Nongprue Public Park is a great place to visit if you live in the vicinity of Soi Siam Country Club Road in East Pattaya and are in search of somewhere for the kids to play, feed fish, exercise, swim, shoot some hoops, or even spot a giant lizard or two.
There’s an extensive choice of fitness equipment (see photo above) that you can use for free. So whether you’re on an arms or legs day, take your pick.
The centerpiece of the park is the lake, covering approximately 17,000 square meters (about 10.5 rai or 4.2 acres).
There are various pieces of play equipment in the playground, including swings, seesaws, and those spring-type rides that, as you see in the photo below, my mother quite likes, lol.
It’s a popular park, a bit of a community hub, you might say. Besides kids playing, walkers walking, joggers jogging, you’ll also see things like dance and yoga classes, musical band practice, and so on.
The shore of the lake is fringed with rocks and shrubs, with some spots being especially good if you want to feed the lake’s eager catfish.
You can buy a bag of fish food at the park for around 20 baht, or take some bread along with you; it’s well worth it. Within seconds of food hitting the water, you’ll see a mass of catfish literally climbing on top of each other as they compete for the offerings, it’s really quite some spectacle.
Although monitor lizards are fairly common in Thailand, they’re not an everyday sight in Pattaya. However, if you’re really stealthy and lucky at the same time, you might just get a glimpse of one at Nongprue Park.
If you’re in the park and walk down the road that’s the entrance from Highway 3701 (nearest Highway 7), you’ll come to a place where the road bridges what appears to be a very swampy canal. It’s in the canal that you might get a glimpse of a monitor. Unlike the famously bold monitors of Lumpini Park in Bangkok, or even those at Sai Kaew Beach in Sattahip, they’re somewhat shy and take off pretty much as soon as they know they’ve been spotted.
More About Nongprue Park
Other activities include a covered 25-meter swimming pool and a basketball court. From the late afternoon, there are usually carts selling snacks and drinks. There is also parking for cars and motorcycles, and there are toilets on-site.
Getting to Nongprue Park
Use this Google map to get directions and read the latest reviews: https://maps.app.goo.gl/QnpN4d7LgA8Xf8yg8.
Read this guide to getting around Pattaya if you don’t have your own transport.
If you’re looking for a safe and peaceful place to jog, walk, or exercise closer to central Pattaya, try the Pattaya Fitness Park.