Adventure Playground

This is one of best parks in Berkeley and perhaps in the country. According to the City of Berkeley's own website:

Adventure Playground [...] has been written up as a top 10 playground in National geographic. It was voted the Best Creative Play space in Diablo magazine. YELP has rated us 4 out of 5. We have been written about in the Chronicle, the Boston Globe and Newsweek as one of the Top 5 play spaces in the country.

So, in a sense there is little left to review. I love that the park gives kids access to tools and raw materials so they can literally help built the park. Last year my kids built a bench for one part of the playground and this week we improved a wagon and added a roof to one of the structures.

I highly recommend that first-timers read over the city's website before going. It has special hours, and you'll have to sign a waiver just to get in. The abundance of nails, raw boards, tools, and wet paint mean two things: wear old cloths and watch out if you take small children.

Mission Accomplished

Let it be known that we accomplished our summertime goal and have now been to all 55 parks in Berkeley! I was going to take it slowly at the end, but my kids wanted to finish before school started. We visited the final three on the night before their first day of school, and it was already dark before we left the last one, Harrison Park. It gave the whole endeavor a marathon-like feel.

I plan to keep writing reviews and posting pictures of the parks. I'm also hoping to create a Google Map with all the parks and perhaps a system of tags to make sorting through the list a little easier. Feel free to leave comments, especially if you've been to a park and have some fun details to share.

Presentation Mini-Park

This is another landscaped corner lot. The only thing worth pointing out is that it sits right on the California Street bike boulevard where it crosses Allston Way, so if you are out jogging or biking with your kids it might be a good place to take a break. There is a tot-sized play structure through the green gate. It isn't owned by the city, but the public is allowed to use it during daylight hours.

 

 

 

Malcom X School Park

You've seen this park if you drive on Ashby near the BART station. It was nicer than I expected when we actually went inside the yard. There are two playground structures that aren't new, but they have a few unique features like a rope bridge and a tire teeter totter (that may be the first time I've ever spelled out teeter totter!). The school yard also has a nice courtyard and garden area that give it a nice ambiance.

 

 

 

63rd Street Mini-Park

This mini-park is very near the Prince Street Totlot. It is almost exactly the same size. It has a newer, fresher feel, perhaps because of the green grass and new wood chips. I liked it, but it doesn't really justify going out of your way for.

 

 

 

Prince Street Totlot

Prince Street Totlot is about the size of the neighboring house lots. It has a couple of larger swings in the back and sand underneath the play structure. Nothing remarkable, about it, so it falls in the catergory of OK neighborhood mini-park.

 

 

Oak Park

Similar to the Frederick Mini-Park, this is really just a landscaped corner lot. It is located just east of the John Muir School (near the corner of Ashby and Claremont). I assume it is nice to sit with a book are walk the dog, but there isn't much to do there with kids.

 

Harrison Park

Located at the Northwest corner of Berkeley, this park features a skate park and several soccer fields. If you ever sign your kids up for the Albany-Berkeley Soccer Club, you will be spending a lot of time here. The park is well-maintained, but there don't seem to be any playground structures, so it isn't great for small kids.

 

Greg Brown Mini-Park

Wow. Greg Brown's park is hard to find, but worth the effort. The only entrance is crammed between two closely spaced buildings and is guarded by an eight foot steel gate. Inside however, the park is very charming. My favorite feature is a stone-lined picnic area with a large fire-pit/grill. There is a decent size lawn, a full size basketball court, and a nice playground area. My kid's favorite part was the blackberry bush in the Northwest corner. I will definitely be back - next time with firewood and food.

Maps and Directions

Halcyon Commons

This is another "traffic circle turned green space" located in South Berkeley. The roads surrounding the park don't get much traffic due to some well-placed traffic barriers. I like how the trees and shurbs are placed, which really maximize the park's potential. The highlight of the park for my kids was a tire swing.

 

 

 

Le Conte School Park

You get what you expect from this school park. The playground equipment is mediocre, but one bonus is a row of basketball hoops.

 

 

Mortar Rock Park

I love this park. It is a perfect example of how places in the Berkeley Hills can suddenly make you feel like you are in the most peaceful place on earth. The trees grow against the rocks on one side, making it very fun to climb. Watch out for the large drop off on the West side.



Maps and Directions

Monkey Island

My kids said it best: "If they name a park with an exciting name, it really should be an funner park". Alas, there are no monkeys and by island they mean 'surrounded by asphalt'. Even so, the neighborhood is nice and there isn't much traffic.



Maps and Directions

Horseshoe Park

It turns out this is just a grass area on the marina with mounds of dirt and trees in a horseshoe shape. It was hard to be disappointed, however, because of the fantastic sunset and walk on the pier.



Maps and Directions

Grotto Rock Park

Grotto rock park is one of the smaller rock parks. There is a walking path around the rock, but nothing else. I really liked the gentle slopes and the benches and steps cut into the rock.



Maps and Directions

Grizzly Peak Park

Grizzly peak park is on a tiny lot, with only a slide and sand box for kids. It does, however, have a basketball hoop in good condition and a picnic area with a grill. As a bonus, there is a thick blackberry bush hanging over the sidewalk next to the park.



Maps and Directions

Glendale-La Loma park

This park was awesome! It is located high in the Berkeley Hills with beautiful views of the Bay. The park has three tiers, with a toddler playground at the top, a 5-12 year old playground in the middle and a baseball diamond and picnic area at the bottom. I just discovered this today, but we will be going back regularly!

Maps and Directions

George Florence Mini-Park

This is a nice neighborhood park. The vibe is great and there is grass for soccer etc. The downside is that the playground equipment is old and kind of lame.




Maps and Directions

Frederick Mini-Park

Tiny grass area with a charming bench. I'd say it's nice for quiet contemplation, but it is right on Arlington Ave, which gets a lot of traffic.

From Frederick Mini-Park

Maps and Directions

Charlie Dorr Mini-Park

This is a nice mini-park, but not because of the small out-dated play structure or host of crappy plastic toys. The gem of this park is a three-table picnic area in the back. It has a grill and a grass area that would make for a great picnicking or grilling.



Map and Directions