If there’s one thing we Rays love, it’s a good beach. And if there’s one thing Utah lacks, it’s an abundance of beaches. So a couple of years ago when a friend told me about an awesome SANDY beach in Utah, what could I say but, “Yes please!”
Enter the Bartholomew Family Park in Springville, Ut. This awesome city park has a manmade beach area bordering on a 3 acre pond that is great for wading, swimming, paddle boarding, kayaking, floating, or any other bit of splashing summer awesomeness your heart desires.
There are also grassy areas, pavilions, a fishing dock, and a concession stand (with limited hours of availability).
It really is a little piece of heaven in Utah.
The park was originally built as a water storage facility for irrigation. Later, Springville City decided to add some amenities to make it more appealing for residents.
When we first visited the park, it was just a free city park. However, as more and more people started to visit and it became crowded with an increasing number of non-residents, the city started charging a $10/day parking fee to non-residents. Springvile City residents can get a free parking pass (as outlined here), but everyone without a pass will have to ante up.
The payment method is through your phone, or at least it was on our last visit, which can be frustrating with some spotty reception in the area. That is the one and only downside to the park. I’ll gladly pay a fee as a non-resident (although $10 is a little much I think), but they don’t make it easy to do so.
All in all, we think the park is definitely worth the hassle and the drive when we’re itching for some beach time in our landlocked state. The sand is soft, the pond is a great size for exploring, but still being able to keep an eye on everyone, and it’s a perfect way to soak up some vitamin D.
If you’ve been to the park, what did you think of it? Drop us a comment to let us know!
