BBQ and picnic areas around Berkeley
Hello, I'm looking for a park where I could organize a picnic with BBQ for a company of 8-10 adults and 3-5 kids. Could anyone recommend a decent place, not too crowded, with BBQ and bathrooms, somewhere in Berkeley or its neighbourhood (El Cerrito, Albany, Kensington)? Do you need to make a reservation to have a picnic?
Apr 15, 2017
Parent Replies
Many El Cerrito parks have BBQ areas, and all have bathrooms (buy a bathroom key at the Community Center and it is good forever).
All the info is here: http://el-cerrito.org/index.aspx?nid=619.
You technically don't have to have a reservation, but if someone else does make a reservation, then your group could be left without a picnic table or BBQ. For example all the picnic/bbq areas at Arlington Park are often reserved on weekends.
Tilden Park has a lot of picnic areas both large and small, with BBQ grills and either their own bathroom, or they are nearby. You can reserve the big ones (35 people and up) ahead of time to ensure you get the spot you want. Or just arrive early and stake out your spot. http://www.ebparks.org/activities/picnics
We just had a really nice birthday party at Lake Temescal and we reserved the spot in advance online. Most of them are close to the parking lots, have grassy open space for running around, and are close to drinking fountains and toilets. You can use the same link as the comment for Tilden Park and the website shows a picture of each of the picnic sites.
It sounds like you want easy in- town access so my first suggestion is Codornices Park. There are BBQ grills at the end of centerfield (off the grass) of the baseball diamond. More special is to go from there across the creek to the picnic area at the big chimney. Berkeley req does reserve for you, but I'd think not necessary unless a weekend. Another close by, but small and private location is Remoullard Park on Regal Road above Euclid
Our more favorite suggestion would be Tilden and specifically the Spillway Picnic Area. It is east of the great lawn at Lake Anza. Their parking lot was closed last month...but parking in the over-flow lot next to it is actually closer to the BBQ sites. Seven tables, lovely location, short 2 minute wLk from over-flow parking lot (gravel). If you don't know Tilden, easiest directions is from top of Spruce Street to Anza Lake. You also go right by the Merry-Go-Round and could easily stroll between the two. Good luck.
Tilden is great. Codornices park in Berkeley has reservable group picnic areas. Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. Lake Temescal is farther away, but really nice.