They recently renovated this park and ever since opening it's been one of my favorite parks to take my 2 year old. Some aspects worth noting 1. Lots of play structures for younger children and toddlers. 2. Usually well maintained through winters. 3. They've got a street light as well once it gets a bit darker in the evening 4. Two parking lots closeby. 5. They have a wonderful dog park right next to this park. read more

Fully gated...yes! Benches for parents...yes! A variety of fun equipment....yes! What can I say? This little gem of a park is amazing. I love doing play dates there because there's something for everyone. Thank you! read more

I'll keep this short, but fyi the new willow oaks playground has reopened and is great for younger kids! The new play sets are colorful, themed, and you get 3-4 different structures with different ways to play. It might be the best playground in Menlo/pa for kids under 12 now. I was surprised to see not a single up to date review of the park given the playground was packed with kids shortly after I arrived. Some warning, the small parking lot by the playground is still closed off by a fence, probably finishing up construction, but the playground itself is open. read more

Willow Oaks Park - Covered turning platform and bridge play set. - Playgrounds Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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Bodhi, my Shiba Inu, enjoys nose diving into the terrain. Visit Bodhi on the regular at http://www.instagram.com/bodhi.buddy This park is workable but without grass it's a little less than fantastic. I know, we're in a drought and I should just be happy with their cedar chip laden hamster habitat... Arriving here can be a challenge too. Apple Maps guides you right past the dog park into sutter surgery center where you then have to turn around. This means you pass the dog park on the right. It's hidden. Make sure you TURN RIGHT after gas station. That's where the entrance is. I think we can all agree that this review was chock-a-block full of invaluable information and has allowed you to achieve much greater usefulness from the dog park in question. so, give me a thumbs up for this review unless you're gonna be a little sh!t about it. Also be sure to vote "cool" & "funny" as this writing has been both. how else I will be rewarded in 2023 with "Yelp Elite" status if you dont? That is all. read more

Willow Oaks Park - crash landing! - Playgrounds Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Review of the dog park- 3 stars because there are many ways this park could be improved. Came here for the first time on a Monday afternoon at 2pm. No other dogs here besides my two. There is only one large wood chip area (no grass) for the dogs. There is also nowhere for owners to sit and the park was out of poop bags, so be sure to bring your own! Also, there is no little or small dog section, so on busier days, if you have a small dog who is scared of larger ones, don't bring them here. There is also no water fountain for the dogs to drink out of so if you're spending more time here, bring your own water for the dogs to drink. I wish there was some sort read more

Willow Oaks Park - Wood chips - Playgrounds Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Small parking area. Nice playground area for kids. Sure dogs can roam free in a gated dog park area but the turf is horrible and doesn't seem safe covered in wood chips. I wasn't comfortable with my pup playing fetch in this "dog park". read more

I was pretty surprised with the way that this park was cared for especially in the area that it is located. I pulled up with my young ones, one having special needs, and a Tesla without any disabled parking plaque hanging from its rearview mirror or on its license plate, parked in the only disabled parking spot that was there. This made it very difficult for me to get my young ones out From a minivan. That wasn't a surprising as all the cars that were parked in the fire lane as though it were free parking. I'm glad that there were no accidents or anything that were require fire and ambulance because those cars would've gotten messed up. However I have a feeling that this is something that the locals tend to do seeing as there were more than three cars parked in the fire lanes. The park was nice and my little ones had lots of fun with the swings and the slides. I really appreciate the fact that they had a fence that was high enough for my young ones were short enough for my family and I in case anything happened. I hope that the city of Menlo Park or Palo Alto does something about their parking situation. read more

When I go there: 2-4x a week Why I chose Willow Oaks: It's one of the closest parks to where I live (edge of Stanford campus/Palo Alto) *and* it has a steady stream of dogs going through it and lots of regulars! Overall impression: Love this place. If it's sunny (and dry), there are almost always lots of dogs to play with - of all sizes - after 5:00pm on weekdays! Better than other parks we've tried out in the area! Reeses and I have made so many friends here. More details: This is my dog Reeses' (and my) favorite dog park by far! Its features include the basics... - off-leash - double gate - fenced in (and large) - wood chip and dirt/soil area for most of the dog park - some grass and hills - trash can for poop Bonus things that I like about *this* park: - well-maintained (I never see trash or litter inside or surrounding the area) - complimentary poop bags - a sidewalk surrounds the entire fenced in area, which is great for curious dogs who like to say hi to people/other dogs that happen to be walking by! - friendly and knowledgeable dog owners, lots of whom are regulars (I've made friends and had great convos with many of them) - the humans here really know how to manage their dogs and keep a close eye out for if tails stop wagging during play - a variety of different breeds (we've been going 2-3 times a week for the past two months and there are always big and small dogs for Reeses to play with) Things that could be improved: - it gets pretty muddy right after rains or even sprinkles (Reeses loves it, me not so much) - there IS a water fountain near the parking lot, but having one closer to the dog park area would be great - parking lot is private, but small - seats for humans would be nice! (Now I'm just being a spoiled dog mom) Pro-tip: bring a water bowl and water bottle. There's a water fountain at the entrance to the whole park, but there's a kids' playground separating the fenced-in dog park from it! read more

Willow Oaks Park - The popular "pee tree" at Willow Oaks Park - Playgrounds Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Came around 4 pm during the weekday and not a single dog was there. My dog did not enjoy the tan bark so we just played on the grass nearby for a bit and left. Sad that there aren't a lot of great dog parks in this area. read more

I appreciate this dog park, since they seem to be such a rarity around here and off-leash regulations are so strict.. but fair warning.. a handful of dog owners who frequent this park are grade A a-holes who don't know how to care for their dogs. In the few times I visited, I noticed numerous people who put their dog inside, but who remained on the exterior of the fence - in the main park. It causes all sorts of problem behavior - owners unable to remove their dog from a fight or uncomfortable situation, not caring to pick up their poop, etc. also, folks are constantly leaving the gate between the dog park and protected entrance open. There's a definite lack of accountability, responsibility, and knowledge amongst many owners. super frustrating. Just please know that people here are entitled and naive dog-owners. Be on guard. there are few things more infuriating than people with kids or pets who don't care to take proper care. read more

I used to come here almost daily for the dog park. It's a decent size and covered in wood chips in most places so it doesn't get too dusty or muddy. Usually there are plenty of dogs both small and large to play with. I stopped coming for two reasons: #1 there is an enormous dog walking crowd that typically comes during lunch times on weekdays. The ratio is about 7:1 dogs to dog walkers with sometimes upwards of 30 dogs, usually all large dogs. It can get way too chaotic and rough when they're around despite the walkers' best efforts. #2 there's one very large grey and white bernadoodle who comes at least once a day and bullies my dog every time they're together. I'm usually ok with rough play, but this dog is particularly mean with pinning and nips. And depending on who brings the dog to the park, the intervening response time is too slow and lax. This doodle is totally fine with some dogs but not with my own. If you're lucky and he's fine with your dog then great, but be on alert if he's around. Other notes: - has a double gate entrance, but sometimes the gates don't close all the way - No dog water fountain inside, but there's a fountain near the tennis courts nearby - usually theres no supply of poop bags, so bring your own! I recommend this park if you can avoid both situations. Good luck read more

I live around the area, and am always drawn to this park because of the convenient drive. I have a little 18 week puppy and have taken him here about 10 times. Pro: - Clean! Haven't seen a piece of trash on the ground yet. I saw a maintenance man walking around the other day (much appreciated!) - Nice, knowledgeable doggo owners who know know their dogs and the difference between playing rough and just aggression - Good diversity of dogs - though the enclosed area seems to be more favorable to the medium/larger breeds. Breeds we've seen the most: poodles and labs. - No reports of ticks or any other diseases yet! - Puppy loves running around enclosed, wood chipped area. - Large, grassed play area next to a baseball field that my pup likes to lay on. - Kids ONLY playground - nice, considering there's an elementary school 2 blocks down Cons: - After a LIGHT sprinkle, you will find puddles/ small ditches of muddy water. Your dogs WILL gravitate towards it because it is often near the entry/exit door, and because they're probably thirsty from play. - There's a private parking lot (much appreciated), but it is often times limited. On unusually nice and sunny day, they're usually taken. Also pretty busy when there's a baseball game happening. - As mentioned, there is no water - but I've found dog owners to be very nice and don't mind sharing read more

I come here to play tennis a couple times out of the month. The courts are nice and clean and they even have little green bins for you to recycle your flat balls. There's two flaws about these courts. The first is, the gates are always locked and you need to pay the city to get a key in order to access these prestigious courts. Honestly, this is a public park, I don't think there should be locks on the gates to encourage others to come. The second downfall is there are only 2 lighted courts. Often times, you snooze you lose. So you have to come early to snag one of the lighted ones. But there's also generally private lessons going on. So you also lose there. If you come around 7:30pm, then there should be an open court for you. read more

Willow Oaks Park is an AOK place to take your pooch! On the plus side: - The park is all grass, which is a lot easier on your dog's pads than the sand/gravel at some of the other dog parks in the area - Most of the dogs are reasonably well socialized, and a lot of their owners know each other. On the minus side: - There's no water for your dog here, so remember to bring some on hot days - The hours are fairly limited (though I wouldn't swear they're enforced) - The ground gets pretty muddy in the winter, and it's often closed in the summer to let the grass grow back Bottom line: Fido could do a lot worse than playing here, but there's definite room for improvement. read more

Nice dog park, friendly people, nothing really special about this place. It is literally just grass where all dogs of size can roam and play. Bring your own dog bowl and water, no water for dogs provided-that I saw. Overall this place is "ehh," nothing really special about it. 7/7/15 update: I love bringing my puppy here now. I tried out other dog parks but none of them compare to this. The people here that bring their pets are for the most part very friendly and nice, a majority of them are dog walkers and have offered great advice. My five month old Malmute/Husky makes new friends each time he comes here so I definitely recommend this place to new pet parents :) read more

Willow Oaks Park - Drago and his pals - Playgrounds Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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I'm dog-sitting this week so I can go to the dog park legitimately and not go dogless and ogle other people's dogs like a creeper. This is your basic no-frills dog park with everything I would think to ask for: poo bag station, double gate entry, grass and dirt areas, plenty of room to run and play, seems to be maintained because I didn't notice any trash or poo just lots of stray tennis balls in case you forget your own. No problems parking. The dogs when I went were mostly large breed, so maybe not great for mini floofers. read more

Willow Oaks Park - Playgrounds Near Me - Menlo Park, California

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Such a fun dog park! The dogs AND dog parents are fantastic. There is a "staging" area before you enter the main dog park to unleash and unharness your pup. The dog parents know when to break up a fight and when to just let the pups play. I recommend bringing your own water and dog bowl. I did not see any water in the area. read more

Willow Oaks Park - Near the staging area - Playgrounds Near Me - Menlo Park, California

Stopped by today and they were working on the field. Essentially it's a fenced in baseball diamond. HOWEVER - multiple signs state that the park is only open from 8am-10am for dog owners. My assumption is that no-one adheres to this, but seriously, what's the point? read more

Willow Oaks Park is the closest dog park to my house, but I drive 20 minutes in traffic to go to the Shoreline Dog Park in Mountain View. The dog park is large, has quite a lot of grass, and is fully fenced which are all positives...but I just don't love it! My problems include: there's never anyone at the park when I've gone, usually after work, so Freckles doesn't get any dog interaction that he adores; there are a lot of "bad" dog owners that don't pick up their pup's mess, so I'm constantly having to step over or get Freckles away from poop; as others have stated, there isn't any dog fountains, so I have to remember to bring water for the little guy to drink; and Freckles just doesn't have that warm fuzzy feeling at this park, he just wanders around and doesn't really play. If you have kids, the Willow Oak Park is probably a great place to take them since the children's play structure (which looks great by the way) is right next door to the puppy park. There's plenty of parking available when I've been and there is plenty of seating outside the dog park for those with you! All in all...nothing horrific, but nothing great either. read more

Nice cozy park with kids playground tennis courts and dog run. Not the friendliest of people but pretty typical for the Bay Area now. Just try saying hello and see where it goes . . . read more

Neat little park in the middle of Willow. Mainly come here for the tennis courts, but only two of the courts get lights. The courts usually remain fairly clean and the nets are kept in great condition. Would recommend for the casual and more hardcore players alike. If you're coming in the mornings and afternoons there are also two semi-private courts on the side. Since the tennis court section of the park is somewhat private, you don't run into much traffic here aside from the usual Willow Ave. car traffic. read more

Note: this review is for the dog park only. DO NOT bring your dog to this park if your dog is at all spirited or lively. These are some of the most judgmental people I have ever met, and if they don't like something you or your dog do, they will not hesitate to yell at you and shame you. They don't know about typical dog behavior but act like they do. Thanks, Menlo Park dog owners, for ruining my day. Hope someone else reads this and it saves them from having the experience my dog and I did. read more

Pros: - It is a great park. All owners are nice, and some know each other. - Willow Oaks Dog Park is all grass, which is fantastic. My dog has had problems with cutting her pads on the sand/gravel material at other parks, but this park was perfect for her. - All the dogs there were friendly, but some played a little rougher than others. Cons: - Some owners will not stop their dog if it is getting too rough. My dog was frightened by some of the rough play and gave some warning growls and nips. The other dog noticed her fear and started going after her more. The other owner did not do anything even though I was clearly trying to keep some space in between them. - No water - Ground is uneven. There were some small holes in the ground, and if you have a clumsy dog (like mine) they may step into a hole and hurt their legs. Things to keep in mind: - Bring your own water. Some people bring water bottles for the dogs, but it is not enough. I bring a bowl and a few quarts of water for my dog for when we are about to leave, and that is - in my opinion- the best thing to do. - If you want to bring your own toy, be aware that it WILL be used by more than just your dog. So if you don't want to share, don't bring it. read more

Pros: - fenced with double gate entry - poop bags provided - a couple of gentle "hills" - parking - there's a playground nearby for the kids, but separated by a gap in the fences so that no one gets nipped - mostly nice and responsible owners Cons: - no water - relatively small without separation for small and big dogs - limited hours (though they don't seem to be enforced) - turf gets muddy in winter and they close in summer to re-grow the grass, which promptly is torn up when the dogs return - a few "queen bee" regulars Many people I've met at this park are really nice, but there are always a few . . . Full disclosure, my medium-sized dog plays rough. I always approach the owners of dogs she plays with to check about how they feel about her. Generally, they fall into two categories: A) I'm not comfortable with her playing with my baby like that - I get it and leave. B) Yes, she's rough and tumble but she's not aggressive and it's best to let the dogs work it out as long at they're not fighting or hurting each other. When I meet a B I ask them to let me know if he/she changes his/her mind at any point so I can handle it. I also watch my dog very carefully. At this park, I've met a new category C. People that correct two dogs playing (mine and the other) even though the two owners are comfortable, paying attention, and their dog is nowhere near the play. Because the park is fairly small and borders a neighborhood, there seem to be a few regulars that have elected themselves to judge and set the rules. I agree with a previous reviewer, "Some of the 'doggie parents' are a little too protective of their 'babies' and want to break up and yell at every little things the dogs do. It kinda takes the fun out of it for the dogs." read more

This park has an enclosed OFF LEASH dog park, and a separate enclosed playground. The dog park grass is not well cared for by the town.... it's frequently disgustingly muddy, and the dog owners used to be particularly bad about picking up for their pooches. It may have improved since I used to be a regular. The hours for the dog park are odd too. Not very accommodating, considering the dog park is dedicated, not shared. The kids playground is pretty new, but is sorely lacking a functional sand box. Those wood chip things are everywhere. read more

Not the best dog park but it's the closest to my house to it'll do AND as long my dog is happy running around and socializing then it's not too bad. The lack of water is a BIG deal. The city can't put a water fountain there? Some of the "doggie parents" are a little too protective of their "babies" and want to break up and yell at every little things the dogs do. It kinda takes the fun out of it for the dogs. Try to get there before between 4-5 if you're going in the afternoon, otherwise it's a mad house. read more

It's a treat to find a dog park that has real grass. Not too many dogs come here but the ones that do are medium to large breeds. read more

My dog loves it here! He always makes great new friends whenever we go. I only wish they had a few benches for pet parents to sit on.

Dog Park in close proximity to my home. Overall, very responsible dog owners. Today I witnessed an unpleasant interaction. Seems that one particular individual shows up with an aggressive dog who bullies and aggressively chases some of the older less dominant dogs. This behavior can manifest occasionally with all dogs - where the owner must be vigilant and step in to stop the behavior - but I am told this dog's aggressive behavior is a regular occurrence and the owner just stands there watches and ignores the situation. Dog owners must understand that not all dogs have the temperament to run with other dogs in a dog park. read more