I checked that park you mentioned last week, and it does seem quieter early in the morning.
I usually go around sunrise when the paths are still empty and everything feels slower.
If you want shade, the loop near the trees is better than the open side, especially later in the day.
I also noticed the benches near the water were actually pretty comfortable, so bringing a book might be worth it.
I think going on a weekday would make the whole thing easier because there were fewer crowds and less noise around the entrances.
I did not stay too long, but it felt like the kind of place where an hour turns into most of an afternoon.
If you decide to go, wear comfortable shoes because some of the paths look short at first and then keep winding farther than expected.

I tried the recipe again with a few small changes and it came out much better this time.
I lowered the heat, gave it more time, and stopped opening the oven every few minutes.
That probably made the biggest difference because the texture held together and the top did not dry out.
I also swapped the larger dish for a smaller one, which helped everything cook more evenly from the center to the edges.
If you make it this weekend, I would prep everything first because the steps move faster than they seem when you are reading them.
I ended up cleaning as I went and that saved me from dealing with a huge mess later in the evening.
Next time I may add a bit more seasoning, but otherwise it finally felt like something worth making again instead of just calling it practice.