Helpful Resources
Check out my favorite local resources, books, articles, and podcasts.
Favorite Tot-Friendly Local Parks
A non-exhaustive list in no particular order:
Berkeley + Albany
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Located in the flats of northwest Berkeley, Cedar Rose Park has a gated in Tot Lot with a relatively low climbing structure that’s suited even to little movers.
Bathrooms: Available, but it’s not great. ☹
Park surface: wood chips, recycled rubber, concrete, grass.
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Located in in central Berkeley on Roosevelt Ave, this park is gated in and has a small climbing structure, a sand pit with a seasonally available water feature, and picnic tables for adults and children.
Bathrooms: None ☹
Park surface: recycled rubber, concrete, grass, sand
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Just a few blocks east of North Berkeley Bart Station, this park is is fully gated in and has all tot-friendly climbing structures, a sand pit with a seasonal water feature, and picnic tables for children and adults. This park can get quite busy!
Bathrooms: Yes!
Park surface: grass, concrete, recycled rubber, sand
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Famous for its giant concrete slide, this park in the North Berkeley Hills has an gated tot lot with a sand pit, bucket swings, a climbing structure with a slide, and a little wooden train car for pretend play. If you have a child who likes to watch older kids play, you can park yourself near the base of the giant concrete and watch children slide down on large pieces of cardboard. Through the tunnel you’ll find decent restrooms and the Berkeley Rose Garden! Codornices also has lovely Redwoods, a babbling creek, and lots of space to wander among the trees.
Bathrooms: Yes! One less pleasant one at the south end of the park, and better ones at the Rose Gardens just across the street.
Surface types: woodchips, sand concrete, grass, forest floor
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Not far off the Ohlone greenway near the Berkeley/Albany border you’ll find this pleasantly secluded park that features a fenced in tot lot, a structure for older children, picnic tables, and a large grassy field.
Bathrooms: Yes!
Park surfaces: sand, recycled rubber, woodchips, concrete, grass
Oakland + Piedmont
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Frog Park is located at the northern terminus of the Temescal Greenbelt and has an enclosed play structure area and sand pit. Little Frog Park Annex, which is a tot-only little park, is about a 5-minute walk south down the greenbelt, and has a small climbing structures and lots of community play things. By the time you get to Little Frog Park Annex, you’re right in the heart of Temescal’s food scene, so you can grab snacks or lunch. If you walk the greenbelt on a Sunday, you’ll even come upon the Temescal Farmers Market!
Park surface: wood chips, concrete, sand.
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Nestled in lower Piedmont, Dracena Quarry Park lots of grass, a relatively gently sloped and small concrete slide, bucket swings, and trails to wander on. There is a small climbing structure, but it’s better suited to older children.
Bathrooms: Yes!
Park surfaces: grass, woodchips, concrete, recycled rubber, sand
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Montclair park has a gated in tot lot as well as play areas for older children, green space, sports fields, and even a skate ramp nearby. Though it can get crowded on weekends, it’s nice to pair with a trip to the Montclair farmers market just a few blocks away.
Bathrooms: Yes!
Park surfaces: recycled rubber, concrete, grass.
For more in-depth reviews of the above-listed park and several others, check out 510 Families’ Park Profile series!
Favorite Books
Click on the images to learn more about each book. I haven’t yet found one book that captures all of my favorite information in one place, but these books have all guided my approach to caring for children with respect, dignity, joy, and leadership.
Favorite Articles + Podcasts
All linked!