DISCOVERY TRAIL

Though not native to the state, California’s eighteenth century Franciscan Missionaries were the first to plant palms ornamentally. They were often planted near important buildings. California Indians used the palms as a natural resource; eating the fruit and weaving the fronds into baskets. It was also an excellent source for roofing material. These palms are much older than the normal lifespan of 75-100 years.

This beautiful grassy area is preserved as open space for both human activity and wildlife.

Students play here, families picnic, others come to walk their dog and large groups gather here for a variety of planned activities.

Wildlife to look for in the park include: hawks, owls, blue jays, woodpeckers, crows, red squirrels, gray squirrels, raccoons, possums, jack rabbits and an occasional illusive red fox!

The ‘Together” mural underscores the values and purpose embraced at University Park. This piece of art symbolizes the importance of working in unity to support our planet and every person who lives in it. The many hands show the diversity of all peoples in our community and abroad. The different sizes of the hands tell the story of value in embracing and empowering the tiniest child to the eldest among us. On the University Park campus there are programs to educate children from preschool level, through higher education.

Aspen Hall was built in 1931 and is a representation of Tudor Revival Gothic Style architecture.

Listed as item # 053 in Historical Buildings of the Stockton Center, the building has lovely stained glass

window panels and carved wooden doors.

The Aspen Hall was originally used as a kitchen, bakery and dining facility.

There are six owl boxes scattered throughout University Park. Each owl house can be home to a set of nesting Barn Owls that will rear 5-6 brood of young each year.

Each owl family can hunt and consume 1000 pocket gophers, voles or ground squirrels per year, or over 3000 mice.

The owls help out considerably with the destructive rodent population found on the park like grounds.

The Great Lawn is one of the most gracious areas to be visited in

University Park. The cool, grassy lawn meets the lake with views of the stone bridge, Tower Cottage, Water Tower and beautiful historic and new buildings.

Flowering cherry trees welcome spring each year while the musical fountains help provide a sense of serenity and escape. Large native California Oaks encourage visitors to picnic, stroll and read beneath their shady limbs.

This Water Tower was built circa 1930, is 129 feet tall and 23 feet wide!

Initially, the Tower was used for water storage to pressurize the water system for 53 buildings and landscaping of the 102 acre-site.

This water system was operated separately from city water and used its well.

Today the Water Tower provides back-up water for fire hydrants. It is purely ornamental.

The Cork Oak is a unique tree that bears a bark that can be split then peeled away without injuring the tree.

This agricultural material is then used to make actual corks for wine bottles and other products.

The Cork Oak grows slowly and the first harvestable cork, known as virgin cork, is usually not taken until the tree is more than 25 years old. Each tree can be harvested every 10-12 years.

Look for the following critters hanging around this beautiful resource:

Birds/Fowl: Ducks, Geese, Seagulls, Heron and an occasional Crane.

Reptiles: Bull frogs, Lizards

Invertebrates: Crawdads, Turtles

Fish: Gold fish, Minnow fish, Bass and Carp

Ground dwelling and wild animals come here to drink water.

This man-made lake is a part of a series of lakes constructed by The Grupe Companies in planned communities and developments across the United States. The lake holds 4,540,000 gallons of non-potable water and is approximately 2.8 acres. The lake is 9′ at its deepest point.

The purpose of the Lake is to serve as a stormwater, retention basin for University Park as well as a filter system before the water passes into the City system and then into the Delta.

Lined with a rubber liner the lake loses less water than most other lakes that use a clay liner. The lakes filtration system is similar to a swimming pool but also adds air bubblers and fountains that circulate and clean the water.

In partnership with the International World Peace Rose Garden Organization, this rose garden is created as a place of both beauty and inspiration.

Over 250 rose bushes are spread throughout the garden. Designed like the sun with planets orbiting it, the center of the garden hosts a Peace Plaza.

Seven larger double wide rays and six smaller planets extend from the center. The garden has plaques with inspirational messages of peace from local and distant school children. Here you will find a place for our whole community and visitors to feel welcome in the spirit of Peace.