Places To Go with Kids:
Local Parks In San Jose &
Santa Clara
This page
contains an
alphabetical listing of all Santa Clara
&
San Jose city and
regional parks,
with a review (Special Features) and a listing of
size and facilities.
Browse the whole list or
click a letter of the alphabet to jump to the
section containing a particular park you may be
interested in.
Be
sure to check under "Facilities" to find out about
picnic tables, BBQ grills, restrooms, playgrounds
and sports facilities such as swimming pools,
basketball and tennis courts, as well as soccer and
softball fields.
Please send us
some
email
if you have a
comment to offer about any of these parks.
Although technically located
on the campus of Sun Microsystems, this park is open to the
public. In addition to lovely old growth Oaks, park
benches, and grassy fields, it features four historic
buildings -- two of which, The Auditorium and Mansion,
are available for public use by reservation. Call the Parks
& Recreation Office at (408) 615-2260 for more information.
Restrooms
Picnic Areas
Reservable Rooms
14.5
ALBERTSON PARKWAY
Purple Hills Dr.
@ PG&E easement, near Santa Teresa & Cottle
2.7
ALMADEN LAKE PARK
Almaden
Expwy & Coleman
6099 Winfield Blvd
San Jose, CA 95120-1535
Features a swim area with
sandy beach and lifeguard supervision (open Wed. through
Sun., closed Mon. and Tues.) Also offers fishing &
boating (no power boats), as well ask hiking, volleyball,
horseshoes, and wind surfing. The nearby Los Alamitos
Creek Trail provides a fitness course. Facilities
include a snack bar and rental outlet offering small shade
canopies, pedal boats, kayaks, row boats, and life jackets.
Please note that dogs are
permitted only in the eastern picnic areas.
For picnic reservations, please call (408) 277-5561 or (408)
277-5562.
Parking is $3 per vehicle and is collected from March
through Labor Day weekend.
ALUM ROCK PARK
Alum Rock
& Penitencia Creek
16240 Alum Rock Ave
San Jose, CA 95127-1307
With 13 miles of trails, Alum
Rock Park is a popular family hiking spot,
for those who don't mind hills. Huge old growth oak trees offer shade,
and along the way the hiker is treated to scenic vistas and
glimpses of local wildlife.
Bring your water bottle, and
expect to carry very young children.
The visitor's center offers
information about local wildlife.
Parking is $3 per vehicle and is collected year round.
A privately operated stable
provides horses for those who wish to take advantage of the
6 miles of horseback trails. Six miles of biking
trails also provided.
Please note that reservable picnic areas accommodate up to 300 people.
Each area includes tables, barbecue stoves and nearby
restrooms. For reservations or more information, please call (408)
277-5561 or (408) 277-5562.
Alum Rock Park is also home to the Youth Science Institute.
Cute little park with sand,
swings, and a play-structure sized for younger children.
Directly next to the
Alviso Library. Restrooms are available inside the
library, during
regular hours. Soda vending machines at
library entrance. Note that books checked out from the
Alviso Library can be returned at any San Jose Public
Library branch.
This
historic
downtown San Jose park is
shaded by mature Sycamores, has a community center and
a variety of other amenities, including playgrounds. Bounded
by
12th
&
13th Streets
as well as Jackson and Empire.
MAP
Bowers Park has a neighborhood
recreation building for meetings, recreation activities,
etc. Located adjacent to Bowers Elementary School and
Cabrillo Middle School
A fun park in the Milpitas
area that offers play areas for larger and smaller children,
plus plenty of sand, a shaded grass area, and a section of
circular cement path that is great for tricycles and scooter
cars! Larger grassy field adjoining behind assures
there is plenty of room for kids who need to get out and run
or maybe just toss a Frisbee around.
Please note that this park
is located along a major street, however a low wall along
the Morrill side keeps preschoolers from darting into
trouble.
2 Playgrounds
Restroom
Picnic Area
Tennis Courts
Central Park
909 Kiely Boulevard
(between Homestead Road and Benton Street)
Bordered by Saratoga Creek on
one side, this Santa Clara park is a pleasant mix of natural
and urban. Squirrels, bush bunnies, and birds inhabit
the area along the creek, often straying into the park.
A large man-made duck pond offers a lively gaggle of geese,
mallard ducks, and domestic ducks alike. And there is
a small playground as well as a large lawn area for sports
and other active play . In the springtime the large
vine enshrouded group picnic pavilion is surrounded in a
stunning display of purple blossoms. (See
Map of Facilities.)
Playground
Restroom
Picnic Area
BBQ Grills
Swim Center
Tennis Courts
Basketball Courts
Lawn Bowling Green
52
CENTURY OAKS PARK
Coyote/Alamitos Canal & Curie, between Gunter & Cottle
CENTURY OAKS PARK
Coyote/Alamitos Canal & Curie, between Gunter & Cottle
A wonderful place to visit in
spring with young children. Children of all ages enjoy
viewing the animals (especially the spring lambs and
chicks), and adults enjoy snapping photos. There is a
nice big grassy knoll to lay a picnic blanket and picnic
tables are available also. Restrooms are available
behind the community building (which can be used for group
functions). Plenty of parking.
Please note that there is
no playground, so bring your own ball or bubbles.
Guadalupe Gardens, which already features a renowned
Heritage Rose Garden with over 3,500 varieties of roses, a
Recycled Water Demonstration Garden, and a Historic Orchard,
is being created adjacent to the River Park on land just
south of the San Jose International Airport. When completed,
the Gardens will be a place of great beauty, planted in a
variety of gardens for the enjoyment and education of
visitors.
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 the largest urban park under
development in the United States today and a
resource of regional importance to the people of
Santa Clara County and the Bay Area.
For information on renting park space for events,
call the City of San Jose at (408) 277-4191.
Another great
regional
park that affords a
nice place to take a walk. Follow the river and end up at
the carousel or at the Children's Discovery Museum.
Note to mom's with young children: take a friend
or two when you go as now and then there are some
unfortunates who are a bit confused. You will feel
much more comfortable with another adult friend or two
along.
Home to Happy Hollow Park and
Zoo, the Japanese Friendship Gardens, and the Historical
Museum.
Kelley Park is the home to Happy Hollow Park & Zoo,
the Japanese Friendship Garden and the San Jose
Historical Museum. Visitors may enjoy a train ride,
picnicking, beautiful lawn and shade tree areas or a
walk through the tranquil Japanese Friendship
Garden. For those looking for more activity, visit
the zoo, amusement park and play area of Happy
Hollow or step back in time to the historic 1800s of
San Jose at the Historical Museum.
Kelley Park is located on Senter Road in central
San Jose, between Keyes Street and Phelen Avenue.
Park hours are daily from 8 a.m. to one-half hour
after sunset. A $3 parking fee is collected on
weekends, during national and school holiday periods
year round, and daily from Memorial Day weekend
through Labor Day weekend.
There are several picnic areas, an amphitheater,
wedding sites and small meeting rooms available. For
reservations, please call (408) 277-5561 or (408)
277-5562.
Lake Cunningham is a 50 acre
fresh water lake open for fishing and boating.
Although no gas powered engines are
allowed, sail boats, canoes, and pedal boats
are permitted and are available for rent.
The Marina, which is open
on weekends, features a public boat launch ramp as well as
dock space and boat trailer parking. The concession
stand offers drinks, snacks, and also fishing supplies such
as bait and tackle.
The Marina is
open weekends beginning in the
spring and daily during the summer season through Labor Day.
Please note that all
California fishing laws apply, and that all persons over the
age of 16 must have a fishing license to fish. No live
bait, except worms.
Biking and jogging are also popular in the park and an
18-station par course beckons for golfers. The
park features three playgrounds.
This great little park, brand
new as of 2005, is nestled beside the Rivermark Shopping
Center. The park offers two small playgrounds,
bouncy rides that still work, big shady oak trees, and a
huge wide open grassy area. Please note there is a
separate parking lot, just for the park. All of
Rivermark's eating establishments beckon making this a fun
place to pick up take-out for the park.
A huge Safeway (with
Starbucks) provides convenient nearby shopping, allowing you
to plunk your tired child in the cart and whisk through the
isles while he munches that free cookie.
Across from the Tech Museum of
Innovation, this small but lively downtown hub often hosts
jazz festivals and other events, including Christmas in the
Park. In warmer months a sidewalk grid of spurting
fountains invites children in to play.
Large park with nice shade
trees, new playground structures, wide open grassy spaces,
and an enclosed dog park that is very popular. Borders
Coyote Creek.
2 Playgrounds
Restroom
3 Picnic Tables
2 BBQ Grills
2 Basketball Courts
Soccer Field
Dog Park
One of a number of parks
located close to the Eastridge Mall shopping complex.
Offers plenty of room for kids to get out and gallop and
maybe fly a kite.
MAP
This park features a
playground for smaller children and another for older
children, plus the shade of a number of large redwood trees.
Bring a blanket to rest under the shade.
Squirrels abound, and the man with the ice cream cart is due
by any minute.
