Cheap Thrills: Rolling Down the Hill at Codornices Park

On a lazy Sunday afternoon, after a tall stack of pancakes and your second cup of coffee, pile the kids in the car and buzz up to Codornices Park for an old-fashioned, giggly, roll down the hill.

While the autumn sun flares out the last of its gilded light, keeping the air warm — and the grass dry — give into the spirit of silliness and let yourself enjoy the pure pleasure of rolling down the grassy slope at the park’s northern end. Follow the kids up the stone steps to the top, pick your line, and ready yourself for a roll. Stretch your arms out high over your head, point your toes, and, checking one last time for traffic below, start down the hill.

The rotation is slow at first but momentum gathers quickly, propelling you down faster and faster. Bumping and bouncing over the clumps, lumps, and divots, you’ll feel an irrepressible surge of laughter start to swell inside you as you pick up speed begin to rotate in earnest. Then, before you can catch your breath, you land with a final flop at the bottom, grass clinging to your hair and clothing twisted askew. Sitting upright, the world shifts back into focus, coming right side up again
as you look around to see who is watching and quickly straighten back into adulthood.

And afterwards, as the kids run around the park and you doze on the lawn, the last of the honeyed sunlight warming your skin, you’ll feel your heart thrumming at a softer rate, slowed by the sweet escape of play — the sheer fun that comes with rolling down the hill at Codornices Park.