Years back when I used to jog about three miles every other day, one of my treks would be to head toward Dentoni Park, circle it, then head for home. This 9.5 acre leftover from the valley oak forest boasts massive and majestic trees that are hundreds of years old. They were here before Stockton was first visited by the white guys. They were sapplings when the Yokut Indians, grizzly bear and tule elk lived here.
They were here long before the houses and shopping moved north from the Calaveras River.
They were here long before Paul Newman and George Kennedy starred in Cool Hand Luke, which was partly filmed right where the park is.
And they'll still be here when my last breath leaves this tired bit of earthly existence and I'm able to run again.
