is also home to the California Stingrays Swim Team, a youth swim club open to any youth (up to age 18). Hours: Summer Hours (Memorial Day – day before school starts): Daily 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. Winter Hours (starts when school is back in session): Saturday & Sunday 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The cost to swim is $1.00 per person. Swimming Lessons: During the summer months, the City of California Parks and Recreation offers Red Cross swimming lessons for children ages 3-13 (Preschool-8th grade), along with adaptive swimming lessons for children with special needs. Private Lessons, Group Lessons (no more than 5 per group) and Parent-Child Lessons (no more than 4 per group) are available year round. California Elementary School also includes swimming as part of their physical education curriculum. Private Parties: Private parties are also available. Call the pool to reserve a time slot. Phone: (573) 796-2500.