We were scouting the Ferry Terminal because we were planning on taking the Ferry to San Francisco…read morein a couple of days. We wanted to see the location, parking and the area in general. We had the Princess with us and as we were leaving mapped out the nearest dog park. Lo and behold, it was right next door! It's not a huge park but there's enough room to throw a ball and run around in. Parking is one the rocks right in front of the gate on Main Street. I suppose you could also park in the Ferry Terminal parking lot although I'm not sure if that's okay or not. There are two entrances to the park. The main entrance on Main Street has a dual gate entrance while the entrance on the Ferry Terminal side is a single gate. Dual gates are my preference because it adds a layer of safety should one gate accidentally not latch properly. We found a couple of dog toys and there were several bowls with water. There were also numerous gallon jugs with water in them. There is no water fountain nor restroom onsite, so it appears that other pet parents are taking empty jugs and filling them. The encampments and motorhomes that other wrote about in 2022 and 2023 are no longer there, so the area feels relatively safe.

Great little linear park. Near the main road and because of the length it makes for a decent size…read more This is near the water and a main road. Mostly clean. Biggest problem is that it is difficult to get to assuming your not living nearby. Alameda is such a drag to drive around in - I'd say its almost as bad as downtown San Francisco in terms of driving 1 mile will cost you 12 minutes. Lots of stop signs and tiny narrow streets. Crowded feeling. Your dog will love it. If he is cooped up in a tiny apartment there is space to run. Also important for your dog to socialize and do some flea swapping with the next dog. They love that.

This park is absolutely delightful. It sits in the city of Piedmont, which is a bit of unusual city…read moregeographically because it is completely encapsulated by Oakland. It's somewhat of an oasis in Oakland. And this park is an oasis within that. The park isn't huge, but it does the job. Love the trails, great with the dog, and every once in a while, they'll have the food trucks. Parking nearby is easy.

We spent a crisp morning walking throughout the variety of trails in Piedmont Park. There's a dog…read morerun, play structure, plenty of bench seating, and many shady areas to explore. The safety railings and paved walkways with extra grooves to prevent slippage, especially in steeper sections. The trails would also make a great place to run as most of the paving is flat. This is definitely a place for repeat returns.

Great park! First time there and my 4.5 yr old daughter loves it. Clean and big playground. Has a…read moretrail to walk around and if you have your doggy, great trail to walk around. Downside to this park, small parking lot!

Never disappointed with a visit to Jean Sweeney Park. Our daughter enjoys the various play areas as…read moreshe navigates between the different areas, existing in some spaces longer than others. After parking, if you can find a spot, the first play area includes a trampoline, climbing structure, a wide metal slide and an oversized musical chime. To the right, a spacious mesh swing spins with kids constantly filling and spinning it. Directly in front is an ample sand area with a brick barrier surrounding it. To the left are three picnic tables. In front of the sand area is the smaller kids play area which is directly next to the restrooms and water fountain. To the left of the little play area is the zip line. When you go further in to the park, there is a covered area with lots of picnic tables and seating grouped together, more benches and lots of grass to play and explore further. There are paths to ride bikes, scooters, roller blades and skateboards. During warmer weather this park is packed. When we visited, following a prior event, there were already lots of kids on a gray, windy, overcast day. This park is spacious on the interior but parking on the exterior is limited. The parking lot is minimal for the amount of space to explore, which is awesome but makes it difficult to navigate up close parking. Street parking is not really existent unless you enter on the opposite end of the park.

Fantastic beach for younger kids, and a great option for East Bay residents who aren't up for the…read moretrek into the city or the even longer drive to Santa Cruz. The beach is clean and has useful amenities, including outdoor showers, picnic tables, and restrooms. I haven't actually used the restrooms, so I can't speak to their condition, but I can say I've never noticed trash on the beach, even on busy days. The crowd is generally respectful, which goes a long way. The downside is that the water isn't exactly pristine by appearance, smell, or feel...but you can't have everything. My favorite thing about this beach, aside from the fact that the water isn't freezing, is how shallow it stays. I can wade out with my kid what feels like half a mile and still not feel like we're anywhere close to being too far from shore. P.S. Do NOT forget to pay for parking if you're in the lot. It's yellow, located at the far end, the fee is 5 dollars and it's easy to miss. Also, they don't accept Discover debit.

In The Teen and I's new Friday ritual of water watching before we head home, we stopped by Crown…read moreMemorial before heading through the tunnel to let traffic die down a bit.. This was definitely the place to be back in the day! Parking was a snap and we found a bench to sit on starting the water watching. The view was awesome and the sun was shining just like Bob Marley said. There were people, young and old playing in the sand, lots of bike riders, and of course, those dog walkers. The Teen put the phone down and ventured out and some sand, touching and driftwood drifting.. Definitely, we will be back when it gets warmer with hopes of finding front row parking again!

A nice place to play with your dog…read more Watch out for Foxtails in the center area of the park. Be cautious of Cliques. It turns into gossip fests. A couple of Yenta's are in the daily mix. Also an abundance of den Mothers. Watch where you step, not everyone picks up after their dog. I also recommend walking around the park before you throw a ball for your pooch. There are many holes in the sand/dirt and a dog in a full run can break a leg. And so can his human. If you know where those holes are , you can pick a smoother spot. Plenty of water available Parking is easy but the tree's send off a light spray of sap. Easy to wash off. Have fun, and enjoy Alameda. It is a great place. Remember drive 25.

Did you know that I've been taking my little monsters here to play, shit and roam for decades and…read morehad never known what this park was called? Shame on me! This is by and far the biggest and best dog park in the East Bay. IT'S HUGE! Within comfortable driving distance from home through quaint northern Alameda, the park boasts two sides, depending on the size of your four-legged cuddle monster. Inside, the place is decked out generously with chairs and picnic tables galore. In fact, I had a picnic birthday party for one of my dogs a few years ago inside the large park, and family and friends were able to bring their furry companions for a day-long frolic at the park. It was great! If you're looking for a place to take your little (or giant) ones for a couple hours while you sit back and relax while they have their day, think about coming here. Then afterwards, enjoy a lovely stroll along the beach at Crown Memorial State Beach right behind the dog park. There's no better way to end your fun filled day.

Amazing park -- huge and full of charm! There are plenty of picnic tables and spots to sit, and you…read morecan even BBQ here with a beach view. There's a tennis court and a nice fenced dog park, too. Perfect place for a relaxing stroll with your paw buddy. Lots of trees for shade make it super comfortable and plush grass. Washington Park is a hidden gem -- peaceful, relaxing, and one of my favorite spots. Love this place!

Washington Park has been a long time favorite of my family. You have the swings for both bigger…read morekids/adults and then another set for the little ones. You've got a pretty cool baseball field with more field area for some other activities like ultimate frisbee, etc. You've got 2 different play structures and there are bathrooms. There are tables with benches throughout the park and if you'd like to have a party there, you can do so through the parks and rec department. They even have some great basketball courts and I enjoy seeing the pick up games in action! Some sad things are that the bathrooms are never clean. I am not a fan of taking my little ones in there and try to avoid it. I often find drug paraphernalia or needles on the ground and/or tables near the benches, and there's no shade in the park area except for one bench. As much as I love coming here since it is located near businesses like restaurants and we get to run into some friends there, I try to avoid it.

Tiffany and Dog Day Alameda have been taking my pup on daily outings for 2+ years now and I…read morecouldn't be happier. She's knowledgeable, reliable and most importantly my dog love, love, love's her. If you're lucky enough to get an open spot in one of Dog Day's packs, take it! The peace of mind that my dog is well cared for has been worth every penny.

From the owner: Dog Day Alameda is the premier dog walking and doggy daycare, serving Alameda island. With over 12…read moreyears in the pet care industry, we're excited to be taking reservations for our new pack. We offer an inclusive personalized program to meet you and your furry family members needs. All group hikes are five days per week M-F.

A grassy knoll on Park Blvd. One of the few Oakland parks designated as an OK "off leash" area…read moresince 2014. If wishes were elephants, maybe someone should make a chunk of this a designated dog run complete with attractive fence! As it stands, for the last five years, up until 2021 there were movie nights in the park. Check the facebook page to see current happenings. Pupper approved but, could definitely benefit from a fence area.