Editor's note: This story is featured in OU Daily's Best of Norman Guide, which will be available in print beginning Sept. 30. Racks can be found around Norman and campus. Check out the other featured stories at the bottom of this article.

Spanning east of 12th Avenue Northeast and past Lake Thunderbird, East Norman is the city’s largest area. Mostly made up of rural neighborhoods and schools, the area shines with opportunities for community support and involvement.

East Norman offers a variety of parks, events and family-run restaurants. Whatever visitors may be looking for, this district has something for everyone.

Activities

Parks

Colonial Estates Park is one of East Norman’s largest parks, with green space for picnics, walking trails, disc golf, a playground and a splash pad.

For more thrills, Creekside Bike Park has hills, ramps, obstacles and trails for bikers of all skill levels.

Colonial Commons Park features a playground, fields, a small skate park and picnic space as well as the Red Dirt Collective Community Garden. The garden is run by nonprofit Red Dirt Collective, which helps to support Norman’s working-class and low-income residents. The garden hosts open workdays at 9 a.m. on Saturday.

Colonial Estates Park is at 1641 E. Lindsey St., Creekside Bike Park is at 2217 E. Lindsey St. and Colonial Commons Park is at 1909 Beaumont Drive.

Lake Thunderbird State Park

Lake Thunderbird State Park provides a wide range of recreation including campsites, picnic shelters, boat ramps and equestrian trails.

Visitors can also enjoy two swimming beaches, hiking, nature trails and year-round fishing.

Lake Thunderbird’s park office is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily at 13101 Alameda Drive. The office closes from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch.

Norman Public Library East

For indoor activities, Norman Public Library East offers books, internet and computer access, conference spaces and children’s play areas. Weekly events include book clubs, “Fine Art Friday” and toddler story times.

As part of the Pioneer Library System, library cards can be used at any participating location. Anyone who lives, works, attends school or owns property in Norman is eligible for a card.

Norman Public Library East is open 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday at 3051 E. Alameda St.

Dining

Pointe Brew

South of Highway 9, Pointe Brew coffee shop serves hot and cold coffee, tea, smoothies and pastries.

Pointe Brew is open 5:30 to 8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday and 8 a.m. to noon Sunday and Thursday at 2601 24th Ave. SE.

Tacos Los Huaches

Permanently located off East Lindsey Street, Tacos Los Huaches taco truck offers quesadillas, burritos, flautas, chimichangas and more. Favorites include the birria tacos and the California burrito.

Tacos Los Huaches is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at 1230 E. Lindsey St.

Thai Kum Koom Restaurant

Focused on serving affordable, high-quality food, Thai Kum Koom Restaurant’s menu includes lunch and dinner. Customers can order rice, noodle and stir fry dishes as well as soups, curries, tofu dishes and seafood.

The restaurant also has a large specialty drink menu that offers smoothies, Vietnamese coffee and boba milk teas in a variety of flavors.

Thai Kum Koom Restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon to 9 p.m. Saturday at 1241 E. Alameda St.

Old Number 9 Bar

Located on Alameda Street, Old Number 9 Bar offers a full drink menu and a community-based atmosphere. Patrons can choose from a variety of types of beer, liquor and cocktails and are encouraged to bring snacks to share.

The bar hosts live music on its patio and holds weekly events, including pool and darts tournaments.

Old Number 9 Bar is open noon to 2 a.m. daily at 4303 E. Alameda St. for guests 21 or older.

This story was edited by Madisson Cameron. Avery Avery, Ryan Little, Sophie Hemker and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.