Folsom City Lions Park

Folsom City Lions Park (FCLP) is a terrific ±40-​acre park that’s situated close-​by the infamous Folsom Prison and the American River – in fact, there’s even a trail that takes you alongside the west end of the prison itself! I originally arrived here to check out the Zoo and the Train, but was pleasantly surprised at what I stumbled upon. There is so much to see and do here at FCLP that I may have missed some of it. Here is a (hopefully) thorough list:
–There is plenty of street parking available, if you can find it. Otherwise, there are two free parking lots: the primary one by the library and zoo, and there’s an overflow lot also available by Rodeo Park at the end of Stafford St.
–Restrooms
–Picnic Tables w/​BBQ Pits
–Folsom City Library
–City Hall
–Playground and Tot Lot
–Lighted Baseball Field
–Community Center
–The (aforementioned) American River Trail access that can take you by the prison.
–Gazebo & war memorial statues
–Folsom Zoo Sanctuary (
)
–Folsom Valley Railway (
)
–Well-​maintained grassy fields
I can honestly say that FCLP is the best City-​run park that I’ve ever been to – granted, I don’t get out much, but whatever… In a city that’s known more for their prison and Johnny Cash, I’m discovering there’s more to this place than meets the eye. «Far from Folsom prison, that’s where I want to stay; And I’d let that lonesome whistle blow my blues away…» –Johnny Cash, «Folsom Prison Blues

Great park to take the kids. Has a Zoo, kids train, library, play structure and is walking distance from the river. You might even see a hobo or two.

Although the signs say Folsom City Park, the technical name for this place (according to the city website) is Folsom Lake Lions Park. I guess this explains the giant lion statues at the entrance.
The park is located sort of behind the parking lot and baseball field that are behind the library and the zoo. You can’t see it from the street, but it is a really decent sized park, with plenty of room for small children to ride bicycles and scooters. The picnic area tends to be crowded with shady characters, and the bathrooms are generally atrocious, but a couple hundred feet behind that are two decent sized playgrounds.
The small playground is mainly meant for children under three, but it is also wheelchair accessible, and is a Play for All zone. The larger playground is where the older children usually play. It has several slides, a bridge, a rock wall, a balance beam, and more.
Peacocks and roosters from the zoo often roam around the park, and there is also a butterfly feeding zone, although I’ve personally never seen any butterflies there.
Between the restrooms and smaller park, there are trails that eventually lead down to the river or to the Truss Bridge, depending which way you go. (You can also accidentally end up on prison property after a while if you’re off the trails.)
Overall, this is the best playground that I know of on this side of Folsom.