New:

Aerial photos taken in late March, 2010, show trail erosion on Monkeyface and trail proliferation at the disc golf Hwy. 32 site. Click on a photo to see the full-size (large!) version.

These are among a set of several hundred aerial photos commissioned by FOBP from Chico photographer Bruce King to document existing conditions in the park and provide a basis for future comparisons.

Photo of eroding stream banks in Lower Bidwell Park

The Bidwell Park and Playground Commission and staff are examining solutions to the significant erosion at the swimming hole near Manzanita Avenue.

A recent commission committee report includes a report from a CSU hydrology student with analysis of the problems and possible solutions.

The Birds of Bidwell Park, authored by Roger J. Lederer and illustrated by Carol E. Burr, has been published in spring 2010.

Some park users recognize the flora and fauna—the trees, wildflowers, vines, and shrubs. Fewer people notice the squirrels, deer, raccoons, opossums, lizards, snakes, newts, salamanders, and a variety of fish that inhabit the park's boundaries. Because the birds are active, colorful, and vocal, they are most noticeable, and with some effort by the observer, these birds can be differentiated. To help identify the many different birds you are most likely to see in Bidwell Park, this book attempts to give personalities to the appearance and behavior of each bird.

The Birds of Bidwell Park is available at the Chico Creek Nature Center, Lyon Books, ABC Books and Made in Chico.

In 2009, park staff began implementing an adaptive management policy concerning wet weather use of park trails and recreational areas.

Friends of Bidwell Park supports measures like these that accommodate public access while protecting the park's natural resources.

A copy of the current wet weather policy [pdf] for the park.

Check out the Spring Newsletter. It includes articles covering:

The Chico Creek Nature Center Grand Opening
Ferns in Bidwell Park
Park Wet Weather Policy
State Route 99 Chico Auxiliary Lane Project
Soil Erosion

Added a page showing how Chico has spent Proposition 40 funds [pdf].

Photo of footbridge connecting Annie's Glen to Camellia Way picnic area

The Annie's Glen bike bridge across Big Chico Creek and bike underpass re-connecting the Glen to the rest of Lower Bidwell Park is now open. This project was first discussed at an on-site meeting of FOBP, city staff, and an Annie's Glen neighbor in May 2004.

Added the following item to the FAQ page:

How many miles of roads and trails are there in Bidwell Park?

Length in miles:

Lower Park
- dirt trail
  - major 7.46
  - minor 1.96
- paved road 5.66
- paved trail 2.97
- crushed rock trail 0.52
- Total 18.57
Middle and Upper Park
- dirt trail
  - major 40.18
  - minor 14.73
- paved road 3.03
- gravel road 6.96
- paved trail 2.23
- crushed rock trail 0.32
- Total 67.45
Grand Total 86.02

For these purposes "Major" trails in upper park include those that appear on a published map somewhere, e.g. the Trails Plan in the Bidwell Park Master Management Plan, the Butte County Association of Governments Chico Area Bike Map, etc.; in lower park they are any that are obviously in regular use. "Minor" trails are all the rest, bootlegs and the like. It doesn't include many minor trails which we haven't cataloged, for example the web of trails that has developed at the disc golf site.

Also added a copy of Effects of Goat Browsing on Himalayan Blackberry [pdf], a report by Pheng T. Lee, CSU, Chico Research Foundation, and updated bacteria count information on the Sycamore Pool page.

In 2009, the City of Chico signed a new 25-year lease with the Bidwell Park Golf Club, a non-profit organization that manages the Bidwell Park Golf Course. Here's a map of the leased area.

Friends of Bidwell Park is working on several exciting new projects including a complete plant inventory of Bidwell Park and a series of docent-led park tours. See current projects for details on these and other FOBP projects.

How to contact your City Councilors and Park Commissioners

See our Reasons to Keep Upper Park Wild

FOBP on-site volunteer hours to-date:

9675 hours of work contributed to volunteer projects in the park.

See our Events Calendar for upcoming volunteer opportunities.

Friends of Bidwell Park is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization. All contributions are now tax-deductible!

Please send donations to: Friends of Bidwell Park, PO Box 3036, Chico CA 95927

If you prefer, you can make a tax-deductible contribution to us online through the philanthropic organization JustGive.org by clicking on the button below.

Your help will be sincerely appreciated and go towards our current projects.

photo of park volunteers removing invasive privets

Park volunteers remove invasive privet plants

Friends of Bidwell Park dedicate many hours of volunteer work in support of the objectives of the Park's master management plan.

Bidwell Park Master Management Plan (BPMMP)

The current BPMMP, adopted in June 2008, has many goals and objectives for the park.

O.IP-1. — Control or eliminate undesirable invasive plants that compete with or reduce native vegetation or degrade wildlife habitat.

This BPMMP objective is carried out by the city's volunteer coordinator, Lise Smith-Peters, who organizes numerous volunteer projects. These include restoration of an area north of Caper Acres, ongoing invasives removal projects at One Mile, Cedar Grove, Annie's Glen, and Five Mile, species-focused eradication efforts, and vegetation management projects at picnic sites adopted by volunteers.

FOBP have spent thousands of hours removing privet trees and other invasive species from Bidwell Park, with more than 900 public volunteer work sessions offered to date. Upcoming sessions can be viewed on our calendar.

photo of nature center opening celebration

The Chico Creek Nature Center opened its new interpretive exhibit hall on March 27, 2010. The new exhibits contain information on geology, culture, flora, and fauna. Kristie's Nature Lab will host educational programs for children.