Clean bathrooms and a few playground areas. A bit of open space and walking paths as well as a few…read morebenches. Plus, it's not too crowded! There isn't too much parking, but there's also plenty of street parking. Perfect for a playdate! My 4 and 6yo kids enjoyed it, even in the cold.

This park felt safe and was mostly clean. There is very limited parking, only three spots. There is…read moresome parking in the two courts near by.

We came to Arbolado Park quite often when the kids were younger, not long after the park was…read moreformed. It has been years, but on a Sunday my wife and I happened by. We strolled through the park and were amazed at the upgrades the city has made! First off, it's way bigger: there's a huge new grassy area that was being used by adult soccer, and a satellite parking lot. A walking path weaves throughout the park, making for a nice stroll. Picnic tables abound, including many with deluxe sun canopies. There are two playgrounds, one brand new from when we were last there. Tennis courts as well. And, as before, it's an easy walk to connect with other trails. Kudos to Walnut Creek on the work done to make this park even better.

***** Park View ***** Cleanliness…read more** Tennis court conditions ***** Facilities ***** Pet Friendly The park is very beautiful and the facilities are well kept. The Tennis courts are in great need of repair and there are many cracks and hollow areas on the courts The are is however, very beautiful and nice to relax.

Very spacious clean and well maintained park. The children's…read moreplayground was very clean and fun.

Nice play structures and lots of room to play on the grass. The park is mostly shaded in the…read moremorning.

Alma Park is a fairly cute little park that seems to be mainly meant for residents of the…read moresurrounding apartment buildings and businesses in the area. End to end its about a five minute walk, with a few seating areas for lunch. It felt quite safe and well kept up, but definitely could use a few roses or flowers to brighten everything up. All in all it was very quiet when we walked through, though there were a few dogs taking their morning constitutionals, so I think if you live in the area or want a quiet spot to drink your Starbucks, look no further - this is your spot.

A gem of a park, surrounded by a moat of residential buildings. A much quieter oasis compared to…read moreCivic Park a few miles away. There's a lot of open space/grassy areas, as well as few retro cement benches & newer, metal ones.

Pretty little park undergoing restoration. This is a gorgeous shady little Oasis in this town. The…read moreday that I visited they were in progress of updating the trail in the landscaping. There's a drinking fountain here, but no bathrooms, a nice place to visit on a hot summer day.

I love this park. It's peaceful, quiet, and has lovely tall trees, including one large one that I…read morefind to be most magical in the neighborhood. There are crows and squirrels to watch, and occasionally I've spotted a deer down by the creek. It's small but special.

Out for our weekend walk the honey and I ambled into Hidden Valley Park after walking through…read moreHidden Lakes Park. Personally, we enjoyed this park more as it was paved and had more amenities, such as exercise equipment and children's play spaces. It could definitely use more culture and zhuzh as there were many spots where a bit of design (such as a mural) would have improved the vibe. But that being said, it wasn't too bad for a mid-sized neighborhood park. Our favorite areas were the small overlook with stone bench and the bridge that connected back to the trail towards Lakes. Sadly, like Lakes, some of the trails that lead down from the bridge were a bit washed out so we didn't get explore as much as we would have liked but all in all we much enjoyed getting some steps in and would definitely come back - but perhaps on a day where it's not raining.

A really nice and super clean park. I stumbled across this park while doing some light hiking at…read morethe adjacent Hidden Lakes Park. These two parks are often confused as one park, but they actually intercept each other. This is an excellent place to bring the kiddies as there is a pretty large play structure in tow. There's also a huge grassy field that's perfect for picnicking and other recreational activities. The walking paths are all paved and lead to other trails within nearby Hidden Lakes Park. There's tons of picnic space and each picnic area can be reserved for special events. You'll find a good amount of exercise equipment near a few of the walking paths. Parking is easy and there are clean restrooms on site. This is the perfect spot for a leisurely stroll or a light run. The large grassy field space is also very desirable for dog owners. I immediately noticed how clean this park was as soon as I arrived. They definitely do an excellent job of cleaning and maintaining this area. I'd say that this is one of the better local parks in the area.

Farily large park - very clean and green but super dark at night - no lighting at all except for in…read morethe parking lot. late night this might be the perfect setting for some scary movie. Its so dark toward the back you can't see your hand in front of your face. Maybe we can have the The Blair Witch Project #2 filmed here. Great little walking path that goes around and a children's play area. People come here to walk their dogs as I think there are a bunch of apartments surrounding this place. When you don't have a back yard of your own there is not much choice. Parking lot is well lit and tons of spots. I counted a hand full of lights scattered throughout. Very clean and good pavement. This is such an affluent area I would have expected a little better lighting. Other than that if you live in the area a good recommendation. Don't come from afar.

GOATED court. Super wide. Great for basketball. But man the sun was rough, I got 3 shades darker…read more Bring sun screen! I saw a lot of people throwing frisbee disc things using the course so that's cool. A lot of dog walking, people chilling on the grass. Someone playing their Steamdeck in the car for 2+ hours. Just a chill vibe all around.

I've lived near Howe Homestead Park for many years but only recently discovered it when driving…read moredown Walnut. While in and of itself it's a small park, it's a convenient and less crowded jumping off point to the Kovar trail leading in to Shell Ridge Open space and endless hiking loops. There is a small lot and water fountains and restroom facilities (fountains and bathroom currently closed due to COVID precautions.) The park itself is rather small but features a few pieces of old farming equipment, some benches to sit and relax on and a nice large lawn for dogs and kids to run around on. Adjoining it is also a community garden which was fun to walk around and see what neighbors are planting. It's a cute little neighborhood park perfect for coming to relax and read a book or to find an easy parking spot for hikes in to Shell Ridge. Love that I can walk here and spend some time enjoying this small, local green space. Review #16 of 100 goal review in 2021

Love has struck me yet again... and it's right here at this adorable park. A hidden discovery that…read moreI will now bask in until my darkest days... or at least until it becomes unbearably overcrowded. Howe Homestead Park is a small recreational park tucked right behind the streets of downtown Walnut Creek. I would have never guessed that a little park like this would be hidden only a few miles from the downtown area that I so often frequent. Coming down Ygnacio Valley Rd from Concord, you can reach this park by simply turning left on Walnut Blvd and keeping straight until you reach a small parking lot on the left hand side. I first came here on a warm Saturday afternoon, and there was virtually no cars parked in the lot. Parking is free and there is a little path that will lead you to the park. The park itself is small with many preserved antiques set along its' path like an old farming wagon and beekeeper boxes. There are a few benches where people can relax and have a nice picnic. The bathroom is immaculately clean, and there's also a beautiful community garden along the path behind the park. Perhaps, what is the most compelling aspect of this park for me is the Kovar hiking trail that leads you to the back of Shell Ridge open space. Once you pass the garden, you will see a badly degrading sign that will faintly read "Kovar Trail". You can follow this trail all the way up until you reach the top of a hill with a three-way trail intersection. I veered to the right and ended up going up some mini steep inclines. There's a beautiful viewpoint where you can see all of Walnut Creek, the beautiful rolling hills, and the highway 24 and 680 freeway. I kept going up until I reached a point where I could see tons of trails! It's a peak where you can see all of the various trails centered on Shell Ridge open space. At this point you'll begin to descend downward, however it can be quite dangerous. I'm not really into rock climbing, but I actually found myself doing this while trying to make my way down. Unfortunately, I got too afraid of slipping and took my ass back up the rock and back down the hills to the park. It's a great workout but I advise that you go early or bring LOTS of water because it gets HOT! I was drenched and extra tired because of the heat. This trail is one that is less traveled, making it more enjoyable for you to really soak up the views. I'm so happy that I discovered this amazing little hidden gem, and I can't wait to go back to hike a new trail next time around!