This park is absolutely delightful. It sits in the city of Piedmont, which is a bit of unusual city…read moregeographically because it is completely encapsulated by Oakland. It's somewhat of an oasis in Oakland. And this park is an oasis within that. The park isn't huge, but it does the job. Love the trails, great with the dog, and every once in a while, they'll have the food trucks. Parking nearby is easy.

Piedmont park is approx. 15 acres. It is located in downtown, next to the Community Hall, Piedmont…read moreHigh School and Veteran's building. It has many walking paths that take you to different sections of the park - some make you feel you are in a dense forest. It' well maintained and manicured. Many people are sitting on benches or on the grass; park is full of life - vibrant. There is a children's playground, a Japanese Tea Garden, large lawn areas, a football field, and dog runs.

Nestled in a neighborhood of Emeryville off 62nd lives a park full of climbs, spins, slicing and…read morerocking. Parking is street in a residential area, free of meters and parking time limitations. The park is closed off to traffic, so crossing between the tot and big play areas is pretty safe. It is very quiet, even with the sounds of children and adults. There are two benches directly on the play area of the big kids (5-12), with three additional double benches with attached tables. There are well maintained, stocked restrooms directly off the big kid play area. Littles and parents will have to time their potty time as it is about 30-45 seconds from the tot play space. Definitely a cute little neighborhood park to visit if you are in the area.

Found a surprisingly nice little park!…read more It's not very big, but the design is thoughtful, clean, and comfortable There's plenty of shade , so even on sunny days it's not too hot--perfect for a relaxed playtime. Playground features: Slides, climbing structures, and spinning toys--great for kids of different ages There's also a toddler area , so little ones can play safely Special highlight: There's a community-donated free toy area Lots of different toys to play with--kids will feel like they've discovered a new playroom Bonus: There's a small path running through the park Kids can safely ride scooters or bikes--spacious and easy to move around Amenities: Restrooms (big plus!) Benches for parents to relax Heads up: Parking nearby can be a bit difficult, so plan some extra time or go earlier

I live walking distance from this gem of a playground and have taken both my girls there from ages…read more6 mos to about 3-4 years. Sometimes we still go even though the youngest is early elementary aged and they're clearly the older (est) ones there. This humble small lot is literally a toy graveyard, and excitement abounds if you happen to find one where the batteries still work and it makes sounds/ lights! There's also a small slide, 2 swings, it's totally enclosed, have some bench seating and toddler picnic table, 2 baby swings, turf ground + sand pit, and some shaded areas. (It can also get really sunny and warm.) Street parking is typically easy around two of the lot perimeters. It's one of the few lots where I could let my 2yo kids roam without worrying too much that they'd wander off or get hurt. Yes, there's a little steep "lip" heading into the sand pit (might make for a surprise butt-slide) and you'll still need to watch to make sure your kid doesn't get clocked in the head by someone on the swings. And for sure you may not want your kid eating everything that's there. But by and large it was one of the safest playgrounds and we met up with lots of (adult) friends there to chat while the kids played. We actually got some conversation in!! And our kids made some friends. On the weekdays, a bunch of nannies would bring their kids over and sit, picnic, change diapers on the ground, and chat. Super friendly. I'm so thankful this lot exists for my kids.

Great park. Love that it's fully gated. There is shade from the trees around the edges and around…read morethe picnic tables. Short picnic table for the kids

Never disappointed with a visit to Jean Sweeney Park. Our daughter enjoys the various play areas as…read moreshe navigates between the different areas, existing in some spaces longer than others. After parking, if you can find a spot, the first play area includes a trampoline, climbing structure, a wide metal slide and an oversized musical chime. To the right, a spacious mesh swing spins with kids constantly filling and spinning it. Directly in front is an ample sand area with a brick barrier surrounding it. To the left are three picnic tables. In front of the sand area is the smaller kids play area which is directly next to the restrooms and water fountain. To the left of the little play area is the zip line. When you go further in to the park, there is a covered area with lots of picnic tables and seating grouped together, more benches and lots of grass to play and explore further. There are paths to ride bikes, scooters, roller blades and skateboards. During warmer weather this park is packed. When we visited, following a prior event, there were already lots of kids on a gray, windy, overcast day. This park is spacious on the interior but parking on the exterior is limited. The parking lot is minimal for the amount of space to explore, which is awesome but makes it difficult to navigate up close parking. Street parking is not really existent unless you enter on the opposite end of the park.

Great park! First time there and my 4.5 yr old daughter loves it. Clean and big playground. Has a…read moretrail to walk around and if you have your doggy, great trail to walk around. Downside to this park, small parking lot!

This was such a wonderful park, it had all of the elements for a fun day! We're so happy we heard…read moreabout this place from a friend. You're surrounded by so many tall and beautiful redwood trees! It's really breathtaking and such a great place to be out in nature. There is a large playground area and field for the kids to run around. There's also a pool area and some recreational sports area. The view and being out in nature was priceless. We can't wait to come back again!

This is a recreation area with a pool and playground, but there are also many trails to explore…read more There is a huge parking lot for $5, which is well worth the price vs parking along the road. Today we hiked the West Ridge-Graham-Dunn Loop Trail. It's a relatively easy trail with a little elevation, but nothing serious. The views are beautiful, and you are surrounded by redwoods, sequoias, and a few other species. We saw the city in the distance covered in fog - it was stunning. Because of all the trees, most of the trail is shady. However, there are a couple of little annoyances... the path is a bit rocky. There's hardly any markers, even at forks. Good thing I had my All Trails app guiding me where to go. And finally, dogs do not need to be leashed (which may be a positive for some folks). Every dog we saw (and there were many) were unleashed. Most were well behaved, but for those afraid of dogs, this is a bit annoying. Overall, a nice serene spot to get some exercise and enjoy nature.

I used to live really close to this park and I never noticed how dynamic this park is- with the old…read morewooden play structure to the other side that has that play carousel that spins and can climb on. A good amount of swings including an accessible one. The creek also sometimes has water in it. Sandbox also available. Restrooms available but I heard not clean. Fenced in only on the street side, but other side has trees and there's a path by the creek. Parking is st parking but I usually don't have a hard time finding some.

Very convenient park in Oakland that was near the Airbnb we're staying at. It was just enough for…read morethe kids and the dog to enjoy. It probably could use a little more upkeep but I did notice some people out trimming the area. They offer a dog park and some good equipment for the kids. A basketball court is also available. I would say more than one entrance point would be good!

This park has a small playground with an underwater theme and a whale as the main attraction. The…read morewhale's mouth is opened up so kids can climb inside and get a feel for what it's like to be inside a whale. They can go as far back inside to where the tail is. There's also a slide on the side of the whale. I thought the surfboards on springs were kind of cool for kids to experience what surfing might be like without being in the water. There's no sand in this playground but the flooring is like one big blue rubber mat which is suppose to resemble water. The park overall is well maintained, lots of open green grass and conveniently located next to the Public Market. It has a couple of picnic tables and several benches scattered throughout the park. There's even a small dog park hidden in the corner. The only downside is that there isn't a lot of shade so bring a hat or sunscreen. There are no restrooms either. Thankfully you can walk over to the Public Market when you're done and use their restrooms and take a rest in the shade at one of their many tables.

I found this park because I was around the corner getting food. There's parking all around the…read morepark. I love that there's a little dog park. There's a lot of green open space. The place ground is a giant whale it's definitely different. I don't like that there's no bathrooms. The park is ok just wish there was more things to do and a bathroom.

They had a small Chinese 9-Man Tournament at Lincoln Square Recreation Center in Oakland…read moreChinatown. They offer a few basketball courts, a jungle gym playground, etc. Two separate men and women's restrooms.

Such a great community environment. Went on a field trip with my sons school for New Years…read morecelebration. Everyone was so welcoming.

This is a nice park. It's not huge, but it has different areas to explore and walk around. The…read morebathrooms are usually open and clean.

Very pretty, shady park that's beautifully maintained. The lower section is a playground that's…read moreaccessible at the end of Artuna Ave. You can walk up a trail to the upper section, or access from Dracena Ave. Dogs are allowed off-leash on the trails, but not the grassy lawn or playground area. It's a nice park and good for dogs who like to trot along the path with you. But if you have a rambunctious dog (like I do) who wants to tangle with other dogs or launch off the edge of the trails, this is probably not the best fit. If you've got little kids, or just want to go for a walk, Dracena Quarry Park is a good bet.

My 7-year old LOVED this place, so that alone makes it 5 stars. For me personally, I'd say 3…read morestars, when factoring in its easy location and not having to wait in lines. So let's preface this with, my daughter corresponds with her "very own fairy" (aka. me--a very involved parent who also celebrates her half birthday, commits to elaborate elf on the shelf surprises for a prolonged period each year, is her Girl Scouts troop leader, etc.). She's been asking her fairy to take her to Neverland. The fairy responded "not yet", and instead supplied what my daughter referred to as "free" tickets" (online $20/pp, or $139/annual which includes an adult and 3 kids) to Fairyland the next day. We took the Bart to 19th St Oakland from San Francisco, which was SUPER convenient (daughter loves the train, and I hate driving in traffic), thought a bit of a walk in the Oakland heat/humidity. Also the lake that it's located on, absolutely reeks of sewage--I don't understand how people purposely walk/jog along the edges; but at least you can't really smell it from Fairyland. Just walk on the upper sidewalk or across the street if you share in my disgust. You'll get plenty of cute photos. The few rides they have (4 rides total) are very cute, had no lines on a summer weekday, and only accommodate heights between 36"-54" (except for the Jolly Trolley train which is all heights though adults need to watch their heads when squeezing in and out). The height restriction is very important to know before you go, to ensure your kid isn't disappointed. Wear sunscreen. No mosquitoes, which I was concerned about given the standing lake water and humidity. There are outdoor sinks with soap and antibacterial to wash your hands periodically, which I appreciated. As expected, a high priced gift shop, though it's stocked primarily with smaller toys, so if you're roped into purchasing something it won't break the bank. The single restaurant counter is actually quite perfect! Imaginibbles serves super cute, kid friendly healthy food that is reasonably priced at ~$7/entree. Smaller portions, but in my opinion, perfect for a theme park. The reusable cup ($8, includes one refill) is color changing when cold, very sturdy for a plastic cup, and you can fill with strawberry, white peach or watermelon lemonade that isn't overly sweet. You are also allowed to bring your own food, and there were plenty of folks picnicking on the large grassy area. Attractions are definitely old (paint missing throughout), and not cleaned well. Spiderwebs galore, particularly in areas that are meant to only be looked at, such as the Alice statue that you can see through a window in the Alice in Wonderland tunnel. A quick broom sweep would do wonders! There are a number of cute smaller animals, like chickens, a bearded dragon, 2 donkeys, and a land tortoise. These areas conversely appear relatively well maintained, which is fantastic for both the animals and to keep smells minimal. There is also a pressed wood town area with a slide where the kids can run around and climb into the different buildings, which seemed to be a favorite of many kids. There is a long ~30min puppet show (daily ~11am, 2pm) that changes seasonally, and somehow manages to keep most kids' attention. Magic key ($3) is an easy souvenir (colors change each day, so theoretically you can collect them), and used to hear music/stories through various boxes around the park. Though boxes are staticky (older), and some have bolts sticking out that prevent your key from being turned and thus the stories/music to play. My daughter quickly tired of them anyway, but she loves treasures like the "magic" key, so it was money well spent. There is also a hand-crank penny presser (51 cents) in the gift shop, so bring some change. One disappointment of Fairyland, is that there are literally no "fairies" anywhere to be found. You'd think they might have a few tiny fairy houses situated out of reach, or even fairy lights in trees to simulate fairies. Overall, fun filled and worth the ticket price. Just be sure your kid is in the height range for rides!

This place is strategically built so that there's shade everywhere on those hot summer days. Even…read morethe slides have covers over them so that the metal doesn't get too hot. It's this attention to detail that sets it apart from other amusement parks. And the food. Let's talk about the food. This is not your overpriced, cheap-quality, greasy carnival junk. It's actually healthy fruits and veggies with milk or other house-made stuff. Fun shapes, like a rocket quesadilla. Even my fussy eater wants to eat here. Do we need to talk about the rides or value? The kids come here all day and never want to leave!