We've been on our hunt for great parks throughout the East Bay now that our little is growing. Castro Valley Community Park is a beautiful one ~ plenty of safe parking with a lot attached and honestly, so much space. There is a little something for all ages here too which I enjoy. From slides, to swings, to a splash park I believe is open on weekends, to picnic areas, and a play area that is fenced off with sand for littles, it's definitely a home run spot. I appreciate parks that also are within nature. This spot seemingly has play/picnic/splash areas on one side, and beautiful open grass on the other. We've taken our nephews here before as well to play and they've loved over the years seeing nature at its best ~ from observing butterflies, collecting sticks/rocks (boys are boys!), to getting to run through the grass, we have made so many great memories and photo ops here. All in all, there's always a familiar face or friendly conversation to be had at this community park. There's shared toys in the smaller kiddo area like balls and sand toys, and creative play structures like bumble bees and jets to enjoy. After seeing so many parks, you begin to appreciate those that offer something unique and smile-worthy. read more

Parking lot small but there's a few street parking Clean spacious organized and well kept Tennis courts kid playground basketball courts BBQ pits seating area and wide grass field for soccer Yeah, I think they got everything here I prob missed some other positives too Try this spot out read more

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Wonderful large park. Saw various birthday parties being held on same day and plenty of space to not be in each other's way. But because so many people use this park parking can be a bit challenging. We ended up parking on the street. They have a splash pad and playground with different slides. Kids had fun. We also attended a family event at the community center. Large space that also includes a small playground for the kids. A kitchen area with a refrigerator. Overall great park. read more

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This is our spot, we spend lots of afternoons here enjoying the sunshine and the shade when it's hot. The splash pad is such a good time during summer weekends. My dog loves the walking trail, toddler loves to scoot around. There's lots of swings for children of varying abilities. There's a baby park with sand, a sandbox park, toddler park and up to 12 park. Lots of party areas and parking and a community theater to boot! We love our local park! read more

Castro Valley Community Park - Parks Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Nice clean park with plenty of space to run around and play. They have 3 play structures in total for all ages. They even have a small water park were water shoots out from the ground. I believe it's on in the summer times to cool kids off. There is basketball court also tennis court. Plenty of benches to have picnic on. I'm pretty sure you can reserve some tables with bbq pit for large party. I have been invited multiple times here for birthday parties. Bathroom is a little far pending on we're your party is at! read more

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A big community park with lots of events going on during the weekend. We came for a birthday party and there was probably five other parties happening at the same time. But because the park is so big and the picnic areas spaced out, it still felt like everyone had their private area. There are a couple of playgrounds available for the kids but the real prize was the splash pad. On a warm summer day, this was a hit for the little ones to play around in and cool off. Bathrooms available onsite near the softball field and a couple of parking lots, although it can get pretty busy and the spots fill up quickly. read more

This is my go-to bbq grounds. That why I took Stefan T here to celebrate his mind-bobbling attainment of the coveted yelpus maximus badge. Way to book it, check it-in, etc., Stefan! How can anyone secure nearly 500 check ins in a month, while being limited to 16 per day?? They ought to confer eternal elite status once someone hits that badge! At the park, I always use the picnic area towards the back along Quarry Rd. There are a lot of tables, and it's clean and well-maintained. I don't use their mounted grills because I bring my own. But there are plenty if you need them. I'm also impressed that there are serving and prepping tables in addition to the tables for dining. But be warned everything is made of concrete, including the benches, so it's probably a good idea to bring some seat cushions. Overall, it's very serene and well-shaded. Probably why the martial arts Senseis hold their dojos there in the grass area. I've also seen groups use that area as an ad hoc soccer pitch. There're also lots of play areas for kids of different ages and coordination levels. They even have a community theater on the grounds. And you'll find ample parking in the lots. read more

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Back in 1994 I first noticed this neighborhood park. My parents were looking to buy a house in this exact neighborhood and so we would drive by every Sunday for open houses for many many months in a row. Back in 1994 Castro Valley was a really great place. Very family friendly and no kriminals, no problems. Very nice place. There was one unusual thing I remember way back then. One week there were many many guys all dressed alike in hooded robes of some sort. I don't remember the color - might have been white. I don't know what that was about. I was only 10 years old... but that was suspicious. Since then I haven't seen anything like that. Today I go there to get Sweets out of the house. Lots of lawn and picnic tables. Unusual was how the picnic tables were so crowded together and perfectly lined up in a row. You would think that different groups of people wouldn't want to be that close to one another. I know I would want some space if there were some loud or extra loud people there. Play structures and very flat lawn areas. The curbs and streets are sloped and so it is noteworthy that somebody way back when leveled it all. Very nicely done. Trees and surrounding areas are very beautiful too but there is some more trash and grimy than years ago. 30 years have passed since I first noticed this place. Since then people are more on edge and more closed off to strangers. I learned that in school: don't talk to strangers. I didn't learn that from my mom. She loved to talk to strangers. All she really ever told me was to stay away from white vans and that the only person I had to listen to was police officers. Speaking of which there are no police officers here. This is Sheriff territory. IDK I guess I have to listen to what they say? read more

Castro Valley Community Park isn't that visible from a driveby. only by driving around to the parking lot can one see what's available. amendities: community center, water park, tennis courts, baseball field, green fields, benches, castro valley memorial, swings, children's play area. closed now due to the pandemic great place for kids, young adults. read more

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I enjoy this park. 2 years in a row my church has reserved this space for our annual picnic. Easy to get to. Lots of parking and just a nice place to have an event or just visit for an intimate family picnic. read more

Love this park especially on a summer day! I especially like that I can bring my 3 kids by myself here and it's manageable. Lots of open grass space for a picnic, multiple play structures close to each other and the splash park! The splash park is maintained well with a rubber flooring. Water comes out of the ground and in cannon type things that you can maneuver yourself. Mr. Softee just happened to be parked here as well, perfect for a summer treat. Only downside is that the restrooms are by softball field a short walk away but difficult when there's only 1 adult. read more

Castro Valley Community Park - Slide is closed off for some reason - Parks Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Castro Valley Community Park sites was a great place for our daughters first birthday party! Lots of space between picnic sites. Recommendation: park in the lot off of Quail Ave. it is a much closer walk Pros: *Tables and benches are in good condition. *Affordable (especially if you're a resident.) * Well spaced out between tables. *Nice green space. Cons: * Far from the restrooms. * A lot of debris from the trees fall onto the picnic tables. Recommend: brining canopies. read more

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This place is dirty and ghetto. I live nearby and have tried to take my son to this park a couple of times. Parents smoking, lack of parking, and trash littered throughout. The toddler area is filthy and the base is sand. Dirty sand. Too much riff raff and not actual neighborhood people. read more

Nice clean park. Kids enjoyed the big kids play area AND it was nice the little kids area was gated. Too bad the bathrooms were closer to the baseball field. The dual parking lots were crowded, so be careful when navigating and backing out. Due to reasons, the water park area didn't have water running. Would come again. read more

This is my favorite playground I've been to so far! I have 3 kids, twin boys and an older daughter...This has different playgrounds for different age groups! They have a splash pad in the summer. The baby playground is fenced in which is nice because most playgrounds in Oakland don't have fences. Fun for all ages! read more

Too much people here and doesn't seem clean. The amount of people make it feel crowded as well and I usually don't like coming here.

I love this park for kids of all ages! They have a gated in "infant/toddler" area geared towards kids who are 2 and under! Which is great because then there aren't big kids trying to climb all over the smaller kids! They also have a play area for kids 2-5 years old, and another larger play area for kids 5 years and older. There is also a rock climbing structure, swings for all ages and sizes, a water feature (which is turned off now, I would assume because of the pandemic), a huge open field, tennis courts, ample amount of benches/picnic tables, and bathrooms. This park tends to get busy on the weekends! read more

Wonderful neighborhood park for little kids. They have a parking lot and two playgrounds. One for older and another one for toddlers. During the summer they have a splash pad. Not much shade here so bring sun hat. read more

Big playgrounds. Splash area was fun. Liked how the ground was soft and that's probably why kids were jumping and falling all over the place. My 7 year old enjoyed it. I went in few times because of my 1 year old daughter as well. The water was warm, wasn't cold. It was also a very hot day. We came here for a birthday party, but it was so busy because there was like 3 other parties around! The parking lot was okay, found a parking spot when we pulled in. Didn't see a shower area to rinse off from the water? read more

Normally I don't mind walking in Hood Parks in Hayward but it's really nice to walk around Castro Valley. It's just a lot nicer it's more family friendly. My dog loves to walk anywhere she doesn't' really care but she likes this area for sure. This place is pretty big and has other small parks around the area; I tend to go to both of these areas. It setup pretty nice and I always make sure to pick up my waste. For both me and the dog :) read more

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Love to bring my kids in the summer they have so much fun in the sand and the water I like the picnic tables that are close to the water I have been coming here for a couple of years and my kids love this place I have told new friends of this park and they love it too read more

One of the best parks in the area. A baseball diamond, a lot of areas to picnic, 3 play areas with a small water play area for the kiddos. Good for toddlers to 10 years. They are shady areas that people used their own lawn chairs under. Not many BBQs that I could see. I only saw and smelled one. I think if you can smell someone's good BBQ you should be allowed to eat their food. It's such a tease. Parking is located on both sides. I had the issue finding parking by the baseball field off Lake Chabot Rd. read more

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I am so happy I discovered this great place to take my son right here in our neighborhood. There are 3 seperate playground areas that are equipped for different age groups, a water area and a huge sandbox. My son loves to go play here and it is great for parents too. You feel that your child is safe because they can play with kids there own age or try the "big" kid stuff too. The water area has soft padding so you don't have to worry about your child slipping and hurting themselves. This is a great place for children to have fun, especially in the summer. There are also many BBQ areas and picnic tables to have lunch. read more

So on Saturday we had a baby shower here. We had Area #2 & it was perfect. We had shade, but if we wanted sun we would put our lawn chairs in the grass area & soak up some sun! We had no problems whatsoever. It was perfect. The only thing I have to complain about is that everybody walks through everyones party. I felt rude & I felt uncomfortable when people would walk through ours. We quickly got over it. We were having to much fun & we were only focused on shower our cousin with love! I defiantly recommend this park for your next party! It's perfect! With 4 parks & a water splash pad! So much fun even some of us grow ups went in. Lol. read more

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Just reviewing the playground areas here. I'm surprised the playground equipment is so run down. The slide in the tot area is boarded up. The slide in the older kids area is cracked and kids could possibly injure themselves going down. Overall, everything is just really outdated. So many kids come here to enjoy the playgrounds - the county should really consider updating it. read more

This is a quiet neighborhood community center that has several amenities -- a park, tennis courts, basketball court, baseball court, soccer field, gym and hall. Even during busy weekends, you can always find a spot to enjoy the afternoon. My kids go to a couple of community classes here, and they absolutely love it! There's quite a few kids in tennis class, but Jim, the instructor, manages them pretty well. Toddler gym seems short at 25 minutes, but they are structured and every child gets a chance to use all the apparatus. read more

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Only reason its not getting 5 stars is due to the fact of I cant speak on errthang, cuz we only did playgrounds and splash pad, but just the splash pad alone was worth 5 stars!!! it was awesome, It came on a lil late, after 11, like 1115am but well worth it, continuous water running , I think as gd as a pool if not better got there like 1030ish so parking right up front, and I came on weekday (wed) so can't speak on other times. read more

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Love LOVE Love this park! Four different structures for all ages. The structure for the younger children is even fenced off and has sand. Rest of the park has tan bark. During the warmer days, you can bring your swim suit and play in the water fountains. Plenty of grass area to play and sit around on. Benches for picnics or BBQs. Parking lot close to the park fills up fast! Additional parking on other side next to recreation center. Bathrooms are unfortunately across the park. So, be prepared to pack the little ones up if you have more then one, to take a field trip to the bathroom. I'd also recommend making a trip to the Public Market before you head over for some ice cream from Milk & Cookies read more

I liked it! Lots of play structures and areas. Parking is right by the play area. Lots of people were having parties, gatherings, using reserved tables or bringing their own. People weren't super friendly but it wasn't unpleasant. The play structures aren't shaded so they do get hot and the bathrooms are a bit of a walk and gross. Still, nice park! read more

My kids love coming here, it has many different play structures for children of all ages. We spend most of our time in a fenced area (no need to worry that your children will wander away) for toddlers that's not only shaded by trees, but is also filled with sand... the sand can occupy my daughter for hours! read more

I can't believe I am the first to review this park. Maybe this "Hayward Nanny Survival Guide" list I'm cranking out will help some people after all. This park is actually 4 parks in one...all for different age groups. There is a huge sand pit, which is awesome because sand is hard to find at parks these days! It has huge grass areas and picnic areas. The best part of the park is the water area that kicks in everyday at about 10:45. The kids spray each other and get soaking wet and have tons of fun. The water cannons do swing all the way around so don't think you are safe standing on the edge of the platform. Those nasty little suckers will swing around and soak you while they laugh their heads off...saying "no,no I don't want to get wet" will just make it worse! read more

I gave this park two stars....one because it's close to the restrooms, and one for closeness to the parking area. I paid $136.00 to reserve the large picnic area for a family/friends reunion. Upon arriving the morning of the picnic, I was appalled at how dirty the facility was.... I expected the area to be somewhat clean. Didn't mind the leaves. I did mind the dirt though. The floor which is cement, was filthy with dirt and food stains. Diffidently needs to be power washed. As did the tables. There are two barbecues but we could only use one. The other grill was terribly rusted, filthy and unusable. This in itself was a big impact being we had so many trying to grill their food so we could all eat at the same time. Bottom line, they expect you to leave the area clean when you leave. I expect it to be clean when I arrive. Will not use or recommend this facility again! read more

Fantastic park in my neighborhood! The water area is sooo much fun (even for adults) in the summertime. There are different play areas for kiddos of all ages-you feel like there are several parks in one. There are picnic tables that can be reserved if you are thinking of having a get together or bday party. My toddler always has a good time here & the best advice I can give you is get there early on Summer weekends as the parking lot fills up fast. The downside: dogs aren't allowed in this park so an important member of our family can't tag along with the family. Bummer! read more

I love this place. It is my happy place. It is my child's happy place. I take her here when she needs to run wild and I need to regroup. There are 4 different play structures, all appropriate for different ages, as well as a huge water area. It's particularly wonderful that the sand area is so close to the water area, so you can rinse of your dirty preschooler before sanding up your car. You can park of of Lake Chabot road or turn down a side street and park in a lot right next to the playground. Or you can park on the street. Whatever you want, just save a spot for my family. read more

Great place to play tennis. There are 3 courts, and a wall to practice. Floodlights come on at night. The basketball court is alittle bit worn out though, and it is packed all weekends and evenings. Also, the basketball court is right next to the main road and maybe cause safety concerns. read more

Summer perfection! All the benefits of a summer backyard sprinkler-fest...without the costly (both money and environmental) pain. Plus they have several structures to play on outside of the water area for when the kiddos are done with the water. Only semi downside...the nearest bathrooms to the play areas are about 400 yards away...and not clearly noticeable from a distance. read more

Great park with lots of shade, it seems some entitled people can't read ENGLISH, NO DOGS ALLOWED!!!!

Of course I give it 5 stars for the water area, sand box play area, and 3 playgrounds designed for toddlers, mid kid ages, then big kid ages... but what i was specifically looking for was one of those merry go rounds that cv community center used to have when i was a kid. you know, the metal platform that spins around in a cirlce with up to 10 kids on it. We used to have such fun as my siblings and i would ride. :( Anyone know where there might be a park that would still have this??? Please let me know. thanks. read more

One of my kids favorite places to play. Love when they turn the water on. Always a good time when we go there. Not too crowed, loads of fun. This park has a small play area for toddlers and small kids, as well as a play area for the older kids. Please bring a towel in the summer for when they turn on the water. The kids can't resist!! Tons of fun running through the water sprinklers and dodging the water guns. Best place to take kids of all ages. read more

I often come here for tennis on lazy Sunday afternoons. The people are pleasant and there are beautiful trees surrounding the area. Not sure why there's a perpetual lock on the main gate to the tennis courts, forcing one to duck and contort whenever entering. Perhaps it's an undercover fitness readiness test?? Tennis nets and ground are not very well kept up. Could use a repaving, but it's acceptable. Also, being that Lake Chabot is so close, many helicopters fly by in not-so-cinematic fashion, some even circling for an hour, chanting on loudspeaker that they're looking for a pit bull. All these things are minor pickings of nit in the grander scheme of things; as such, it's overall a decent experience for the average tennis player. read more