Pickleball Scene: MAIN COURTS: 37.4207480,-122.1125647 * Learning Links Palo Alto * 3864 Middlefield Rd Palo Alto, CA 94303 * Parking in the back lot or street parking by the curb TWO SIDE COURTS: * Mitchell Park Tennis Courts * 600 E Meadow Dr Palo Alto, CA 94303 Bathrooms are in the red barn after you cross the blue "magical bridge" Water fountain around the corner of the courts Generally a mix of beginners, intermediates, and occasional 4.0's on the far inner courts. read more

Mitchell Park - Where to park - Playgrounds Near Me - Palo Alto, California

I love Mitchell's park (and my kids love it) with a passion!!! so many great things here's quick list 1. has playground for the little ones and a fun area where they can get wet in the summer time 2. playground for the big kids that's almost always empty 3. playground further back near picnic table (it's simple but allows parents to sit down and have a table to put their stuff in or enjoy a nice picnic with family ) 4. included the Magical Bridge Playground -- would literally pay to go here! 5. bathrooms in the middle of the park (these could be kept cleaner but still) 6. lots of parking spaces near play areas 7. Same area as Mitchell's park library 8. I love that they have events here like the Chili Cook Off would I recommend? yes! read more

This is our favorite for all-day play. The Magical Bridge playground is incredible, and there's tons of room to run, explore, and have lunch. -Play Area: Inclusive playground (Magical Bridge) for all ages and abilities. -Amenities: Sports fields, community center, restrooms, picnic areas. -Shade & Scenery: Lots of tree cover and wide open lawns. -Accessibility: Fully accessible playground and paved paths. -Parking: Large on-site parking lot. -Good for: Families, nannies, caregivers, daycares read more

Amazing -- Tai Chi free Live Music free Dance lessons free Best Library attached -Musical-Playground- Unique *'Bike Boulevard' then ride round the Park multi entrances Cafe onsite Pickle Ball Courts are action pack read more

Small park I used to bring my kid to early morning before Japanese school. It's right next to the parking lot and next to an elementary school so a lot of traffic around school time. It's well maintained and very clean, we've seen the maintenance crew cleaning and raking the sands constantly. Mitchell Park received national and international acclaim when it opened in 1957. Designed by Robert Royston, it was a new kind of park, with a variety of recreational activities geared to people of all ages. It's the simple thing the kids seems to enjoy the most. Near the elephant statue there are "gopher holes" that your kids can crawl through and stick their head out. I wish I was small enough to fit because it looks fun. There are two play areas for younger kids and older kids. They are better designed than other playgrounds and much more "playable" than just going up and using the slides. read more

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What an amazing community center , the janitorial staff for the city of Palo Alto I have known for 30 years. Only down side is parking. They have a library, cafe, and meeting rooms. Great place to go to the park. Kids love the playgrounds and on the weekends the BBQ's are open and so many people enjoy the peaceful place where families can get together, a dog run for fun and so much to do. The Chili cook off is here each year no matter what day 4th of July falls on. What a happening place. Right between Charleston and E meadow on Middlefield road. You know you are close when you see the Palo Alto little league baseball field. Great place for the whole family , right down the street from Piazzas market. Clean bathrooms, this place is a gem for parties or family outings!!! read more

Mitchell Park - Getting my award in the Palo Alto room at Mitchell park community centers - Playgrounds Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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mitchell park located along middlefield in palo alto is quite massive...centrally located between elementary schools, churches, library and more...crowded on weekends and during peak hours...parking can be tough...baseball diamond, tennis court, endless grass and field, standard playground and the popular magical bridge playground...need to view a map of the park to find what is located where...tennis courts and magical bridge playground appear to be the most popular attraction at this park...crowded! read more

Mitchell Park - magical bridge - Playgrounds Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Huge park. It actually feels like 5-6 smaller parks put into one, so if one area isn't you cup of tea, so you can try something else. My daughter enjoyed her time here and I can easily see us coming here again. It's on the larger side, and very family friendly. One of the better parks in the Bay Area if I do say so myself. read more

I was in Palo Alto visiting friends in this area and happened on this park. What a great find! My toddler spent 2 hours in the play area and had a whale of a time. There was also a fun water play area but we were unfortunately not equipped with bathers. read more

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The bathroom stinks. And why do kids park don't put covers. Its really hot! And the trees dont even cover the area.

A gem of a park, surrounded by the Community Center, Little League, a middle school and an elementary school. There is something for everyone; tennis courts, pickle ball, handball, trees for climbing, a dog park, an open area for theater (or when I was there an outdoor dance/exercise class) several play areas, with the inclusive Magical Bridge play area being the star attraction. I was also impressed with the art installations, a.k.a statues, one of which kids are encouraged to climb on and explore. There is a walking path on the inner circle for people who want to get in their daily steps or just take it all in Really there is something for everyone in a very family friendly, clean, safe park. It is very popular, and the Magic Bridge in particular gets pretty crowded. read more

This is very large park for many activities and gatherings. It is hidden from the main road and located near the library and a school. While we were at the park, there were several parties at different areas of the park. Also, there were two soccer games occurring on their large grassy field. read more

For the dog park, this is way bigger than Hoover Park! It's in the back near the tennis courts. Half grass, half dirt. Lots of benches, shaded and sunny areas. Big and small dogs both in one place, but dogs there were friendly and owners were attentive. Would definitely come back! read more

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(This review is mainly for the dog park) I came here because I read a few reviews on yelp about how there is a dog park here, so I headed here with my husband and 2 of my dogs. The dog park is towards the back of the park, on the left hand side (if your back is towards the parking lot). It is quite a walk to the dog park though, from the parking lot. Anyways, I was a bit disappointed with the dog park here, even though it is one of the larger dog parks here in Palo Alto. The dog park is just one large section where both big dogs and small dogs are all in the same area. I honestly prefer a dog park that separates the big dogs from the small dogs because sometimes smaller dogs just do not get along as well with big dogs and vice versa. So with that, I was a little disappointed and just thought this dog park was just average (3 stars for that). It is nice that there are some dog bags and also one of those pooper scoopers that you can use in case your 4 legged friend(s) need to go. It is all dirt in the dog park and parts of it is shady, but most of it is sunny. By the way, the park itself is really beautiful and have plenty of grass and area for kids to come and play (1 star for that). Also really nice that there are some light walking trails around here. I also liked that the restrooms have toilet paper, soap and paper towels, which is a very nice touch. Parking was easy for us when we pulled up into the park. Overall, a pretty nice park, but wished the dog park was just a bit nicer and separated with a big dog side and and a small dog side. read more

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I mean, what can I say? This park has literally everything you'll need. It's HUGE with 4 completely spread out and unique play structures. Of course the Magical Bridge park is the highlight for kids, but there's also a splash pad area on the other side of the parks. Lots of fields, bathroom areas, picnic benches, a little stage area where bands often play, and a fairly big dog park! There's always fun going on here, whether it's trapeze practice, video game-themed role playing, you name it! We love going here. There's also tennis courts and a community center/cafe/library! read more

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So came here because Magical Bridge is located here. The park is shared with the library and a couple other small shops. They have a good size parking lot but not enough for weekend traffic with the addition of the tennis court, field, and dog park. The dog park is used heavily but local dog companies. Really heavily, seen one guy with over a dozen dogs alone. And the handicap ramp is right next to a spot speficially for vans. read more

Mitchell Park - Playgrounds Near Me - Palo Alto, California

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This park is a nice place to hang out. Have been here before for my niece's birthday party but decided to hang out there today because of the beautiful weather To prep for the family picnic, we brought picnic blankets and our own foods The park is fairly big with space for volleyball, a children's park, and a lot of grassy lawns. During the time that we spent here, we saw moms with their strollers, high school kids paying volleyball, and people walking their dog It was actually quite interesting to observe what nature has to offer to us: the people, the ambiance, and the earthly things Will probably most likely visit again. Just to celebrate the excellent weather and nature in general read more

One of the best playgrounds around! Magical Bridge playground has shaded area with benches/tables/seats for the parents while watching the kids play on a fun structure. Roller slide, steep slide, regular slide, artificial grass, cardboard pieces to slide down on - plus a lot of the spinning contraptions and swings. Kids really have a blast here. Library is nearby too for a nicer bathroom or place to decompress and read. Good amount of parking. read more

Doesn't it make sense that Mitchell Park is a superior playground considering it's located in the rich and affluent suburb of Palo Alto? When a community has this much floating money elevating it, of course, it's gonna be better -- more advanced, more outfitted with post-modern gizmos -- than an average city's park. I never grew up in an area with a Neverland-like facility like this one, with its Lewis Carroll-like treehouse, super slides, roller belts, tip-toe musical harp, super spinners, merry-go-rounds out of a French vanguard movie, and other whimsical apparatuses. Because I didn't have anything like this, it doesn't mean I don't want my children having this kind of facility. Parents bring their young supermen and wonder women in training offspring to this park. The kind of kids you see here are the kind that sing along while they skip around jaunitly from one activity to the next. You don't see dopes hanging around; well, of course, there are no dopes here because all the kids are having too much adventurous fun (nobody stoops nor frowns), and besides, this is a city of supremely and naturally well brought up children. The city's people, as well as its aura, shines on you. #goodtimes read more

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This 21.4-acre district park offers a lot for people who want to have a picnic or spend the day doing something outdoors. I've been here a few times and still have only seen small portions of this well-loved, huge park. Features include: * several play structures and swings * great lawn * above ground "gopher holes" play area * water feature where kids can run around and get soaked * children's play areas * miniature freeway system in the tiny tot area * quarter-mile jogging/walking path * picnic areas with barbecues * benches * seven lighted tennis courts * two paddle tennis courts * four handball courts * horseshoe pits * multipurpose bowl * athletic fields * public art (Arch Cradle, Push, After the Fire) * fenced dog run * restrooms * parking lot Our dog is on high alert and wants to chase squirrels here. Squirrels are everywhere. The weather today, October 29, was warm enough for kids to run around and get drenched in the water feature - amazing. Bring swim suits and towels if you have little ones who might want to get wet. read more

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What's not to like about a 21 acre park right here in the middle of Palo Alto? Pearce Mitchell Park is suburban park heaven with its ball fields, tennis courts, several climbing structures, shaded picnic tables, old growth trees, water feature and many acres of well-heeled green grass. It's all extremely well maintained and makes a terrific destination for kids of all ages. As a result, it's pretty active with everyone from toddlers to adult soccer leagues to the older gentlemen playing chess... but the sheer size means that I have never seen it too crowded. read more

Mitchell Park - Playgrounds Near Me - Palo Alto, California

This Park Is Good for Kids, Family, BBQ's & Dogs... Infact the Dog Park Part Is Why I Went... Great spot for dogs to Rome " OFF THE LEASH" mingle with other dogs & make new friends. When I took my dog there we were greeted with other friendly dogs There was a dirt and grass area for Dogs to do There Thug Thang....LOL A pooper scooper and water provided for the dogs. But anti-social dog owners "Yuck!" It would be nice if they had a barrier between big dogs and little dogs. Just beware of other dogs remember their not like your dog. I Rake This Fun Dog Friendly Park 5 read more

There's a lot to be enjoyed in Mitchell Park. A nice-sized dog park, places for frisbee, soccer, baseball, BBQs and picnics, Mitchell Park is one of my family's favorite destinations in the summer time. The park's playground has one of the best waterplay areas for young kids (wear sunscreen, the sun is bright here). The surrounding playground was built with different age groups and abilities in mind. My kids also find the rabbit holes in the sand area very amusing for Hide n' Seek and other imaginative play. Restrooms are also conveniently available (right next to the playground!) as well as BBQs. read more

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This popular park is nestled in a nice neighborhood with plenty of parking and shade. I like parks that have some kind of border to prevent rambunctious little boys who don't listen from running off. It's pretty popular in the morning and thins out around noon when kids go home to eat lunch and nap. They have some cute features like a wooden car with steering wheel that boys love. Also a bridge that they can climb up and down. What's cool is the tunnel with holes they can pop in n out like pairie dogs. They also have a water feature for hot summer days for kids to cool off at. read more

Mitchell Park - Climbing the bridge - Playgrounds Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Huge park with a ton of field space, and it's a great spot for our temple picnic, which we have every year! With a lot of BBQ grills, tables, and some trees with shade, it fit our large group of about 70 people with ease. On the other side of the park, there is also a water and playground area, which is pretty neat. For some reason, I really like the stone bears and elephant, as well as the gopher holes in the sand... And of course, being from Berkeley, I had to test the climb-ability of the trees, which was just right ;) read more

My second favorite park in the Bay Area! Lush green grass (and a lot of them too!), strange birds flocking about, the biggest dog park in Palo Alto, & running paths. What's there not to love about this park? read more

Mitchell Park - Squirrel casualty by the dog park. I wonder whoooooooo(f) - Playgrounds Near Me - Palo Alto, California

Love Mitchell Park! Played some pickleball with a friend on New Year's Eve from 7-10 PM. We were like the only ones there, it was lit up (so we felt very safe). We would definitely come back again! Love this park! read more

Such a friendly dog park! Very spacious with lots of room for your 4-legged friends. Great place to host a "pawty!" Lots of parking and shady areas. I also came here when OneBark was hosting a doggie walk-a-thon. read more

We decided that this 4th of July was going to be different. As much as we love to BBQ at the house, keep it low key, that's become the comfort zone and we wanted to get out and live it up a bit. I decided that Palo Alto would likely have stunning weather, unlike San Francisco in July. I also decided that a chili cook off would be a really fun event and so we headed down here to get busy. The park is really big and pretty well maintained. Growing up in Bruno, this is a much nicer park than we are used to but I also imagined that Palo Alto had pristine grass, no burnt spots, immaculate baseball fields and that wasn't the case. The chili cookout event was an absolute blast!! Semi decent live music, lots of open space to relax, plenty of shade to ditch the burning sun and it was definitely a wonderful day. read more

This is a review for the dog park. Don't come here if you have a small dog. My Shih Zhu is friendly and plays with all dogs of all sizes. But she was attacked by 3 big dogs here. There's about 30 dogs here but only 4 humans. I think dog walkers may bring dogs here and there are only so many eyes to keep an eye on the dogs. There isn't suppose to be aggressive dogs in this park, but owners/humans aren't paying attention. To improve this, there should be a limit to how many dogs can come in with a human. Also, it would be helpful to divide small and big dogs since the space is big enough for division. read more

Lovely park with something for everyone. The main reason we visited was for the dog park. One of my little pups is disabled and per our veterinary's instructions can run around only on flat grass which led us to seek out this dog park (he is very susceptible to recurrent spinal injuries if he jumps or climbs anything). It was divided into two separately gated off sections: one with grass and one without (note: there is no division based upon the size of dog). When we arrived there was one other dog in the grassy section. The park contained some seating, minimal shade and a water supply for dog bowls. I did not see any poop bags or garbage cans inside the dog area for visitors which I thought was unusual. After about 30 minutes, a woman on the other non-grassy side decided to inform us through the gate that "dogs were not really supposed to be on the grassy side because they are trying to let the grass grow back but whatever." This was a bit strange because it was not posted on the signage listing the rules outside of the enclosed area and despite the presence of a lock next to the door of the grassy part, it remained unlocked. Also, there was ample grass and no areas lacking grass. So minus one star for either not making that clear to park patrons or for dog owners misinforming other patrons because the enclosed grassy area is the main reason I chose to visit this dog park. Other than the dog park, I liked that there was ample parking and there seemed to be something for everyone. The park is a decent size and spacious, containing a little league area, tennis courts, a children's play area, picnic tables, and more. I'd be happy to return if the grassy dog area is indeed open for business since my disabled dog cannot run around on tougher uneven terrain. read more

This park is great; it's huge! There is a waterpark area for kids to play among the spraying jets that shoot water from the ground. If you walk further into the park, there are tennis courts + multiple playgrounds, a dog park and even a "Magical Bridge" playground for kids / adults of all ages. :) Everything is free, and clean! The restrooms (at least in the morning) are clean too. This making me want to live in Palo Alto, haha! read more

This review is for the dog park. There are better dog parks in the area but sometimes it's convenient for me to bring my dog to this one. The best part about this is the fact that it's in a nice park so after you bring your dog to this part of the park to run around, you can walk your dog on leash in the park. My only real complaint with this park is the people. So many idiots at this park from the guy who hates dogs, yet brings his dog here, to the people who have absolutely no control over their precious little rats. If you aren't a dog person, this is the park for you. If you know absolutely nothing about how dogs play and interact with other dogs, this is the park for you. If you yell at other dog owners to make sure your dog doesn't run out and won't take responsibility for your dog trying to escape as other people are coming and going, this park is for you. read more

This place has it all, Tennis courts, big open fields, softball fields, pool, picnic tables, and nerds in renesaince outfits sword fighting. Yes, that is right sword fighting. Exactly like they did in that movie Role Models. I was there to coach a soccer practice and I was mesmerized by the nerds and their swords. Dont get me wrong I am pretty dorky myself but at the same time i enjoy making sweet dirty love to a women(Which leaves fake sword fighting in public off my to do list). So anyway back to the park. This place was great and actually had enough parking. read more

DOG PARK REVIEW ONLY: Mitchell Park's dog run area is not fancy. AT ALL. It's not nice. AT ALL. It's not well thought out. AT ALL. But seriously, when you're a dog owner those things don't matter quite as much as the type of owners and dogs who frequent the park. And in my many multiple visits (typically weekend mornings or weekday evenings) I haven't been overly upset at noticeably irresponsible dog owners. I'm not saying they don't come here - but I haven't encountered any yet. So for now, I still like this park a lot better than the one at Shoreline. Perhaps it draws a more suburban "Palo Alto" crowd. Perhaps people are a little more educated. Perhaps idiots can't find it on a map? (just as well)... but I'm happy that's so. The dog park could stand to be improved however. It's just one big open fenced-in square. Half is dirt and half is grass. There's a hose at the far end and a bunch of buckets and water bowls for the dogs. There are a couple of benches that fill up quickly - otherwise there are a whole bunch of random plastic patio type chairs - seems like they must've been donated by owners. There's no poop bag dispenser or trash can; instead there are recycled plastic bags people bring from home (and hang along the fence) and a dumpster. It sort of makes me think like it's a co-op dog park or something. Maybe it is. There's very little shade in the afternoon unless you wait until almost dusk. On a hot day it's HOT for the humans. Here's a map to help you find the dog-park: http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=8519 If it's after school hours you can park at Herbert Hoover Elementary School (in back) and you're a VERY short walk to the dog park. Otherwise you'll have to walk through quite a lot of Mitchell Park itself - not that it's a chore, it's a nice park. Oh if only I could swap the crowd at Mitchell with the park at Shoreline. But since I can't... I'll keep coming to Mitchell... read more

**Since the only time I have spent in the rest of the park is walking to and from the parking lot, this review is only for Mitchell Dog Park. :-) ** I'm constantly on the search for new and interesting places for my pup, Freckles, to go to and have a good time! We generally go to Shoreline Dog Park, but lately he has been having some "paw issues" with their surface (sand/gravel) and has come home with cuts and scrapes on his pads. Not a good thing! So, while his prissy paws are healing, I wanted to be able to take him somewhere that had a lot of dogs, but also grass or some kind of soft surface! I had heard about Mitchell park through a Palo Alto online forum, but the comments there were definitely not positive, so I was slightly wary about visiting the park. However, we bit the bullet a couple of weeks ago, and decided to go give it a try...and I'm so glad we did! Freckles adores this park, so much so that it might turn into our go-to-park! The park is pretty large, I'd say almost the same size as Shoreline's large dog enclosure, but all dogs use it no matter what their size. This is a nice change for us, I can't speak for other small dogs, but Freckles likes playing with both large and small dogs...there's no discrimination with him! ;-) Half the park is grass and the other half is the sand/gravel surface. It's fully enclosed with a double gate for the escapes! There are two picnic tables, a handful of park benches, and a few individual chairs for you to choose from. There aren't any sunshades, like Shoreline, but I've been here in the direct sunshine and there are enough trees around that you can find some shade if you need it! There are a *load* of balls and Frisbees available to play with while you are here, which is great if you have a ball hog like Freckles, along with a water hose and bowls for the pups! Everyone that we've come in contact with, and there have been quite a few, have been nothing but friendly, pleasant, talkative, and great with the dogs...their dogs have also been incredibly friendly and well-behaved as well! The only problem I've had with the park is my initial "location" issue...it took forever for me to try and find it the first time I came! I parked in the parking lot off of Meadow Drive and then proceeded to walk around and around trying to see it; maybe it was just me, but you really can't see the dog area from the main park! Needless to say, after I went there the first day, I saw that there is a parking lot next door to the dog area (at the back of the school off Charleston Road)...you can only park there after school hours, but it is incredibly convenient if you do! Final thoughts: Great park, nice people, wonderful dogs...check it out! read more

Grrr, woof, woof, grr, grr Mitchell Park Dog Park Review -1 star for unfriendly locals. +1 star for animal control officers that patrol this dog park. Mitchell park has a huge dog park located way in the back of the park passed the tennis courts and over several small hills. Big open grass & dirt dog run. Combo big & small dogs share same area. No benches or places to sit. TYOC (take your own chair). Courtesy doggie bags not provided TYOCB (take your own crap bag). read more

Who knew there was a dog area at Mitchell Park? I definitely didn't. I used to come out here when I was a little kid back when my mom used to work out in the area. Her company would have their picnics here. It's a great place to have a picnic or at least it used to be. Times have changed since I was a little girl and the park looks completely different. I hadn't noticed it before but the parks off the peninsula have definitely upgraded since the 80s. So now there's an offleash dog park at Mitchell Park. Apparently, dogs are also allowed near picnic areas and the rest of the grassy fields as long as they're on a leash. This is a great park, in a great neighborhood of good ol' Palo Alto. Definitely a nice place to take your family. Very quiet park. On Sundays you'll probably see women doing Tai Chi and a group playing soccer. Recently, I came here on a Sunday for a Meetup with Jackie D's Schnauzer Meetup group. It was a great doggy play area, combined with a sandlot and grass. There are no separate areas of small dogs and big dogs, just one large area. Which is actually nice because my small dog loves to play with the big dogs. I would definitely come back again with family or just with the pup. Most of the picnic areas with tables don't have any shade, but there are a few large trees in the area to cop a squat and have a picnic on a large blanket. read more

A wonderful piece of mid-century thinking and design that continues to be a great place for kids, adults, and dogs. I grew up playing daily in Mitchell Park, and some of my earliest memories are of romping in the little children's playground and water play area, which at that time was a wading pool. The park offers a nice mix of attractions, including a skating rink, lots of tennis courts, multiple playgrounds for kids of different ages, plenty of picnic areas, and a spacious dog run. At 18 acres, it's a good-sized space, and feels larger due to the adjoining middle and elementary schools. There is a path that runs around the perimeter, and following it between the various areas of the park makes for a pleasant stroll or bike ride. Mitchell Park has undergone an upgrade over the past several years, and just celebrated its 50th birthday. Some original structures that had outlived their day have been replaced with nice alternatives, and the essence of the park remains intact, including the great original 50s light fixtures. It's one of the gems of south Palo Alto, and sure not to disappoint. read more

For the dog park: I only gave one star which is for the single woman who helped me when my dog was ganged up on and nearly mauled by three bigger dogs while their owners just stood by hands in pockets. There isn't a fenced divider for large breed from small breed dogs which could be remedied easily. In all seriousness, any dog with aggressive and dominant behavior is the result of poor and inept dog handling. Dog owners/handlers especially, of the larger breeds have a greater responsibility to watch for aggressive, predator/prey behaviors that will injury the smaller dogs without warning. I had a scary experience with my corgi almost 2 years, in the fenced-in dog area where the alpha was a Labradoodle with two Australian Shepherds following his lead. Their owners were completely nonplussed while I worked to get them off my already submissive corgi. I was told once I got control of the scene that this Labradoodle male is well known for his aggressive behavior and that the three or so big dogs come regularly while regularly known to have aggressive behavior problems tend to gang up on other dogs. Three dogs- all on my dog - and three men who just stood there. Not one word from these dog dads! Not one show of discipline, no apology or question if my dog was okay. If it weren't for one other lady (small dog owner too) who helped me call off the dogs I was alone in protecting my dog in a dog park. My corgi is a bad ass by the way. She is super friendly and fun! If you've met her you wouldn't forget her. She is super sweet and fun. It's dumb ass dog parents who need to get their shit together before somebody calls the cops. I have had amazing experiences meeting dogs and their people all over the Palo Alto and Silicon Valley but specific fenced dog parks have been more like hands-off parenting. read more