Editing Ojai, California (section)

==Parks and recreation==
[[File:Ojai Valley Museum.jpg|thumb|Ojai Valley Museum, 2009]]
The town of Ojai and the surrounding area is home to many recreational activities. [[Los Padres National Forest]] borders the town on the north, and many back country areas within the forest are accessible from [[California State Route 33|Highway 33]], the major north–south highway through town. Matilija Creek is a spot to enjoy splashing under waterfalls and backpacking. To the west, the [[Lake Casitas]] Recreation Area offers camping, picnicking, hiking, boating, fishing, and has a water park.

The valley has several public tennis courts in downtown Libbey Park. There are also two major golf courses: the Soule Park Golf Course, and the Ojai Valley Inn Golf Course. The town completed a new park, [[Cluff Vista Park]], in 2002, which contains several small themed regions of [[List of California native plants|California native plants]], two water features, and three public art works. The park is located on a small hill which has a view of the mountains surrounding the town.

Sarzotti Park is a {{convert|10|acre|ha|adj=mid}} city park that is home to the City of Ojai Recreation Center. The center was formerly the Boyd Clubhouse which was built in 1903 and located on the south side of Ojai Avenue east of Libbey Park. The Boyd Club was a men's athletic and activity club. The Boyd clubhouse was moved to Sarzotti Park in 1957. The city's recreational program offers soccer, softball, football, basketball, tennis, volleyball, exercise programs, and many other classes.

In April, the [[Ojai Tennis Tournament]] is held. It is the oldest tennis tournament west of the [[Mississippi River]] (founded in 1896) and has been an early competition for many players who went on to earn one or more [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] titles. The Wall of Fame in Libbey Park honors players who competed and went on to win at least one Grand Slam.<ref>[http://www.ojaitourney.org/history/ "History"] ''The Ojai Tennis Tournament'' official Website Accessed February 28, 2014</ref> William Thacher (brother of Sherman Thacher) founded the Ojai Valley Tennis Club in 1895. There were five years when the tournament was not held: 1924 because of a [[Foot-and-mouth disease|hoof-and-mouth]] epidemic and from 1943 to 1946 during and just after World War II.<ref>Thacher, Tony. ''Tennis, Tea & Tradition: One Hundred Years of "The Ojai.''" The Ventura County Historical Society Quarterly, Vol. 44, Nos. 1 & 2. 2000</ref>

Ventura County parks in the area include Foster Park near Casitas Springs, Camp Comfort on Creek Road, Soule Park and Soule Park Golf Course, and Dennison Park on the Dennison Grade.

Annually, in early April, the town hosts a bicycle race that draws professional and amateur teams from around the country. The "Garrett Lemire Memorial Grand Prix" began in 2004 as a tribute to a 22-year-old cyclist from Ojai who died racing his bicycle in Arizona the previous year. The race is held on a {{convert|1|mi|km|adj=on|spell=in}} circuit that circumnavigates Libbey Bowl in the heart of downtown Ojai.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/garrett-lemire-foundation-donates-books-to-ventura-schools-ep-374046278-352613541.html|title=Garrett Lemire Foundation Donates Books to Ventura Schools|last=Damiani|first=Sheryl|date=March 28, 2008|website=[[Ventura County Star]]|language=en|access-date=August 23, 2019}}</ref>