I absolutely am happy I stumbled upon this place on yelp. I came here on a Saturday afternoon and there was plenty of parking when i arrived. The parking lot is next to the bathrooms. At first i thought it was just an open field area but its a whole walking path with sections that are little mini beaches. Then when you keep walking down there is another bathroom plus a park for the kids and another parking lot. This is a dog friendly, bike friendly, family friendly path. This is actually quite big and it has beautiful views of the bay. I would definitely come back here again! read more

See all

Great views- two bridge vista. Ample picnic benches a large restroom. And more geese per square foot than are in all of Canada. Part of the 39 mile plus bay trail. This particular area is especially scenic. So named as a "sister city" to Shimada in Japan, with a humble sculpture strategically facing west, an acknowledgement of the distant relationship by providing both sun rise and setting sunset views. The very symbol of Japans flag: the rising sun from the east. Many folks fish here off the steps leading down to the bay waters, others Launch kayaks, while even more walk ride bikes or even bird watch. Parking can be a challenge on particularly beautiful sunset evenings read more

Shimada Friendship Park - Sunset on the bay - Parks Near Me - Richmond, California

A great small park in Richmond right next to the Bay!! The Bay Trail that runs along the Bay took me to this park. The restrooms here were very clean. As a matter of fact, the whole area was very clean, and if you can get a good parking spot, you can enjoy great views from your car. A nice park, very well maintained!! read more

See all

Beautiful views, clean, pleasant and well maintained park. Lovely neighborhood. Parking lot has spaces for maybe 20 cars and was able to park around 8:30am on a Saturday morning. Highly recommend! read more

See all

Each of the times I have been to Shimada Friendship Park in Richmond, the park has been well maintained and on the quieter side in terms of foot traffic. The Canadian geese love the park and I have seen a whole flock grazing together on one occasion. On the south side, the park abuts a walking trail along the waterfront with beautiful views out over the water. Depending on the time of year, different flowers have been in bloom along the path, including some particularly pretty orange and pink colored blooms. read more

** The following review reflects my experience DURING the COVID-19 pandemic. ** You have to scroll on Google a while to figure out the origin of this park's name although it should have been obvious from the decorative headstones that flank the three acres here (photo: https://bit.ly/3dgmJne). The name reflects the bond between Richmond and its sister sister in Japan - the town of Shimada near the Pacific coast somewhere between Tokyo and Kyoto. Feeling more like a parklet than a park, it provides residence for a prolific population of geese whose free-falling droppings saturate the lawn portion. There are steps that lead into the water presumably not for suicidal walks but for kayakers and windsurfers looking for a launching pad. For the rest of us, it's a scenic starting point for this stretch of the San Francisco Bay Trail. It's also useful since an unmetered parking lot is next to the park. RELATED - Exploring Richmond? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2VyCP18 read more

See all

I love walking along the water. In Oakland, it's Lake Merritt and here, it's along the marshes here between El Cerrito and Richmond. I love this place to walk! It's beautiful and people are pretty respectful of distance. I've run here (very few times), walked here (many times) and I just feel calm. There's a lot of bird crap on the ground, so you have to be mindful of where you step, but there was so much history here and I still stop to read the kiosks. I remember visiting with my sister here a few years ago and she loved it. And like me (turned three out here), a lifelong Richmond resident and she had never heard of this place. My mom probably hadn't heard of it, because she would take us to SF or Oakland for events, and this place was in our backyard. The only gripe for me is that it is soooo far away from the city, city. But that's just me. I wish it were easier to access. But that's a "rich person's problem" and really not a reason to lose stars. What draws me to this place is that I've walked in a lot of places and the experience is nothing like this. I come away from my walks feeling rather soothed and much calmer for having been there. The main thing that I have to be careful of is walking too far and having to lumber back over a longer distance than expected. Again, a "rich person's problem" that says more about me than about this space. I'm just glad that it's here and that we can enjoy it! read more

It's beautiful here! I came here by mistake a few weeks ago to catch the sunset. I was looking for the marina but wasn't sure which part of the marina to come to. So far I've lucked out on getting parking right in front of the trail/water. From here you can see an amazing view of the city and of course, the water and birds are beautiful. Since moving, I needed to find a spot that's great for runs but much closer to me than Lake Merritt. This fit the bill! I ran some of it for the first time yesterday, and the view made running so much easier. There are plenty of bikers on the trail. They're courteous, but just be careful. I also bring my dog here for walks. She'd give this a five star review too! read more

Shimada Friendship Park - Parks Near Me - Richmond, California

Great place for a walk, run or bike ride. There's a small path that's near the water. Pretty clean area with a small free parking lot. Gets a bit chilly at night. read more

Shimada Friendship Park - Parks Near Me - Richmond, California

See all

Run, biked, or walked through this gorgeous park with vistas of the Bay that are so meditative and calming. Lovely.... Also, honoring sister relationship with Jp....interesting pieces there to view, and a blown-up retelling of the interactions in history in the local area. First time I ever set eyes on Marina Bay, I was brought to this park. Hm...noooo...wait a minute. My bf back during Cal college days brought me to romantic Salute's walkway by the marina to behold the night view. read more

So I discovered & moved into what must be the best kept secret, hidden-gem-of-a-neighborhood in the entire Bay Area. I live in Richmond. Yes, the Richmond with the Iron Triangle & where the police department uses ShotSpotter technology. Yes, that Richmond. But situated in a narrow sliver of land South of I-580 & North of the waters of the San Francisco Bay is a residential community known loosely as Marina Bay. Forget the images of gangs, drug dealers & shootings that customarily spring to mind when Richmond is mentioned. There's none of that here. In fact, on any given day, the harbor views here rival any you'll find in Sausalito. & there are parks, lots of parks. To be exact, there are 5 waterfront parks within a few minutes' walk from my front door. How many other neighborhoods can boast that? Shimada Friendship Park is 1 of those parks. It's a tiny pocket park next to Marina Bay Parkway that would be real easy to miss while driving by. The park is dedicated to a friendship relationship established between the city of Richmond & Shimada, Japan. In the same space, this park serves as a reminder of the wrongs of the past, warns not to repeat the same mistakes & shows hope for the future. Art & installations on display in the park memorialize the internment of Japanese/ American US citizens into camps. After the terrorist attacks of 9/11, there is a real temptation to forgo our freedoms to appease our fears. What must be remembered is that 9/11 was not the 1st time America has been attacked. & 9/11 was not the 1st time that Americans have experienced an ensuing fear of further attacks. There is an incredibly important lesson to be learned here. As Americans, we all have an historical example of what happens when we allow fear to compromise our most important values. Japanese/ American US citizens were stripped of all their rights & had their lives wrongfully taken away. An enemy cannot be determined by the color of their skin, their ethnicity, or their religion. Along with the specter of the past, this park also honors the friendship between Richmond & Shimada, Japan. Richmond & Shimada are part of a sister city program which includes an exchange student program, monthly meetings & a 50th anniversary festival on April 28, 2012. Ultimately, this is just a park too. Though diminutive in size, it's big on features. There's a decent size parking lot, BBQ grills, clean restroom facilities & sweeping views of the Berkeley Hills, nearby Brooks Island, the Bay Bridge & the San Francisco skyline. The San Francisco Bay Trail runs by Shimada Friendship Park. Shimada Friendship Park is a really nice little park with a message of hope & some social commentary. Yes it's in Richmond. But once you're out here, you realize it's not the Richmond you thought it would be. read more

See all

The park has picnic tables and a large open grass area. The parking lot is large enough for about 20 cars. There is no playground in the park. I recommend walking around the San Francisco Bay trial towards Richmond's Marina area. A short walk around the trail, you will see another public park with a playground and open field. The San Francisco Bay trail is a nice walk along the waterfornt. The trail is also paved and suitable for strollers, kiddy bikes, and dogs on a leash. read more

We love this waterfront trail. After work and weekends, we like to unwind with a nice walk or bike ride. The views are incredible and love the mild sunny winds when weather permits. We usually just pick a point to start and walk all the way down the path, enjoying the bay views while getting exercise in. We are fortunate to live close to a great spot that sometimes feels so far away from the urban shuffle of freeways, box stores and major cities. Even though it is all right there in the distance. read more

I was looking for a great place to watch the sunrise over Berkeley on the Winter Solstice, and saw that Shimada Friendship Park fit the bill perfectly! The morning was quiet and serene, with joggers, walkers, bikers ... and even birds. It's a pleasant place to come, sit on a bench, plan your year out to makes sure all your ducks are .... well, you know. read more

Shimada Friendship Park - Shimada Friendship Park is a pleasant place to visit ... and a great place to make sure ... well, you know - Parks Near Me - Richmond, California

I have to say that I love this park. This park has a special place in my heart. I have been to Shimada, Japan. I just got back. I was a teacher ambassador for the Richmond/Shimada Friendship program. I learned about the history of the program. It was an amazing experience and I recommend it to anyone who has an interest. I am currently blogging about my adventure. If you like to check it out: www.foodfrommyheart.com. The park is beautifully maintained. There is a restroom. There are picnic area. The view is breath taking. If you have kids there is a playground if you take the trail to the left at Barbara and Jay Vincent park. It is about .52 miles according to the map. I will becoming back soon. read more

Shimada Friendship Park - the sign - Parks Near Me - Richmond, California

I always love coming to this place watching the sunset or going for a walk or just hanging out listening to music with friends the parking is limited but there is additional parking in the back the views of the Bay Area great on a clear day you can see Bay Bridge Richmond Bridge and the Golden Gate Bridge this will always be one of my spots read more

Shimada Friendship Park - Parks Near Me - Richmond, California

Nice park. I walk around the park often and there are always families playing games, flying kites and throwing frisbees. It's good to see!

A hidden gem, nice place to start a walk on the path along the shoreline that can go for miles.

Great park to play with kids, run on the bay trail and just chill out. The view is so breathtaking. Superb place.

Outstanding views love the trails dog friendly great place to get in a good workout!!

Beatiful scenery. Walk, jog, skate, & bike on the trail, but know what side they pass on if you're going slow. Most people don't know what it means when someone yells "left". read more