Weekly Summer Picnics: A Rustic Canyon Park Tradition for Decades

A Rustic Canyon Park Monday night picnic in about 1980 with Canyon resident Rob Lowe (second from left) and three friends.

By Laurel Busby

News & Information Editor

In 1978, after the Lowe family moved from Greentree to Latimer, Monday night picnics at Rustic Canyon Park became their new summer tradition.

Beth and Bob Lowe, now 84 and 86, brought their two sons, Rob and Mike, who were then 12 and 9, to play games and chow down at the weekly neighborhood potlucks, which typically begin around 5 to 5:30 p.m.

“As a child, every summer Monday evening felt like an adventure,” Mike recalled. “We had a Canyon ‘bike gang’ that included about five of us. We even had T-shirts—the ‘Rustic Riders.’ We would race around the park and create bike jumps in the tree grove behind the baseball field. The parents would eat and drink while we roamed what seemed a huge park. We loved our Monday night of independence.”

Beth and Bob Lowe with their grandson Lawson

After Mike grew up and settled in the Canyon, he, and his wife, Christy, began bringing their three children to the picnics, and their grandparents regularly joined them. Even now that two of the kids are at college and the third is a busy student body president at Marymount High School, the Lowes attend the picnics when possible.

From our first picnic, “it was always such a great family time,” Beth said. “Everybody was having fun. We enjoyed the families who lived here and their children. They all seemed to get along and have a good time together.”

Each summer, the picnics began on the first Monday after Memorial Day and ended with Labor Day. The attendees changed over the years as children grew up and left home, but the event continually attracted new families.

Over her decades at the picnics, Beth said there have been many regulars, including Carolyn Perry, who is thought to be the original organizer of the event. A number of other families spent considerable time gathering with the Lowes over the years, including the Witheralls, Agnews, Boxenbaums, Neimans, Stockwells, Badts, Keiths, Chasens, Youngs, DuBards, Keatings, Normans, and Pregersons.

A shared meal was an important part of the event. In the 1980s, the Lowes, like many other families, typically brought tasty casseroles to share. However, the most eagerly anticipated dishes were prepared by Jean Pregerson.

Mike Lowe (left) and Mike Badt

“She made amazing desserts, so everybody looked forward to those,” said Beth, who noted that Pregerson also offered cooking classes in her Brooktree home.

On most Mondays, Beth estimated that around 30-40 people attended, which provided enough players for a friendly sports competition. Basketball and baseball were popular games that the kids enjoyed for many years, although more recently, kickball has become a regular activity at the potlucks.

Families also often brought their dogs, and the Lowes’ springer spaniel, Shiloh, became a big fan of the Stockwells’ standard poodle, Sophie.

“Every time we had Shiloh groomed, he immediately hightailed it over to show off to Sophie,” Beth said.

Friendships were also developed among the children. For example, the Lowe’s son Mike became close friends with Mike Badt, and, as adults, they brought their children to continue the tradition with the next generation.

“I don’t think it’s ever gone fallow as you would say,” Beth said. “It’s not always the same people, but there’s always a group that gathers on Mondays…. It is a great neighborly tradition.”

The Lowe family with their dog, Shiloh, around 1980.