Bol Park

13.8 acre park in the Barron Park neighborhood. Long, narrow lower meadow is bordered by Matadero Creek on one side and a paved path on the other. Redwoods and oaks provide perimeter shade. At the corner of Matadero and Laguna, a Native Plant Garden is a work in progress. Upper meadow remains undeveloped as per neighbors’ wishes.

History

In the 1930s, Stanford physicist and Dutch immigrant Cornelis Bol bought a donkey pasture in Barron Park. Bol was the inventor of the high-intensity mercury vapor lamp and, along with his wife, the operator of the Barron Park Water Company for 11 years. Decades later, his heirs sold 4.75 acres of family property to the Barron Park residents for half the market value at $65,000. Bol Park officially opened to the public in April 1974.

Barron Park Donkeys

Just next to Bol Park lies the Barron Park donkey pasture, home to beloved equine residents Buddy and April. The pasture has housed generations of donkeys since 1934, when the Bol family first owned the land, and remains a cherished neighborhood landmark.

Perry, the pasture’s longtime resident and the real-life inspiration for the character Donkey in the 2001 film Shrek, passed away peacefully on January 2, 2025, at the age of 30. Perry was deeply loved by the community and visitors from around the world, and his legacy continues to be an important part of the pasture’s story.

Film buffs, animal lovers, and anyone in between are still welcome to visit the pasture, say hello to Buddy and April, and enjoy this special piece of Palo Alto’s history.

 

Location

3590 Laguna Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306  View Map

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Facility Snapshot

Features

  • Picnic Tables
  • Drinking Fountains
  • Bicycle Trails
  • Walking Trails
  • Playgrounds

Hours

Sunrise - Sunset

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