Given a nice spring sunny day, on a whim we decided to visit Larkey Park in North Walnut Creek. It had been a long time, and we had forgotten how nice this park is! A nice walking path goes through the good-sized park, offering wonderful views of the lush lawn and large mature trees. A host of families with their young children were enjoying the playground areas, and locals with their canine companions were out too. A few picnic tables are available, or - as one young woman did - just spread out your towel and have lunch on the lawn. After walking for a while we found a bench near the edge of the park and just vegged out soaking up the sun. A swim center and nice pool is here, although it looks like it's only used in the summer for recreational and limited lap swimming - an under-used facility in my mind. Why not year-round lap swimming? Next door is the Lindsay Wildlife Museum, and although it was closed (open Weds-Sun), a young docent had a red tailed hawk with her and was giving a nice educational spiel. There is no dedicated parking - the one negative. Street parking nearby or in the neighborhoods is the only alternative. read more

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After picking up some lunch, we needed a picnic table to sit at. The nearest one appeared to be at Larkey Park. To be honest, we didn't spend much time here. Just enough to eat and run. However, we did notice a couple of things. The park is pretty decent sized for an urban park. Lots of grass, trees, picnic tables on one side of the street. There is also a public pool (closed while we were there) and an unisex restroom that was reasonably clean. There were individuals, couples and groups of people enjoying the park. In one area were some musicians with guitars and possibly other instruments. We don't know they were there for practice or a class but when we arrived, one person was playing a song that sounded quite good on acoustic guitar. We also saw others who were picnicking with a dog in tow. Everyone was pretty mellow. The dogs didn't bark, and no one was playing excessively loud music. What could make the experience better for us? We didn't fully explore the park so we don't know exactly how large it is but we're always fans of parks with dog play areas. They don't have to be large, but they do need to be clean with running water and some shade. Plus, there should be separate areas for large and small dogs. Beyond that, locals should feel lucky to have such a nice park to relax in. read more

We've been here twice now for meetups with the Mommy & Me Yoga group. The park is really nice, clean, has lots of shade, areas for kids to play on the play structure or just run around. I've seen many people walking their dogs and there's no conflict with other dogs. If you need a bathroom it's at the pool center. I'm surprised it's a bit windy in this area at the 11am hour. I'd come back without classes too just to relax. read more

Great park with great play areas for littles. My little loves exploring this park and watching the swim team dive into the pool. My only problem is that the lot is pretty small and parking can be hard at times especially when folks are at the pool or there are events in the area. read more

Beautiful place, amazing vibe with a secured and peaceful neighborhood. Met a friend in there and will definitely visit this place again!

The park looks nice and clean, but the some of the nanny kids have the kids urinate there every single day. If you walk next to the side of the trees , you can smell the urine , and you can see the kids wipes on their . Also some mothers have their kids urinate there,and they do not care. If you go through do not let your kids go behind the pushes , or at the Side of the trees by the fence. Someone needs to report those people to the police. read more

pleasant atmosphere, warm, lots of picnic areas . walnut creek is warm city. our church group has gone there for the last 12 plus years.

Not sure why the pool and park next to it is closed in mid-August? Weather seems perfect for swimming. I know kids are back in school but what about weekends and evenings. A being said, it's a beautiful large park worth lots of shade and picnic areas and a water spigot. read more

So, lately I've been on this local park hype, and I have to say that Larkey Park ranks up there as one of my favorites. This little park has got it goin' on! It's the perfect spot for a picnic, a party, a walk, for dogs, to take your kids... just about everything! Lots of big grassy fields and tall trees that provide a ton of shady areas. There are tons of kids play areas with slides, swings, and other rides that I'm still trying to figure out?! Yeah... some of those rides look a little strange, but I digress... They have picnic tables galore! You can reserve one of the picnic areas for special events and parties. The last time I was here, someone was throwing a party for their little girl here. It's truly the best spot to do it at! You have a grill and so many tables to host people. This park is connected to a small swim center that has a pool and the most adorable little water slides! It's a hop and a skip away from the Lindsay Wildlife museum. There's a basketball, tennis, and volleyball court on site and restrooms are easily accessible. What I love about this park is that one of my favorite walking and hiking trails runs right through it: the Briones to Mount Diablo Trail! You can park at Larkey Park and take this trail all the way to Acalanes Ridge and even to the backside of Briones Regional Park! It's apart of Walnut Creek open space. There are a few other local walking trails that connect here as well. On nice sunny days, this park fills up with a ton of locals but it never feels overcrowded. Sometimes they have community activities that can be seen on their posted calendar. There's a small parking lot off of 1st and Buena Vista Street but there's also plenty of street parking on many of the side streets. It's a great local park with tons of activities. read more

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Review #072 - 2020 With so many people being judgmental of me going out while everyone's staying home during the coronavirus pandemic, I just have one question, "Would you rather die alone while hiding in your house?" I don't care either way, but I just don't understand why people aren't afraid of being inside a crowded Costco or Wal-Mart; yet, they think they'll catch something from being outdoors. If your time is up, there's no place that you can run to, to hide from death. Now, I'm not saying you should be irresponsible & go out if you're sick. Quarantine was meant to keep the sick away from those who are well; but in this situation, it seems like everyone's just locking themselves up & stressing out for no good reason. I brought my 4-year old daughter to meet with my niece & her two daughters after I picked up some chicken sandwiches for everyone. We showed up at around 2:45 PM on Wednesday, April 8th, and there was actually a decent amount of people out with their kids & walking their dogs. So, I guess I wasn't the only idiot who didn't want to sit at home & wait for death. I'm glad they left all the picnic tables free for us to use so we could sit & enjoy our lunch for about 10 minutes. They did tape off the water fountain so people wouldn't drink out of them. They also taped off the children's playground, which was understandable, since kids do love to touch everything & then stick their dirty little fingers into their mouths & noses. We all kept our distance, while we walked our 2.5 miles. This place is definitely good for family picnics, if and when we're able to be out & gather in groups again. Until then, social distancing is perfectly fine while you try to get some fresh air & a decent work out. read more

Larkey Park - 04/08/2020: Playgrounds are closed off! - Playgrounds Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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Found this park by accident. We were at the little museum next door. This park is nice and open. There's a lot of green grass and big trees. There's a ton of shade everywhere. There's two little parks. A big kid and a little kid park. There's also a pool on the side. They have chairs and tables with umbrellas. Very relaxing park. read more

Came here for a bday party for a little one and it's great. Lots of shade and parks play ahead. Water fountains help load up buckets of water or water find. We were a little sad about the water park as they opened at 1 instead of the 12 time listed online. Plenty of upset parents and disappointed kids. They also charge for the splash pad which we thought was free....umm free with admission to pool...so not so free. The park itself is nice though! We had a 2.5 y/o boy who was happy. read more

Larkey park is our neighborhood park and it is our go to park to play , run , dolly Polly down the hill , play sand , kick a soccer ball or two. There are a mix of age range which makes it super special and you will no doubt make friends as an adult. This a dog friendly park but our furry friends should be on a leash and that is another story hence not five stars. read more

Larkey Park - So quiet at 9 am. - Playgrounds Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Larkey Park is a pleasant 13 acre oasis within the Buena Vista area of North Walnut Creek. The Lindsey Wildlife Museum is here, as is the Walnut Creek Model Railroad Society, a swimming pool, picnic and children's play areas, tennis courts, tennis courts, plus connection to walking trails and lots of open green. I was here most recently for Gayle's employee picnic and other times to visit the Lindsay and wander around this beautiful part of God's Green Earth. This is the perfect place for a family picnic or birthday party, or just hanging out. read more

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We love this park! Found it through a mom & baby meetup group. So much to do here from walking, large playground & now with the hot days we are excited for the splash pad & rec pool. read more

It's a nice park! Clean, friendly people... the only problem is if you are planning to bring your little ones to the playground, bring them a hat and put a lot of sunscreen on them, there is not shade on the playground. read more

Usually a nice clean park and has a decent amount of trees for shade. However the splash pad is another story. You have to make reservations which they are somehow always full, even though every time I've seen it ...there's only 6-8 kids there. It's very tricky to even find where to make reservations since there's so many steps on the website. There's only two small umbrellas otherwise it's all in the sun. Sad since this is currently the only splash pad in Walnut Creek and it's impossible to get reservations and isn't free. read more

Great park. Large, usual play structures, climbing wall etc. Big draw of this park is that is right next to the Lindsay Wildlife Museum and the Railroad Museum, both places we go to semi-regularly. Now that we are members of the Wildlife Museum, we will probably end up here a lot more. Really like the area in general. Very nice neighborhood. read more

One of my favorite parks in the area, probably because I used to play here when I was little : ) My little nieces and nephew also love this park. The swings are fun and swing high! The play structures on both playgrounds are interactive and bring out kids' creativity. The rock wall is a short climb for toddlers. The cho cho train has limitless opportunities for imagination. The sandbox fosters friendships between playing toddlers and watchful parents. The large grassy knoll is great fun to run down or tumble down. The picnic tables are plentiful and great for parties. The Larkey Park Swim Center and the Lindsey Discovery Museum are just a membership away : ) read more

Decent park located right next to the Lindsay Wildlife Museum. Sand/water play available. Four tot swings and two regular. Many shaded picnic tables. The playground is located on top of a hill, so small kids may try to wander off downhill. Bathrooms are available at the back of the museum. As of 1/16/2013 the big kid section of the park is demolished. It looks like they're redoing it. read more

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This was a beautiful park. We did my sons party on 9/3/22 and this was during the heat wave. Initially I was so ticked to be at a park instead of jumping in and out of the lake, however once arriving for setup I found the park to be very well shaded in the picnic areas. After having left Pleasant Hill Park and not finding any available spaces, I was unsure of what other parks in the nearby area would compare, however I was pleased with the outcome. Only 2 complaints would be...1) signage for reserved picnic areas had graffiti and was on a hidden part of the pole (somewhere you'd least expect), & 2) The Pool wasn't open. Yet none of these things stopped us from enjoying this beautiful park. We'll be back! read more

Excellent location for baby showers and kids and for dogs. It also has public restrooms and it's clean I highly recommended to visit for a good getaway. read more

Larkey Park - Playgrounds Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

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Love going here with friends and family.. It's spacious, plenty of shades under the trees.. Great bike routes & playgrounds for kids..

They have an incredibly fun water park with water slides that don't require swimming so very young children are capable of playing without worry. They do have life guards. This park is so much fun, perfect for your energetic four year old on a hot day. read more

This is a delightful park and playground area, located in Walnut Creek close to Geary Road. I love how there are two play areas -- one is sand and the other is a play structure. In addition, there is a generous bench/table/BBQ area close by -- close enough that you can keep your eyes on the kids playing but not so close that you're bothered by the noise. My tip for those who are holding a birthday party or other event at the park: you can reserve some of tables for $200 OR you can snag one of the free tables and BBQ grills -- get there EARLY on the weekend, as they free ones are first come first served (we got there at 8 am, and the next family showed up looking for tables at about 8.30 am -- there are enough for about three parties). read more

This review is for its group picnic area. This past weekend I BBQ'd (www.grillaxin.com) at Larkey Park "lower area" group picnic area for a 2 year old birthday party. This park is a the perfect park for a party. It features 6 large nice picnic tables which can easily accommodate 12 adults at each table, there's PLENTY of shade and the play ground is about 40 yards away. Adjacent to the picnic area is a large field to play a game of soccer, baseball, volley ball or even to place your bounce house. In addition, there is ample parking for your guest. This a great park to have a party at or just to visit with your kids! read more

This is truly an awesome neighborhood park. I'm so envious of residents living close by because it pretty much has everything you'd want in a functional park catered towards adults, teens, and kids. Parking can be accessed along the street or at the Lindsay Wildlife Museum right next door. The park has plenty of picnic benches and planters for people to rest and sit-on while watching their children play on the modern play structure. The updated and modern playground has chipped bark covering the ground, but there is also a sand pit area for kids to dig and get dirty. There is also a newer play structure about 200 feet away that is geared towards young toddlers. For those into hills, there are plenty of rolling hills to run down from or slide on (if you purchase a block of ice). The winding paved walkways are nice for walkers and joggers alike. The only bathrooms I saw were adjacent to the wildlife museum. The only minor knock I would give the park is that there were no BBQ apparatuses for people to grill their steaks/meats on. read more

I grew up across the street from Larkey Park. It's a nice, quiet neighborhood park for the most part. There's plenty of open grass space to let your dog (or toddler) run around. There's also a couple of playgrounds for kids to enjoy. The pool is open to the public during the summer. I had some fun times here swimming on a hot day or taking a few jumps off of the diving board. It was always a friendly place with lots of kids and families. Larkey Park also has a few grills and tables for barbecuing. There's always an event or two with lots of food and festivities during the weekend. However, there are a couple of things that I didn't like about this park. First, the curfew is pretty early. I can't remember the exact time, but want to say 9 PM. The cops literally roam the parking looking for people who haven't left. There have been several instances where I've simply been walking my dog and have gotten hassled by WCPD to leave. Second, I have a feeling that some shady stuff happens here. Whenever I would walk my dog here after dark, I would see some sketchy folk just waiting in the parking lot or in the park. The stench of marijuana was not an uncommon smell. Maybe that's why the cops are so rigid about kicking people out after dark. read more

Looking for a place to play? Throw a kid's birthday party? Enjoy the sun? Well, Larkey Park can provide all of those things for you. Plenty of parking, a public restroom, and a HUGE greenbelt and a playground, all lend themselves to help make your trip to the park fun and inviting. My friend hosted her daughter's 1st birthday party under the shade of the big trees which worked out well. read more

Gorgeous hidden park in the back roads of walnut creek :) Lots and lots of grass with huge trees, very peaceful. Has a path that goes around the whole park, also a swimming / recreational area for families and children. Also have basketball courts, tennis courts, and volleyball(sand) court across the street. read more

I don't really spend much time in the East Bay but I definitely picked the perfect day! The playground looked really nice from afar! Didn't have a reason to check it out due to my lack of children ;P There's a sweet pool, but it wasn't open. I got to check out the basketball court. They only have one. The grass area is huuuge! Bring a ball! read more

Very nice quaint park in a hidden part of town! I brought my toddler here for the first time last week and she loved it. They have 2 newer playgrounds and plent of grass to run around. The park is situated on a hill so park on Larkey Lane if you have trouble with walking up inclines. There is a swim center and the Lindsey Wildlife Museum is on the same grounds. I'll bring her back to the museum when they are open. Great for picnics or small birthday parties. read more

I agree, this little -known park is a godsend for parents! I want to see if we can actually have a birthday party here, I just am not sure if they'll let me bring in a jumper-house thingy, which is a requirement for my older boy...but if I throw my daughter's party here I may be able to get away with it if we just hire a princess or something. I agree the grass area is huge and would even work for a company get together but I'm happier just with my kids and a frisbee! read more

We went to a friend's son's 4th birthday party here a few weeks ago, and really liked this park. It has a great playground which my daughter enjoyed a lot, and plenty of picnic tables and some grills if you want to cook up some BBQ. It's very clean and well-maintained. The parking lot is kind of small, but there's plenty of street parking. The Lindsey Wildlife museum is located here as well. Can't wait to come back and check it out with my little one. read more

We love spending time on the weekend picnicking in this park. This place has a play structure perfect for toddlers. There are 3 different barbecue areas which are good for birthday parties. There are lots of trees to shade you from the hot summer heat. My 3 year loves to run and roll down a little hilly area next to the play structure. read more

We walked to this park after our visit to the wildlife museum. It is a great large park with fun set ups. My son was very fond of the little train they had. I also saw a pool nearby but wasn't sure if that's also part of the park or separate. Will definitely come back when we visit the museum. read more

Great park, and it's next to the wildlife museum. If you have a kid, this is a must-do in the Far East Bay. It's a standard destination for our family! read more

A wonderful park with 2 great play areas for kids. The large open areas for kids are well maintained. Lots of picnic benches and BBQ pits. Less shade than Civic Park but plenty available for picnics. A day at the park and the museum is highly recommended. read more

This is a great park. I've been going to this park since I was a kid. My mom and I take our dachshunds for a walk here and they love it. It's a great place to bring your kids to play, have a barbecue/picnic, or relax on the grass and read . There are many trees so its very shaded which is really nice especially on those hot days. There is a swim center off to the side which is nice to go to during the summer. What's extra cool about this place is right next door is the Lindsey Wildlife Museum. So you got fun and education in one place :) read more

Very nice area of walnut creek, this park is well kept. I went there specifically for the sand volleyball courts. The net is in great shape, the sand is perfect. You have to bring your own lines & antennas. But if you live in the area this is a perfect practice of pick up game sand volleyball court. read more