What's not to enjoy??? So it's a little bit windy! What do you think WINDBREAKERS are for? Strutting down a runway?? You could bring-- your grandmother ( plenty places to sit), your dog, (Leashes, please,) your kid, (leashes please), binoculars, bicycle, camera, bird book, plant book, guilty pleasure book, your thoughts on the meaning of life. (don't get entangled in the dog leashes) You don't have to drive there, the 9 AC transit bus goes there from the Berkeley BART station. read more

Beautiful park with great views, you get good view of SF on a clear day. This park has a paved road for easy walking, biking and an unleashed dog park right in the middle of the park. read more

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The dog park here actually tops Pt. Isabel, IMHO, because it has the same awesome view and the same cooling breeze, but more grass and a little less doggie traffic, so the dogs can run around without so much of a doggie traffic jam. Plus, it's closer to Oakland and Berkeley so the pooches have a shorter car ride. Only down side is that in late summer, it's chock full of foxtails--those little aweful grassy spiky things that get into a dog's coat and burrow into their skin. Youch! This is also a great spot for watching the 4th of July Fireworks. read more

The dog park in the middle of the park helps me keep my sanity. If we take Roxie over there to play with her buddies and she finds a dog she really likes, I can have a whole evening of peace and quiet! I've been running around this park for years and never knew that the dog park existed. The views here are wonderful, the park isn't too huge, there are often kites flying, and it's a great place to get away from the hubbub of Berkeley. Some people prefer Point Isabel, but personally I don't like to go places where every square centimeter of land has been peed on by a dog and is often covered in dog hair. Cesar Chavez Park is clean and is for more than just dogs. People can enjoy it too! read more

This review is for dog people A little weary of off leash dog areas but still went here. Wonderful . I was surprised to see only people who are dog knowledgeable with extremely reasonably behaved dogs. Bring your WELL BEHAVED dog here ( I have 6 and only take the good ones to places like these ). Loved taking my dogs here . It's not fenced in so dogs with little to no recall is a bad idea. There is also a on leash dog area for the non dog people to explore without being bothered by dogs . As always I would say it's a bad idea to bring small children to the off leash dog area . It is also beautiful here . read more

This is an amazing park...beautiful...lots of land for the dogs to run around on..not at all like your traditional dog park. The only problem for us was- it's not like your traditional dog park. I was under the impression there is some kind of enclosed area. My 8-10 month old puppy I got last week hasn't learned recall yet, so it's no place for him, and that was a major disappointment, since we just had to turn around and go back to the car, and he got frustrated on his leash watching the other dogs roam around. Mean daddy! read more

One of the best birding spots in Berkeley I have to say. Despite all of the dogs. Lots of seabirds. Got some cool pics. There is also a good amount of raptor here. read more

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A great East Bay gem! Perfect to take a walk, run, bike ride, kite flying, or for the dogs. It's a pretty open space with some great bay views, and plus--it's free! Cesar Chavez is a nice little area with plenty of small trails and picnic areas. Plenty of parking nearby and right next to the Berkeley Marina so there's plenty of outdoor activities to do. Runners: The trail around this portion of the park is about 2 miles so good for a VERY short run, but if you're looking for a longer run, would suggest running over to the Berkeley Marina and back. A total of about 6 miles round trip if you circle the whole Marina (including the Berkeley Pier). read more

I want to fly my kite..... my kite..... my kite..... I want to fly my pirate kite...and slash all the other ones down... I want to roll down the hilllllls..... the hilllllls...... the hillllllls...... I want to roll down the mushy green hills... and smack whatever's in my way... I want to grill a steeeaaak..... a steeeaaak..... a steaaak...I want to grill a mee-e-eaty steak, and piss all the ve-e-egans off.... read more

90 acre park with fantastic views of the San Francisco Bay. Bring a camera. Easy to get to, take BART to downtown Berkeley, walk a couple blocks to University Ave and take a 51B AC Transit bus to the park, or drive there, plenty of parking. Nice paved paths thru out the park. Great for picnics, jogging, biking, sun bathing, dog walking, kite flying, in others words it's a fun place to go to. Clean Bathrooms. I have seen a lot of wildlife in the park, raccoons, squirrels, all kinds of birds. Especially in the evenings when there are not many people around. A Day On The Water 2 will be held here on Sept 28th from 12-7pm. Combination free music festival, Arts & Crafts Fair, and Fun Zone. Great food and entertainment. Family friendly event. read more

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My old photo professor owns an Australian Cattle dog which he of course loves, and every year he takes her here for her bday party. He also invites a ton of people, all of whom mostly also own dogs and as you can expect there's a huge canine frenzy. Mostly artists or art students at one point; we get to talk shop and let the hounds have their way for the day. read more

Big open fields for kite flying. Water fountain. Clean port-a-potties. Plenty of parking. Dogs on leash allowed. Not much shade...so be prepared on a sunny hot day. read more

love this place! large park, clean. lots of families. kite festival around July or during the weekends. has a good amount of parking (unless there are events happening). windy most of the time so bring jacket. good for walks, dog walks, watching kites, enjoying the ocean breeze, watching the sailboats, picnics and family time. it was our first time bringing our dog here few weeks ago. good place for off leash dogs. not much plastic for dog poops so make sure to bring your own. this place is huge, got lots of things so check it out. read more

I go through phases with dog parks. Pt. Isabel is nice, but sometimes I don't feel like dealing with crowds of people and dogs. Enter Cesar Chavez Park. While it's smaller and the trails can get redundant, Cesar Chavez Park is one of my favorite places to walk my dogs. It's less crowded and the views are amazing. It's very peaceful to just find a spot and take in the views. Once in a while we'll run into other dogs and my dogs will play, but most of the time we just do our own thing. The only thing that I dislike about the park is that the parking is further away from the off leash area. Also, there are no real bathrooms, only portable ones. read more

Views, Nature, Home of Kite Fest and just a Great way to take advantage of the bay. read more

Nothing says East Bay better than Cesar Chavez Park. The marina seashore offers hikers, bikers, sailers, travelers, even dogs a temporary solace from the busy city life. The view from this park on a clear day peaks into the East Bay bridge, Golden Gate bridge, Oakland refineries , rolling city-landscape. As I sit while listening to the sloshing waves and the chirping birds, I started to realize how important nature is to me. Nature is where the natural habitat comes to life; where squirrels can play alongside dogs, while running through the happy yellow flowers. I enjoyed my bike ride to this park. I am going to bring my wallet next time and stop in at the Seaside cafe for some snacks. Bring a camera too! read more

What a beautiful setting to see everything that the Bay Area has to offer. Friendly diverse people, kids having a blast, amazing kites flying all over the sky above you, monks playing volleyball, and the breathtaking views. I am so lucky to be living here! Enjoy a picnic with your kids. Guarantee they will love it! read more

Cesar Chavez, the belle of the East Bay...in that it is beautiful now, and once was a garbage dump. See that offgas from the smoke stack? Yeah.... But it's really a beautiful park. Wildflowers pop up, kites abound, dogs run free, there's that salty sea breeze, and of course, _that_ view to the bridge and SF. Great for an easy walk, dog petting, and picnics. Hard to beat. The good: awesome park and parking usually isn't bad. The bad: pretty breezy, just make sure you pack a jacket. Or another human to keep you warm. read more

Awesome place for a nice scenic run, place to have a picnic, walk/play with your dog or just to relax and take in the sun at the East Bay read more

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With a 1-year-old beagle terrier mix, we would have our hands full if not for the hills and free space at Cesar Chavez. The dog park is not much to look at, dry grass and brush, but once your pet gets tired from running around, a walk in the on-leash area offers gorgeous views of San Francisco and the bridges. Since it's right on the Berkeley Marina, it can get chilly and windy, so bring a coat. Also, the park is so big that the dogs do more exploring than playing with one another. Point Isabel in Richmond offers more doggy interactions, since more dogs go there and there are more defined paths. But, for something closer to home, Cesar Chavez is great. read more

I really like this park, and maybe the reason why I didn't give it five stars is because my dog is not yet trained off the leash. This is a great place for dogs who are trained to go off leash because they have the freedom to enjoy the park... However, my dog is still learning the ropes of being domesticated, so this isn't the best place for him to run around. It does look like most dogs who are trained to go off leash love it here. I even saw one dog chasing a rabbit for 10 minutes across the way, and there is something so beautiful to see a dog be able to run free in that way. Main concern: The one thing that is missing is a gated area for dogs like mine to run free, And I hope one day they plan to construct something for dogs in training. What I love: The view is beautiful. Especially by the water. It seems like something that most people should just go to. And, watching dogs do their thing in nature is one of the most beautiful things, and I think this is what makes the park so special. Renee from the Bay read more

I love this park for the eyeful it inhabits, resting seemingly peaceful smack in the middle of the area we know as 'the' bay. I smell poop. read more

Love love love this park. So bay area, so.... Berkeley. Wonderful easily accessible walk in the city with the most gorgeous bay and city views. Funky people from all walks of life, every race and lifestyle choice represented. Berkeley at its absolute best. Not the longest walk, but perfect when you need a quick stroll to unwind in Berkeley. Also perfect if you have older people, young kids, or those in wheelchairs in your group. This park also ties in nicely if you are riding your bike on the bay trail. Yes, it can get windy here, but that's what makes it so fun for flying kites. Glass half full dude :-) read more

Cesar Chavez Park - It can get windy, so bring a jacket, a positive attitude, and a kite. Glass half full dude :-) - Parks Near Me - Berkeley, California

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The views from the park are pretty spectacular. If you climb to the top of the kite hill, you can see the Berkeley Hills, the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate, the Richmond Bridge and all points between them not to mentioning the water. There is a good breeze if you plan to try the kite flying. I took full advantage of that as well as the people watching. The park seems to be really popular with dog walkers. There are picnic tables and a grill. There seems to be ample parking, at least if you go on a weekday. The only downside is the only restrooms available are portables. Oh well. It's definitely still worth a visit. read more

This is a great park but be prepared for wind! It's got picnic tables for parties, but you have to get there early. Also, make sure if you are having a party that you specify exactly where in the park it is since the picnic tables are scattered. Parking is an issue during events like 5K runs, but not too bad. read more

Cesar Chavez Park - Parks Near Me - Berkeley, California

Located by the Berkeley Marina, Cesar Chavez Park is a fairly large park that is suitable for a multitude of activities. I've personally BBQed here, along with using the trails for runs/walks, and even brought my dog to their off-leash area. Although this place is large and filled with ample amenities there are some parts about it that I'm not too keen on. First off it's always cold.... Bring a jacket if you're coming here. It's location engenders it to a constant breeze. That's great if you want to fly kites, but for a stroll it can be a bit uncomfortable. The park has sprawling fields to run around in and play whatever outdoor sport you want to, with one downside: Foxtails. Which also leads into why I'm not a big fan of the Off-leash area here for dogs. During the summer season the park is filled with dry and sticky foxtails that are just primed to get into your pooch's coat and even possibly their ears. Parks and Rec tries to keep the area trimmed down but the overabundance is just overwhelming. Be careful when you're out here or else you might have a fun time giving Fido a haircut later. Overall I think it's a fair place to take a nice stroll or run. Just make sure to wear some insulating clothing, this place can get real cold. For BBQs, just be warned that this place is super windy. Starting coals is quite the mission to accomplish. And for dogs, although there are usually dogs running around here, if you choose to let your pooch off leash here, just make sure to keep an eye on them and not let them get into the jungle of fox tails. read more

August 7th, 2011. 7 :30 pm. The absolute best time to be at this park! It's phenomenally revitalizing. The views are both for the nature enthusiast and the urban philosopher, with amazing scenery of cloudy mountains separated by the bay and the lit up port-bots of Oakland. Kite flyers come here in the evening and fly vicariously through soaring sharks, parachutes, dragon flies and tailed diamonds. This might be the best park I've been to in a very long time. I swear it has something for everyone. The jogger. The hiker. The dog-walker. The solo thinker. The camper. The photographer. Friends. Lovers. Families. The BEST! Also, just FYI, I first came to this park looking for a place to run my dog. When I see him romping through the grass at this park, it's the happiest I see him all day. This is an amazing off-leash dog park, great for small and big dogs alike, who enjoy playing with mellow, friendly dogs. read more

I like this park. you have views of Oakland, sf, marin, golden gate. Just perfect location for incredible views, great place. I kinda want to give it a 4 star because it is so damn windy, but i guess you could just wear a sweatshirt, so ya, ill give it a 5. Also, world class kite flying conditions I think they have a festival or competition coming up read more

I absolutely love Cesar Chavez Park. I have only found it crowded during the kite festival in the summer and sometimes on weekends. Aside from being a good kite-flying venue, this park offers fantastic views of the GG bridge and SF skyline. It can get a bit windy, but on calmer days, makes for a nice picnic spot. The park is easily accessible by car, bicycle and foot (check out the bike/pedestrian bridge over the freeway from Berkeley and the bike path from Emeryville). read more

Pros: I like this park - not too crowded, responsible dog owners picking up after their pets, and a nice off-leash area. Cons: Can get pretty cold/windy later in the day, and lots of fox tails so those with dogs should be extra careful to check their animals after a romp through this place! :) read more

If i had the time and energy to go here every day, I would be so thrilled. I love bringing my puppy here and going on walks around this beautiful park. You can see the city and the Golden Gate from the park and on sunny weekends people fly kites and play ball here. My puppy, Belle, loves to run around here and play with the other dogs, but if your dog has a longer coat please remember to check them for cattails and burrs when you leave. This dog park is much better than Moscone. read more

Perfect weather today for a three year old's birthday. Lay down a few sheets at the top of a hill and see everything around you, including the stellar views mentioned in all the previous reviews. Couples, kids, families, dogs, kites, and moles in their mole holes happily co-exist. Note: this grassy knoll is not conducive to barefooted walking. The terrain is a bit tough. Parking lot is right across the street. read more

Nice, spacious and windy~ Parking was easy to find. You have a great view of the water and the bridge ;) A little windy for picnics maybe....but great for walks, running, dogs, lying on blankets and staring at the clouds...or my personal fav, kite-flying! ....which is exactly what me and my man did ;) People of all ages come here. I saw a grandfather teaching his granddaughter how to fly a kite. There was an older couple taking a walk together hand in hand. Another couple lounging in lawn chairs flying kites high up in the sky. A group of people laughing and playing with their dog. There was an experienced stunt kite-flyer who had an extremely large beautiful rainbow tail attached to his kite..that made pretty shapes, twists and turns in the sky. My boyfriend and I had a great time~! We flew our stunt kite (first time for me), and we had this awesome, huge open field to ourselves. Good thing, because sometimes...okay a lot of times, we kinda sorta lost control of the kite and it came to a crashing nose-dive to the ground. After an hour or two, our poor kite was demolished, broke into perhaps 5 or 6 pieces, and that was the death of our kite :( Good news is, we're planning on going back again :D Next time we'll be bringing his cute beagle and we're going to get another stunt kite, that will hopefully live a longer life than the previous one. read more

Upon acquiring a new puppy, a vested a renewed effort in finding a dog park we could both enjoy. I found the one on Hearst & Milvia to be lack luster, and my dog always came home filthy. A friend directed me to Cesar Chavez park in the Berkeley Marina area, & I've been back 3 times this week alone. The view is great, & the short walk through the (man-made) dune paths is pleasant. Thankfully this warm(er) weather we've been having hangs out late, because it's windy out there and might not be so fun if it was really cold. Bring a light sweater, and the walk will warm you up nicely. The park is 17 acres; this is both an allure & a complication. Pro: Tons of space, tall grass, & puppy-tiring hills to cavort amoungst. Views of the bay to gaze upon while Pixel snarfles ground squirrel holes or inspects the weeds. Con: Dogs & their owners are spread out, so the dog interaction is fleeting, mainly when you come upon someone else tooling along the path. My dog can wander around with me anywhere, I'd love for her to get her wrestle on and have some fun. I also throughly enjoy polite chats about dogs with other dog lovers, another reason dog parks are so delightful-- the dogs interact doing things they love, & i get to interact talking about things I love too. Potty bags are availible, but the dispensers deeper in the park are usually empty, so bring your own or stock up at the entrance. read more

This is a grand park for the different things people want. As other Yelpers state, there are a ton of kite-flyers with the small hills and bay-area winds. This makes for a beautiful scene that is unfortunately rare in these parts. This park is also excellent for people who want to BBQ, as there are grills and picnic tables. People also come here to take beautiful photos with the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco skyline in the background. Last but not least, this is a great place for dog walkers. There are on and off-leash dog walking areas for those who like to keep a grip on their dogs and those who want to tire out their dogs with a ball or other games. I do think Point Isabel is a better dog walking area because it is fenced in but it's a good thing when one can go to different dog areas just a few miles apart. It's huge, it's green, and it's dog friendly. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that you can do a good ol' stroll through the park. You can walk along the marina, along the Bay water or even across the hills on some fun and casual trails. read more

Cesar Chavez Park - Golden Gate Bridge in the background. - Parks Near Me - Berkeley, California

Wonderful park where you can have a picnic, BBQ, fly a kite, play with your family, friends, or dog(s), or just sit down and enjoy the view of the bay. Been here twice, and both times were relaxing and refreshing. I brought my adolescent Golden Retriever here both times, and we have lots of fun meeting other dogs and their owners. Some people with well mannered dogs let their dogs off leash, but we aren't quite there yet :). read more

I made it out to the park on Monday with my stroller. It might be a little bumpy for the pop-in strollers (I've no idea what they are called but all wheels are plastic and small). Good mounds ... they aren't hills, people, the hills are east of you. Loads of ground squirrels. It can be windy, yeah for kite flying. Dogs on leash. Lots of parking, not a lot of people. Because it's at the marina, you have access to the wildlife sanctuary and the bay trail if you want to extend your walk. read more

Easy to get to, gorgeous views, and a nice off-leash area for dogs. I can't believe I lived in Berkeley three years before discovering it. This was the first place we let our puppy run around, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. Despite the dead snake she once ate. There are plentiful picnic tables and grill pits that I rarely see occupied. Great kite-watching (and flying, of course, if that's your bag) on weekends. Minus one star for the wind. Ladies, tie your hair back. read more

This is a hilly park. Several trails crisscross along these hills for a perfect view of the ocean and Berkeley hills. This is an ideal place for kite flying because of the strong pacific winds. The wind can get quite strong here, but if you climb down into the valleys of some of the terrain you can easily find calm spots. Even on a sunny day you should pack a windbreaker just in case. This park is great for those who want to exercise your thighs. read more

Great park for picnics. Excellent view of the bay and the downtown skyline across the water. The golden gate bridge waving at us in the distance. Its a great park, not too crowded and ample parking. What a great treat. read more