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| - This is a very unique, yet excellent example of a "yuppie nature" park. If you've read my other reviews, "yuppie nature" parks are those where there are manicured and groomed "wildlife" areas that feature broad, smooth, largely flat trails that can easily be traversed by the elderly, children, or just about any would be "hiker" that wants to go for an adventure. All of the plants and animals are maintained by park rangers who eliminate anything that does not fit with the motif of the park.
Don't get me wrong, these places are usually extremely cool and beautiful. The Riparian Preserve in Gilbert is no exception. It has many excellent examples of local desert flora and fauna, as well as several man-made ponds designed to attract migrating waterfowl and other more permanent resident birds.
There is a drought right now, so most of the ponds are dried out, but there are still a few out there which have many different interesting species of birds, including wood ducks, regular mallard ducks, white herons, hummingbirds, and other creatures which can be identified by the signs that are posted all around the different ponds. There are also many helpful signs in front of different trees, bushes, and flowers so you know what you are looking at.
There are also play areas for children, including a few "dinosaur footprint" areas where little kids can have a great time discovering real dinosaur footprints in the cement. There is also a small planetarium where you can view things at night, and learn about planets during the day. The local library is also a beautiful and fairly new structure with many excellent offerings for anyone with the time to investigate.
If you are in the area and looking for something unique to do outdoors and the weather is right, be sure to visit this place. It is really special and worth your time.
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