The Best Park / Open Space in Bay Area

Lick Observatory on Mt. Hamilton

Whether looking up into the heavens or down into the valley below, the views from the high point of Lick Observatory can't be beat on a clear day or night. Its overlook from the south end of the valley boasts views to the San Francisco Bay and beyond... more

Lighthouse Point

Also known as Point Santa Cruz, this area forms the northern boundary of Monterey Bay. It is one of the last open headlands in any California urban area. Surfers, tourists, birds - including the rare black swift - and wintering monarch butterflies ar... more

Lincoln Park - Alameda

Established in 1908. Lincoln Park is located on High Street at Santa Clara Avenue. The swimming pool at Lincoln Park is managed by the Alameda Swimming Pool Association. At this park: Playground Swimming Pool Barbecue Pits Bocceball Fitn... more

Lincoln Park - Los Altos

1.1-acres of lawn bounded by Foothill Expressway, Lincoln, University, and Edith Avenues. The large strip offers a gazebo and various public art pieces including “Imagine That”, “Space Dance for Peace”, “Musical Gambol” and “Linear Circles”. Enjoy... more

Lincoln Park in Alameda

Recreation Center and picnic areas can be rented, play lot, baseball / softball field, soccer field, basketball, pickleball court, volleyball court, bocceball, handball court, and exercise equipment / circuit. Rose garden. The swimming pool at Lin... more

Lincoln Square Park and Recreation Center

Lincoln Square Recreation Center is centrally located near public transportation with a lighted outdoor playground and two custom designed rubber-surfaced play areas with ADA accessibility. more

Linda Vista Park

This is an 11-acre site that includes a reservable picnic/barbecue area for 136, two play equipment areas (pre-school and elementary), a fitness station, as well as a large turf area.  Please contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 408... more

Lions Wayside - Delucchi Park

Lions Wayside and Delucchi Parks are open, green spaces close to downtown Pleasanton. more

Little Hollywood Park

A family-friendly park for the great play area and full basketball court. more

Little Marina Green

A little rectangle green space that's hidden a little away from the main road.   A favorite destination  that is a favorite of runners, dog walkers, skaters, etc. Nice views of the Golden Gate Bridge and the bay. more

Littlejohn Park

Littlejohn Park, 3.45 acres. Amenities available: Picnic areas can be rented on weekends only, play lot, baseball/softball and soccer fields, and basketball (half-court). - https://alameda.graphtek.com/recreation/littlejohn-park more

Live Oak Park

Live Oak Park, the site of several community festivals, offers a range of recreational opportunities, with basketball and tennis courts, a community center, and tot and school-age play areas. Features of the Park include: - Paths through grov... more

Los Gatos Creek Dog Park

The Los Gatos Creek County Dog Park is available for dogs of all sizes, located just south of San Tomas Expressway in Campbell at 1250 Dell Avenue adjacent to the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Built by the City of Campbell, with a contribution from Town of... more

Los Gatos Creek Trail

2008 BEST OF SILICON VALLEY Reader Survey Winner - Third Place Best Place to Be Seen Sure, people hit the Los Gatos Creek Trail for a bit of exercise and fresh air, but the leafy path also offers a good look at your fellow man and woman in all thei... more

Los Gatos Town Plaza Park

The Town Plaza is located at the corner of W. Main Street and Santa Cruz Avenue in downtown Los Gatos. This quaint park features an interactive water fountain, planters, benches, lawn area and walkways. more

Louis Sutter Playground - John McLaren Park

A favorite picnic spot, this recently improved playground is also the perfect place to watch ducks and birds on nearby McNab Lake. Choose from dozens of picnic areas, or rent the clubhouse for your private event. Sports fans will be happy to find two... more

Lovers Point Park

Lovers Point Park is located at the foot of 17th Street, and is a landscaped community park of 4.4 acres. It is used for picnicking, fishing, swimming, water sports, and surfing. Lovers Point's amenities include a large lawn area, a beach volleyba... more

Mandeville Tip County Park

Mandeville Tip County Park is on Singapore Island, near Mandeville Island in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta located about 15 miles northwest of Stockton, in central California in the United States. The island lies between the Old River to the west... more

Manresa State Beach

Manresa State Beach features a beautiful expanse of sea and sand, with surf fishing, surfing, and recreation.  more

Mare Island

Mare Island is a peninsula in the United States in the city of Vallejo, California, about 23 miles (37 km) northeast of San Francisco. The Napa River forms its eastern side as it enters the Carquinez Strait juncture with the east side of San Pablo Ba... more

Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve

The Mare Island Shoreline Heritage Preserve is a 215-acre park located at the south end of Mare Island on land that formerly served as the U.S. Navy's first Naval Ammunition Depot, founded in 1857.  Mare Island boasts some of the most undiscove... more

Marin Headlands

The Marin Headlands houses an amazing richness of biological diversity due to the variety of habitats and unique geology of the area. Discover the many cultures that have called the Marin Headlands home. This includes the history of the Miwok Indian... more

Marina Dunes Reserve

The coastal dunes along our south Monterey Bay form a narrow edge between former dunes where we live and the bay. This strip of land is steadily changing from wind and wave forces. During especially strong winter storms, this change can be quite obvi... more

Marina Green

The Marina Green is a strip of lawn that overlooks some of the most scenic places in the San Francisco Bay, from the Golden Gate Bridge, to Alcatraz, to Angel Island. There is a small marina where a few boats are docked but most people use the par... more

Marina Park

Located off Monarch Bay Drive near Fairway Drive, this 30-acre regional park that borders the beautiful San Leandro Shoreline. Amenities include picnic areas with barbecue grills, play apparatus, three newly renovated large group picnic areas, a larg... more

Marinship Park

3 lighted tennis courts, parking lot and restrooms, lawn area.  Home to the Sausalito Art Festival.   A popular dog-walk / run area. more

Mariposa Park

Once the site of railroad car turnaround, Mariposa Park is an expansive sundrenched lawn and a trellis-shaded plaza where people of all ages can play and enjoy. * 2.38 acres grass lawn and walking paths * Small kids play area for children 2-14 y... more

Marston Campbell Park

This neighborhood green space offers fields for sports, shade trees, a play structure & more. more

Martin Luther King Community Park & Pool

The Martin Luther King Park offers a playground, basketball courts, baseball and soccer fields, a full service community center, and a swimming pool. It also has one small picnic area.  more

Martin Luther King Jr Park in Sausalito

Large Lawn area, a softball field/backstop, 1/3 mile track area, bathrooms, children's playground, basketball courts, pickle ball, tennis courts, dog park and gym. more

Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park - Berkeley

Considered a home away from home for a hand full of Berkeley High students and the home of a section of the world wide and world renowned Peace Wall is Berkeley's Martin Luther King Jr. Park. It's a fairly small park but it certainly has it's share o... more

Martin Luther King Jr. Park - East Palo Alto

This park has a soccer field, baseball field, playground area for kids with a modern play structure, surrounded by picnic tables and bbq pits. more

Martin Luther King Jr. Regional Shoreline

Next to the commercial bustle of Oakland International Airport is a 741-acre park leased from the Port of Oakland, protecting the remainder of a once-extensive marshland at San Leandro Bay At the intersection of Doolittle Drive and Swan Way is the... more

Martinez Waterfront Park

Martinez Waterfront Park is located off Joe Di Maggio Drive. This large open space has wonderful scenery and amenities aplenty. The picnic tables are often reserved for birthday parties. AMENITIES: Amphitheater Baseball/Softball Field(s) Bocce... more

Marx Meadow

Marx Meadow offers a delightful picnic spot on its centrally located grassy stretch of the park. It is also nestled right in the middle of one of the park's signature attractions: the Disc Golf Course! Come play -- and stay for a picnic today! more

Máyyan ‘Ooyákma - Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve

Máyyan 'Ooyákma - Coyote Ridge Open Space Preserve connects over 1 million acres of important habitat in the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Diablo Range. Comprised of rare, sensitive serpentine grasslands, this unique landscape is a biodiversity hotspo... more

McCoppin Square

McCoppin Square features a playground that has both a Tot Lot and school-aged play areas, ADA accessible pathways with site lighting, a baseball field with bleachers, a half basketball court and tennis court, a contemplative garden with seating, and... more

McCovey Cove

McCovey Cove is the unofficial name of a section of San Francisco Bay beyond the right field wall of AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, named after famed Giants first baseman Willie McCovey. The proper name for the cove is China Basin, whic... more

McInnis Park

McInnis Park offers an award-winning skatepark, two softball fields, two soccer fields, a kayak / canoe launch, four tennis courts, a group picnic area, and nature trails. It is home to the McInnis Park Golf Center, managed by a private concessionair... more

McKegney Green

McKegney Green is a bayfront playing field that was initially constructed in 1975 and reconstructed in 2018. It is the only large Town-controlled grass playing field on the Tiburon peninsula capable of being used for athletic purposes and is also hi... more

UPCOMING EVENTS