Which Park for Babies?
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Parent Q&A
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Questions
- Picnic Spots with 6-month old
- Playground for babies that are not yet walking?
- Park with swings for babies
- Parks where Spanish-speaking nannies meet
Picnic Spots with 6-month old
Oct 2010
New to the area and need to find the best parks/picnic spots to go with a baby. Don't need a playground but would like somewhere peaceful with nice areas to lay out blankets (ideally with shady options). What are the best spots in Berkeley and surrounding areas? Gettin' baby some fresh air
The UC Botanical Garden seems a perfect option for what you are looking for. It's very peaceful (a living museum of plants rather than a park) with a lawn and lots of tucked away picnic tables and benches surrounded by an unsurpassed collection of naturally landscaped plants from around the world. May I particularly recommend stopping by the benches in Asia by the creek beneath the Dawn Redwoods. http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu manoux
There is a sweet little park where Colby street dead-ends behind Alta Bates Emergency Room. There is grass, shade, baby swings, toddler play area/sandbox and a few communal toys suitable for babies and toddlers. I used to go there regularly, mostly because it was an easy walk from where I live, and usually pretty quiet. Caveat is that it's not so great if you have to drive to get there -- parking is tough around the hospital. L
Playground for babies that are not yet walking?
Jan 2010
Hello all, I'm new to the East Bay and I'd like to find a playground around North Berkeley, El Cerrito, Kensington or Albany where I can take my 1 year old daughter that is not walking yet. I'd like to find a place where other moms/nannies bring their babies and let them interact with each other, crawling, cruising or sitting in the grass, sand or blankets. Can you also let me know a good time of day when these places have the most babies? I've taken my daughter to tot lots and other playgrounds but most of the time there are only older children who walk, so she doesn't get to interact with them very much. She gets really excited to see other babies and kids, though. I'm especially interested in places where we can go during the weekend, thank you very much for your help, Carolina
Cedar Rose Park (Between Cedar and Rose at Chestnut St.) has the advantage of not too many older kids (older kid park a few dozen yards away), fenced -in so it feels safe, lots of sand, and walking distance to Acme Bread and Cafe Fanny. And a nice view of the hills from the open grassy part. Another nice, fenced-in place is the little playground by King Pool on Hopkins, though I've rarely been there when it's been in the sun -- can get windy so bring extra jackets. Great bakery and Monterey Market down the street. Carey
Totland in Berkeley is a great place to sit with a baby and watch toddlers play. Just off MLK near Virginia.
Park with swings for babies
Sept 2007
I really want to take my 5 1/2 month old daughter on an outdoor swing. (One of my most favorite childhood memories!) Looking for suggestions on a good (ie: safe, well-maintained) park (or parks), preferably in the East Bay (ranging from San Leandro/Oakland to Emeryville/Berkeley to ElCerrito/Pinole/Hercules) which have baby/infant suitable swings for her age. She can sit by herself (mostly supported), yet needs a securing strap to stay in. Though, I would prefer a swing set that has an infant chair attached. I've seen them in other areas, yet not locally. Any suggestions? Thanks! ~Mama seeking swing
Try Bateman Park next to Alta Bates hospital in Berkeley. It has a couple of infant swings and is gated.
There are a lot. Totland in Berkeley, the Berkeley Marina playground, Lake Merritt (Lakeside Park by the birds and Splashpad Park by the library), Jordan Park in Oakland are just a few that come to mind. anon
Parks where Spanish-speaking nannies meet
Aug 2001
I am looking for a park or play group that my very sweet spanish-only speaking care giver can take our 8 month old daughter to during the day. I think it would be good for both of them to get out and socialize. What parks to caregivers congregate at in the North Oakland, Berkeley area? Does anyone know of a M-F (8am-3pm) playgroup that she would feel welcome to join? Thanks. Nancy
My Spanish Speaking Caregiver goes to Willard Park in Berkeley on Hillegass between Derby and Stuart. She's there several days a week, usually in the early afternoon. I don't know that there are a lot of other Spanish speaking sitters there, but she's often there. Donna
The woman who takes care of my daughter and many of her fiends who are also care providers, are all Spanish speaking and congregate at Bateman park on Prince St. behind Alta Bates. They don't have any formal kind of play group but are all very welcoming. Liz
there seems to be a lot of spanish speaking nannies at Bateman Park right near Alta Bates hspital on Prince Street. Shoshana
Hi! The Becky Temko Tot Park (Dwight & Roosevelt in Berkeley) sounds perfect for you. Mostly firm surfaces, including under the baby swings. There is one sand pit in the back but the rest of the park might suit your needs really well.
It's aimed at elementary school kids, but Marin Elementary has a very nice playground with pavement, turf, and springy rubber ground. It has a little turf hill, which is just the sort of thing my guy liked at that age. It tends to not be crowded earlier in the day so she could explore the play equipment and turf hill without worrying about bigger kids.
Littlejohn Park in Alameda is wheelchair accessible. Rubbery surface, wheelchair ramp onto play structure, etc.
Have you tried Totland in Berkeley?? It sounds like it might check all your boxes. It's fenced in and really designed for babies - 3 years old. My son loved it at that age!
Virginia-McGee Totland is all paved, springy rubber, and lawn, except for the sandbox in one corner. It’s a tot lot, so everything is sized for babies and toddlers. There’s usually a nice group of them around to play with when we go, too.
Willard park is wonderful for babies and I believe it's all accessible by wheelchair. I'm so sorry that I'm not certain, but it's a recent enough build that I think it might meet all your needs.
Not a wheelchair user myself, but I’ve seen a few parents in them at the tot playground at San Pablo Park. It’s mostly the springy rubber surface, surrounded by a concrete sidewalk, then grass, then a fence. Concrete sidewalks lead into the park, and it all seems pretty smooth and even to me pushing a stroller (my best basis for comparison). It has swings and a fun play structure. There is a sandbox in it that might be tricky to navigate if she gets into it—it’s sunken in, so the wheelchair wouldn’t be able to follow her in, even if rolling on sand was a good idea. Hope that helps!
Robert’s Regional has a great barrier-free wheelchair accessible playground
Frog park just off Claremont — 5500 Claremont — is almost under HWY 24 but still a great park/playground in Oakland that has just what you are looking for! Also a fence to keep toddlers from getting onto Claremont. Easiest to access by car if you park at the end of Hardy St
Montclair park has two playground areas, and the toddler area has components that could be appropriate for a 6month old and has no wood chips or soft surface. The older kids area has baby swings (also no wood chips). There is also Moraga commons park, which has an all abilities area with similar wheelchair accessible ground.
I have taken my mom, who is in a wheelchair, to George Florence Mini Park, 2121 Tenth St. Berkeley. There is a fenced toddler park which may be good for you and your little one. It has the springy rubber floor material and several interactive musical structures as well as some structures that your little one could pull herself up on. There is ample space for a wheelchair to move about in, and my mom has enjoyed moving from structure to structure in the playground, in her chair. The families are friendly and there can be shade. I think the biggest challenge could be parking and negotiating the sidewalks. I usually park on Addison between 8th and 10th, but I am bringing my mom from San Pablo Ave, down Addison to 10th. The sidewalks are bumpy and in some places are very narrow from plant overgrowth on this walking route.
They are putting in an accessible path at Dimond Park! It was under construction a week ago, so it might be done now. Entrance is on Fruitvale near the tennis courts https://maps.app.goo.gl/8Mn1NafJEF4Zcpzk7?g_st=ic