The entrance of the park features a plaque in memory of Al Rogers, who served as the Roadrunners Club Trail Boss for 10 years. Photo by Canyon Lake Insider.In the mid-1970s, eight couples who were owners of recreational vehicles planned a caravan trip to Death Valley. The outgrowth of the trip was the Canyon Lake Roadrunners, who would caravan each month for a three to five-day campout.
By design, the group was loosely organized. The only officer was the Trail Boss, who coordinated activities. Ethel and Al Rogers held this position for the first 10 years. Each month on the second Tuesday, a planning meeting was held for the current trip. A volunteer wagon master organized and directed the trip.
in 2020, the POA installed an ADA ramp at the park. Photo by Canyon Lake Insider.In 1979, the group began engaging in community projects. In addition to the street markings for the fire hydrants throughout Canyon Lake, they took on a major project – the development of Roadrunner Park on Gray Fox Drive.
The POA land was landscaped, a pavilion was constructed and furnished with picnic tables and benches, and an adjacent stone barbecue was built. Horseshoe courts and a volleyball court with spectator benches were added.
The entrance of the park features a plaque in memory of Roadrunners Club Trail Boss Al Rogers.
In November 2021, construction was underway for permanent restrooms at the park. Photo by Canyon Lake Insider.In recent years, the POA has upgraded the pavilion and horseshoe pit and installed restrooms, an ADA ramp, a drinking fountain, and a cornhole court.
In 2021, a new community bench honoring the victims and survivors of the Route 91 Harvest mass shooting was installed in the corner of the park.
The bench was made possible with funds raised by survivor Nicole Moisio. Moisio, a Canyon Lake resident who lives across the street from the park, raised donations to purchase the bench through the POA’s bench program.
An unveiling was held on Sunday, December 5. More than 30 individuals attended, including survivors of the shooting and individuals who donated toward the purchase of the bench. A memorial rock garden is featured behind the bench.
In 2021, a memorial bench in honor of the survivors of the Route 91 Harvest mass shooting was installed in the corner of the park. Photo by Canyon Lake Insider.Some recorded history about the Roadrunners states that the group of eight planned a caravan trip to Death Valley in March 1975 and departed on April Fool’s Day. However, the year 1974 is inscribed on the Al Rogers memorial plaque at the entrance of Roadrunner Park. This implies that Rogers served as the Trail Boss for 10 years starting in 1974, not 1975. Therefore, we are unable to verify at this time whether the Roadrunners group was formed in 1974 or 1975.
