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    Lake Cunningham Park

    3.5 (104 reviews)
    Closed 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

    Lake Cunningham Park Photos

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    Great egret flying away
    Bay Area E.

    This review is based on my first and most recent visit, and I had no expectations. I didn't expect a fee to park, but I decided I'd pay the $6 and see if it was worth it. Some might say that summer isn't the time to come to Lake Cunningham Park, as the heat in San Jose is considerably more intense than during spring or fall, and the whole place is much drier than during the rest of the year. But that parking fee felt like nothing once I got going. The real highlight of my visit was the wildlife. Within the first few minutes of walking along the main trail, I saw a red tailed hawk with a freshly-caught ground squirrel in its talons. I spent a good 40 or so minutes just watching the hawk dissect and eat the squirrel. Another cool run-in was when I saw a turkey vulture feasting on a dead snake. I have no idea whether the vulture killed the snake or found it, but it looked to be a smaller rattlesnake. Sadly I scared the vulture off when I approached it, so hopefully it came back for its meal. Other animals I saw: - Great egret - Canadian geese - Grackles - Turkey vultures - Mallard ducks - Coots - Seagulls - A feral cat I enjoyed that there were both paved and unpaved sections of the trail, and plenty of benches and curbs to stop and rest should one need along the way. There were some steeper hills, but nothing too long or strenuous. Loose gravel was not an issue at all, and the abundance of ground squirrels made for fun sightings. I saw some people feeding squirrels and ducks even though there were signs not to, but at least from my experience, that feeding hasn't made the animals *too* trusting of people, since they still ran away from me when I got too close. Overall, the drier grass and hills made the scenery unique, especially as the sun began to set and cast a golden light over everything. On some especially forested sections of the trail, it was easy to forget you were in a park and not an actual wild area. There were also areas I didn't have a chance to check out, like the skate park and BMX park, which I'll likely go back for in the future. That said, here's why I'm giving Lake Cunningham Park four stars instead of five: - The bathrooms were nothing to call home about, but were still cleaner than I had expected. I only wish the faucet stuck out from the wall more, as every time I tried to wash my hands under the running water, I ended up hitting the back of the sink. In the end, I just collected water in my cupped hands and rinsed away from the faucet head a few times. - Some of the workout equipment was pretty dusty and unattended. - There was no easy indicator that I could circumnavigate the lake, and I only figured out this was possible when I started walking through the parking lot of CaliBunga. A sign could help correct this confusion.

    Cascade Picnic Area prep tables & grill
    Ana M.

    We reserved the Cascade Picnic Area. Lots of space and shade. The grill was extremely dirty and the crank was broken. The city has LOTS of rules, however luckily we were not bothered by park staff on that day. The bathrooms are interesting... metal toliets and stall doors are optional apparently. Definitely bring your own toilet paper and seat covers.

    Lake view is awesome
    Viola C.

    View is effin awesome, especially at sunset. Rainy season can get pretty ugly and flood is everywhere but it usually goes away by the summer. I took out 1 point because there are bad pet ownership who do not bring poop bags so when u are running like myself... Be warn... Morning is best and night time. They close at sunset.

    Jimmy L.

    https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/08/03/opinion-lake-cunningham-a-local-resource-drowning-in-neglect/ Yes please! They now have the funding. Please do whatever it takes to restore this park we grew up with. There are so many potentials to this park with the vast land, location, and the once beautiful lake. They definitely need an upgrade on the restrooms and the playground. Why can't we have something like the Magical Bridge Playgrounds on this side of town? Something with shade sails will be the dreams of the kids and parents here.

    Ter L.

    Sun was out, weather was beautiful, and my Babygirl needed some fresh air... cue in Lake Cunningham Park. I came here with my sister's recommendation and although I didn't expect much, I ended up walking away quite surprised [in a very good way]. For starters, parking is absolutely FREE!! Yep, it really doesn't get any better than that!! All docks surrounding the late is closed off but you still get a killer view while you navigate around the lake. During our visit park was on the busier side of things there is plenty of room to keep up with social distancing. Picnic tables are plentiful and there are BBQ pits available for use. Downside: a lot of visitors didn't see of feel the need to wear face coverings and they didn't have the common decency to move away to one side of the path. SUPER RUDE if you ask me. Shade comes very far and few in between. Come prepared with a hat, umbrella, and/or sunblock to avoid burning. The path is blocked off in a lot of areas. We were stuck turning around and backtracking due to dead ends. 4 stars for Lake Cunningham Park.

    Sunil R.

    I am surprised at the low ratings for Lake Cunningham Park. My rating is based on the one visit yesterday so perhaps there is more to the story. It was a beautiful Saturday afternoon yesterday and we had a great visit. There was plenty of parking and not a lot of people around which was nice. The lake itself is stunning and makes for great bird watching. We enjoyed a really nice walk around the lake and stopped for pictures along the way.

    Jane E.

    I've been to this park several times for bbqs in the past. It's really nice just to take the dog for a walk around the lake. It's not too busy w/ families biking or walking around as well. Once you get to Raging Waters you have to walk around the parking lot. The lake is closed, so all of the docks are closed off. The picnic areas are open, lots of room for lots of people to be spread apart. We're planning to come back w/ more family to spend the day outside.

    Gina B.

    Me and my family really enjoys this park. It is huge and offers a lot of this to enjoy. We like to take our bikes and scooters and ride around the beautiful scenery of the lake, looking at the ducks wading. Then we hang out at the their huge playground. This park also has an action sports park for you dare devils to enjoy. I haven't gone inside but we checked it out near the entrance and we saw bikers jumping ramps. It looked really cool and fun. This park is also a great place to have a gathering or a party, they have a few sections with picnic tables and pavilions with restrooms near by. We like to bring the kids on the weekend to have some outdoor fun and if you are there during sunset be prepared for a beautiful sight of color in the sky.

    Pretty plants and flowers
    Thia L.

    I absolutely enjoy coming to this beautiful Lake Cunningham park! I have been coming to this place many times for so many years, especially now more than ever because of the Pandemic going on. Definitely a Charming hidden gem! It is located next to the popular water park Raging Water, which is one of the best attractions in the bay area for many Visitors. This park has a huge spacious playground, bbq picnic areas with lots of seatings, and the most beautiful lake right in the Center of it all. A great outdoor getaway from the busy city life. I often take my dog here for our morning walks. I love the peaceful serenity, the Gorgeous surrounding trees, and the many pretty plants and flowers. Quite an amazing Views here as well! There are many beautiful kind of birds, ducks, geeses, and lots of Turtles too! We really enjoy walking around the entire park! Just plenty of Sunshines!! I recommend coming here during weekdays. It is definitely much better! In the weekend it can be super crowded.

    Carrie N.

    Been to this park a few times now to ride my one wheel with my fiancé and family. There's always a good amount of people on the weekends and more quiet during the weekdays. The trail is nice, but if you go around raging waters there's a lot of poop everywhere! There's a lake with lots of ducks to look at or to take pictures of. A bbq place with seating and overhead to cover you from the hot sun! *There's a nice playground *Downside is you'd have to pay for parking *A lot of parking lots to park *Public bathroom is never that nice *Few workout stations

    Monica V.

    This is one of my favorite parks and have come here almost all my life as a San José native. It's about 2 miles walking the car path but 1.5 walking the inside path. There's always people walking here so I feel safe walking along during the day. There's security driving around but I've never had an issue with parking or anything. The security will drive during closing time to ensure everybody is out. During the summer, Raging Waters gets packed and the parking lot there is always full so be aware. This is an amazing park that I've enjoyed more as an adult but still has so much to offer kids. Their playgrounds are spacious and full of fun activities, they have a cool skate/bike park and there's always people around. Watch out for geese poop but otherwise enjoy!

    Bridge
    Elizabeth M.

    Came here for a quick walk. And that walk became 2.5 miles later. Beautiful park with amazing views. Long trails for a good walk/jog/or run. Would definately reccomend coming to this place. Also, due to the pandemic there is free parking.

    Lake Cunningham Park, San Jose, CA
    Samantha K.

    We had a nice time today at Lake Cunningham Park. We took a nice walk. Others were out so it was fun to do some people watching. Dogs were enjoying the day too. This is an awesome park (once things reopen - not sure when) for Raging Waters, as well as skate boarding. This is one of the best skate parks in the USA. Although not open yet, we still had a good time during this delightful day in JUne.

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    2 years ago

    Great Place to be and spend quality time with family and friends. It is well maintained and crowed is also very descent !

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    Ask the Community - Lake Cunningham Park

    What is the mile distance around the lake?

    2 miles

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    Review Highlights - Lake Cunningham Park

    I love this park despite the parking fee of $6, duck poop everywhere, and the dirty/smelly lake.

    Mentioned in 3 reviews

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    Rotary PlayGarden - Squirrel/seating

    Rotary PlayGarden

    4.2(195 reviews)
    5.2 miDowntown

    What kind of park has a zipline?!? THIS ONE. Two seating options, one with a harness for toddlers,…read morethe other for older kids (I even saw adults using this). The park also offers a fun and inclusive space for children, with climbing structures, sturdy cement slides, swings for both toddlers and older youth, a see-saw, merry-go-round, trampoline, and spongy material making up the ground's surface. The occasional squirrel, lizard, and butterfly too. As an adult simply looking for a place to relax while waiting for my car at an auto shop nearby, I was pleasantly surprised to find this park accommodating. Dirt and concrete trails weaving through the garden, lovely vegetation in spring, and a good amount of picnic tables and benches scattered throughout. Also, a shady area with fake grass and seats made out of smoothed-out logs and tree trunks, as well as adirondack chairs where I was able to hang out and nap while I was there. It wasn't too crowded or crazy on a Friday morning, though it got busier as it neared noon time. In addition, the place offers a parking lot and clean restrooms for convenience.

    Visited Rotary Play Garden for the first time over MLK holiday, and it was packed! It makes me…read morewonder if it is usually this busy or if it's because of the holiday weekend. The play garden has everything kiddos love -- slides, one seesaw, one round spinner, one rope climbing thing (that can also spin), swings (bucket and standard), small water play area, and a Zipline (one for little kids 3+ and one for older kids). They also have an area with tables, where someone was having a party (no idea if reservations are needed though). Expect to wait in line for a turn of the park is crowded. The play garden is fenced off from the rest of the park. They have a restroom on site. They have a small parking lot that is nearby the entrance of the play garden. I noticed some people parked on a smaller side street and walked over. I'm not sure what other parking options there are otherwise. We would return if we're in the area again and if it's less busy. It's a solid park and play area for those who live nearby.

    Photos
    Rotary PlayGarden - Parking lot sign

    Parking lot sign

    Rotary PlayGarden - If you get to the top of the bridge and see the windmill, you can take a seat and listen to SJC radio traffic! So cool!

    If you get to the top of the bridge and see the windmill, you can take a seat and listen to SJC radio traffic! So cool!

    Rotary PlayGarden - Entrance

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    Entrance

    Japanese Friendship Garden - Flowers and beauty

    Japanese Friendship Garden

    3.7(422 reviews)
    3.0 miEast San Jose

    We visited the beautiful Japanese Friendship Garden in San Jose on Mother's Day, and it was such a…read morepeaceful little escape from busy city life. I loved walking through the serene pathways, bridges, and lush greenery while enjoying the sight of the koi ponds and watching the fish swim around. It's such a lovely spot to slow down, relax, take photos, or simply enjoy nature for a while. Some areas have been recently restored, and the garden has a quiet charm that makes it worth visiting. You can truly feel the peaceful atmosphere inspired by traditional Japanese gardens. Perfect for a peaceful stroll, reflection time, or a simple afternoon with family and friends. It's free to enter the park, just pay for parking. Definitely one of San Jose's hidden gems.

    So much potential for this place! I came smack in the middle of a hot summer Sunday afternoon…read more There may have been water in creeks or ponds in the past, but not during my visit. Most paths were paved, while a few are dirt (maybe those aren't real paths)? Some benches sprinkled through out if a person wants to just sit and relax. The Japanese Friendship Garden connects to a bigger park with more trees and paved walkways, but most not shaded. Parking is $6 regardless how long you stay and there's a finicky kiosk that'll print out a ticket. Overall, I'd come again to see if there are any changes, but don't think I'll go out of my way to do so. #26/2025

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    Japanese Friendship Garden
    Japanese Friendship Garden
    Japanese Friendship Garden

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    Delano Manongs Park - Play structure

    Delano Manongs Park

    4.5(37 reviews)
    6.8 mi

    This park is amazing. So many things to explore, kids can climb, jump, create music sounds, run…read moreand explore. When looking for a park that creates adventure this is it! Parking can be a bit difficult, but we circle around and one opened up. So not too bad of parking There are also bathrooms near by and plenty of shade

    Such a beautiful park!!…read more I've had Delano Manongs Park bookmarked for quite some time and as time passed, I honestly forgot about this place. With an upcoming play date planned between myself and a gf, I was happy that this particular park was picked for our meet up. First things first, this park is MASSIVE! Delano Manongs Park is broken into 10 parts- YES, I SAID 10!! This includes a small and large dog park, multiple gardens, a fitness station, and a number of play structures to keep all your little munchkins happily occupied. The park is very well kept, the restrooms are very doable, and with its large size, there isn't that congested feeling you get with other locations. On top of the many perks, there is a large field to kick or throw around a few balls. The only flaw- and might I add that it is a big one- is the lack of actual shade. Your relief from the sun's powerful rays is limited to the gazebo where the benches are or using the large flower structures as a shield. 5/5 stars all in all. This is lots of fun for kids of all ages.

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    Delano Manongs Park - Play structure

    Play structure

    Delano Manongs Park - Interactive play

    Interactive play

    Delano Manongs Park - Swing and stage area

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    Swing and stage area

    Lake Cunningham Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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