Noble Oklahoma

Noble has 3 GREAT Places
To Get Out and Stretch Your Legs!

Riley Park is on the very northern edge of town on Highway 77 and almost in Norman. It has almost half a mile of paved hiking trail in excellent shape. The trees along the hiking trail are mostly evergreen. City Fathers have forbidden bicycling, skateboarding, motorbikes and rollerblading activities on the hiking trails. A dozen seats are strewn along the pathway for those who grow faint.

The far side of the trail butts up against the current Santa Fe Railroad bed. This particular segment of the Santa Fe Railroad begins in Arkansas City, Kansas and goes through Noble, on to Purcell and from thence on to Fort Worth. Noble became a town here on 22 April 1889 during the famous land run that founded Oklahoma City, Edmund, Norman and Guthrie. To accommodate wagon traffic a bridge was built so the train could pass over.

The bridge is still there, but back in 1947 the railroad was moved over to take out some of the curves. As you can see the old time workmanship was second to none. By walking through the tunnel (and leaving the park behind) you discover a huge open area to do some rugged cross country walking. I generally go down the power line and come back beside the rail road track.

Inside the park boundaries there are fifteen barbecue sites, thirty five picnic tables, one place to pitch a tent if it isn't raining, and multiple parking spots with ten spots allocated just for the handicapped.

When the first blooms of spring have sprung, Riley park is a marvelous place to walk briskly or slowly along the delightfully convoluted park paths.

Tall trees block out the sun and sprinkle the ground with splotches of shade.

The Walking Trail At Riley Park
Is Loved By Dogs Too!

Children can run for miles and never leave your sight - if you turn quickly enough. There's a merry-go-round and swings to keep the children entertained with their own efforts.

Click on the Flowers for a close up. I've bought a $24.95 book about
flowers in this area, and still can't find the name for these. Any hints would be appreciated.

Off to the right you see what is known locally as "An Elf Tree House."

Riley Park has 19 of them in all. Elves are seldom seen, but they do accept gifts. Put a peanut down close to the door late in the evening; when you come back in the morning that peanut might be gone. That disappearance is considered proof that an elf lives at that particular address. Other gifts can now be given with full confidence that they will definitely be appreciated by the elf.

The most dedicated of elf followers will fashion tiny pieces of furniture for their fairly light friends, usually from toothpicks. The younger generation, however, are not so constrained and don't mind BUYING tiny items for their elfen friends.

And now there is another park on the southern end of town. Turn LEFT just past the last fuel station and go down about half a mile and you'll see it on the right, snug up against the school grounds. It is named the KENNETH L. KING PARK. It's not officially open just yet but it has already in heavy use for months.

The hardware store in town (by the traffic light) currently offers 17 varieties of commercial grade frisbee type spinners. In the park there are elevated containers that correspond to "holes" on a regular golf course. Noble residents will definitely hold an advantage over those unfamiliar with the eccentricities of the golf course.

When it is open for business the bathrooms will be open from 7 in the morning until 10 at night. For the elderly walkers there are flowers, bushes, shrubs, and even trees to look at and study while pretending to stop for a deep breath of air.

One seriously sweet treat for park users are the tall, prolific pecan trees that weren't dozed down to create the park. Fruit is already falling and certain nefarious miscreants that shall remain nameless are carrying the pecans back up into the trees.

Seats and tables -- along with benches -- are conveniently placed throughout the park. My favorite is a hand-stretched rail placed at a convenient height. Straight through the park, running from north to south, is an open area that could gush with rushing waters if our drought ever breaks.

Every kind of bird known to Noble likes to frolic through these patches and dart so close to people that sometimes they must be dodged lest a wandering wing strike a glancing blow.

There is now a splash pad for summer in Noble. Off the main drag, going towards Purcell, turn left just past the last fuel station. Go down about 1/4 mile, to 8th Street.. and turn left again. The water park will be on your right, less than 1/4 mile. At present you will have to arrive ready for fun because the water features are about the only thing there. Local kids really appreciate what we have, but visitors may feel a bit peeved about the lack of facilities.

Noble Parks