The Best Park / Open Space in South Bay

Almaden Lake Park

Almaden Lake Park is San José's only park featuring a sand beach and swim area. Fish, boat, hike, wind surf, picnic and play volleyball or horseshoes. A snack bar offers beverages and light foods. Small shade canopies, inflatable kayaks, pedal... more

Almaden Quicksilver County Park

Cross wood bridges and navigate narrow turns as you venture into a different world. Mostly undeveloped, the park boasts many beautiful valleys and big views of the citty. For more than 100 years, the place was a mercury mine, and there are still some... more

Alum Rock Park

Alum Rock Park is one of California’s oldest municipal parks.  Located within the Alum Rock Canyon in the foothills of the Diablo Mountain Range, the park’s 740 acres of natural, rugged, beauty provide visitors with many leisure outd... more

Alviso Marina County Park

Welcome to Alviso Marina County Park, gateway to the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. This 20.6 acre bayside park, located along Alviso slough and adjacent to the salt ponds and marshes of Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National... more

Arena Green

Arena Green is the section of the park located between Santa Clara Street on the south, Julian Street on the north, and directly across Autumn Street from SAP Center. Public restrooms are located near the Children's Carousel.   Visitors can visi... more

Backesto Park

Backesto Park elegantly shaded by mature Sycamores along the circumference of its three-square blocks, is home to a variety of diversions, including a modern children's playground, handball, basketball, baseball and soccer. The NNA annually spons... more

Bakesto Park - Bocce, Tennis, Baseball, Soccer

For 90 years, Italian immigrants and their families have gathered in Bakesto Park for picnics and a game of bocce. The courts were first put in back in 1920, when the overwhelming population of the neighborhood was Italian immigrants. The courts wer... more

Baylands Park

Located on the beautiful San Francisco Bay, Baylands Park provides over seventy acres of developed parkland offering active recreation, pathways and picnic areas for families and large groups. Baylands Park has a Naturalist theme which is enhanced by... more

Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve

Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve has six miles of hiking and equestrian trails that meander along cool perennial creeks and through 1,430 acres of a second-growth redwood forest, extensive areas of Douglas fir and oak woodland. Higher elevatio... more

Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad

The BJWRR has been in operation at Oak Meadow Park and Vasona Park in Los Gatos since 1970. Steam operation starts in April and runs through October most weekends. The two diesel engines run on summer weekdays and weekends November through March. more

Blackberry Farm Park

Blackberry Farm is a large park nestled in the heart of the Monta Vista neighborhood. The park is centrally located within the Stevens Creek Corridor, adjacent to McClellan Ranch Reserve and the Blackberry Farm Golf Course. The Stevens Creek Trail ru... more

Buena Vista Aquatic Recreational Area

Buena Vista is a man-made site located approximately 25 miles southwest of Bakersfield. When the site was completed in April 1973, it took 43 days to fill both Lake Evans and the much larger Lake Webb with over 2,300,000,000 gallons (or 6,800 acre fe... more

6 Upcoming events

Calero County Park

Welcome to Calero County Park, one of Santa Clara County's most diverse regional park and recreation areas. Once part of the Pueblo lands of San Jose, and Rancho San Vincente land grant, this approximate 4,471 acre park is nestled in the eastern foot... more

Cali Mill Plaza

This 1-acre park features a stainless steel sculpture, two interactive fountains and themed gardens. The park has free wireless Internet access.  more

Campbell Park

The park is located at the corner of Campbell Avenue and Gilman Avenue, between Downtown Campbell and Highway 17. Campbell Park contains a variety of children’s play equipment, two full-length, night-lit (until 10 p.m.) basketball courts with t... more

Chinese Cultural Garden

The first thing you'll notice about the Chinese Cultural Garden is its peacefulness. Even the sounds of San José's busy lifestyle fade away as you stroll by the quiet ponds and stately pavilions. The Chinese Cultural Garden is a feature of Ove... more

Christmas Hill Park

With the Ranch Site addition across Miller Avenue, this park now totals 51 acres. About one third is developed with lawns, play structures, restrooms and water fountains. more

Circle of Palms

The Circle of Palms Plaza is located in downtown San Jose, California. It is the location of California Historical Marker 461, the site of California's first state capital from 1849-1851. Today a ring of palm trees encircles a California State Seal a... more

Coyote Creek Visitor Center at Anderson Lake

Coyote Creek Visitor Center sits at the head of the Coyote Creek Trail which offers great hiking and biking opportunities to the publis. The visitor center is located a little less than a mile from Anderson Lake, Santa Clara County's largest reservo... more

Cupertino Memorial Park

This popular 28-acre park includes acres of lawn that are ideal for family picnics, a gazebo overlooking our beautiful pond, an amphitheatre, a lighted softball field, and six lighted tennis courts. It is centrally located, being adjacent to the Cupe... more

Cupertino Memorial Park

This popular 28-acre park includes acres of lawn that are ideal for family picnics, a lake, an amphitheater, lighted softball field, six lighted tennis courts, and is directly adjacent to the Senior Center, Quinlan Community Center and the Cupertino... more

Discovery Meadow

Discovery Meadow is at the southern end of the park, adjacent to the Children's Discovery Museum. It features a large expanse of lawn and is used extensively for festivals during the summer months. The Riverwalk trails along Discovery Meadow follow... more

Eagle Park

Eagle Park is a great little park with a large lawn area, a playground, and picnic tables.  The pool is open year round. more

Emma Prusch Farm Park

Native San Josean Emma Prusch, bequeathed to the City of San Jose, 87 acres in 1962. The rich agricultural land was once a working dairy farm located in the heart of the Valley of Hearts Delight at he intersection of King and Story Roads. The park co... more

Foothills Park

Bounded by Portola Valley, Los Altos Hills, Pearson-Arastradero Preserve and Los Trancos Open Space Preserve, the 1,400-acre Foothills Park is a nature lover's paradise. Miles of trails provide access through rugged chaparral, woodlands, fields, stre... more

Grant Park Community Center

The Grant Park Community Center is a multi-use facility that can be used for meetings, trainings, gatherings and special events. Grant Park totals 4.5 acres in size and has: Basketball Court Soccer Field Playground BBQs and Picnic Tables Rest... more

1 Upcoming events

Guadalupe River Park and Gardens

Guadalupe River Park is a three-mile ribbon of park land, currently being developed along the banks of the Guadalupe River in the heart of downtown San Jose from Highway 880 at the north, to Highway 280 at the south. It is one of the largest urban pa... more

Guadalupe River Park Conservancy

Guadalupe River Park is a three-mile ribbon of park land that runs along the banks of the Guadalupe River in the heart of downtown San Jose from Highway 880 at the north, to Highway 280 at the south. It is a resource of regional importance to th... more

Haines International Swim Center

Hakone Japanese Gardens

A much-loved spot for "peace and harmony," these 18 acres are tucked away in the Saratoga hills and are also part of the oldest Asian and Japanese estate in the Western hemisphere. more

Hall Memorial Park in Milpitas

Two barbeque units, 6 tables (2 in park and 4 in the Lagoon picnic area), 4 tennis courts, play equipment, restrooms, and parking at this 9.5-acre park. more

Happy Hollow Park & Zoo

Located in Kelley Park on the corner of Story and Senter Roads, Happy Hollow Park and Zoo has been providing affordable family entertainment, education, and fun since 1961. The Park is a peaceful, creative, and safe place for children of all ages - w... more

Hellyer County Park

Welcome to Hellyer County Park and the Coyote Creek Parkway. This 354-acre urban park is located in the heart of Santa Clara County''s regional park system. The Coyote Creek, which meanders through the center of the park, is the focus of the park''s... more

1 Upcoming events

Hidden Villa

Includes sports, music, educational, recreational and kids events. See www.hiddenvilla.org for more info. more

History Park

History Park offers an expansive, outdoor, gated facility with 14 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds. This charming, historic town setting is complete with paved streets, running trolleys, mature trees and ambiance like no other place in the Bay... more

Houge Park

Houge Park has a studio that's available for rent, picnic areas, bbq pits, a playground, horseshoe pit, basketball court, basketball and tennis courts, and an exercise course. Picnic tables are non-reservable, and are occupied at a first-come, first-... more

Japanese Friendship Garden

The Garden was built as a symbol of everlasting friendship between the City of San Jose and its Sister City of Okayama, Japan in 1965 and is patterned after the world famous Korakuen Garden in Okayama. In every direction the eye is delighted, complet... more

Joseph D. Grant County Park

The largest of Santa Clara County's regional park and recreation areas. This 9,560 acre Joseph D. Grant County Park includes some of the County's finest open space resources, as well as rich environmental, cultural and recreational assets. The landsc... more

Kelley Park

Kelley Park is one of San José's most diverse facilities, offering visitors an opportunity to enjoy a picnic or barbecue amid beautiful lawn areas and shade trees; a visit to the Happy Hollow Park & Zoo to see the many animals or take in a... more

UPCOMING EVENTS