I like that there is free parking. I came here on a Sunday, a little before 12 PM, and it was easy…read moreto find parking. This is one of the biggest outdoor public play structures in the Bay Area that I've been to so far. There are picnic tables available for rental, and it's a great place to host a kids' birthday party. There is some shade in the play structure area, but I wish there were more. There are public restrooms, but they need more frequent cleaning during the weekend. I came here on a hot Sunday, and there were a smoothie/shave ice truck and a soft serve truck parked nearby in the swim center parking lot for purchase.

Very open well maintained park with beautiful playgrounds and picnics places, green grass, shade,…read moreexplosive rose garden free parking, good easy hiking trail.

Can't complain about a free splash pad for the kids, but there are things to consider. This is a…read morepublic park so there are a lot of other people (some without kids) watching and looking onto the splash pad - my head was for sure on a swivel. Lastly, the parking lot is limited so you'll either have to get street parking or wait a little. Major red flag: The faucet sink and little shower area do not work. Also there aren't any changing areas available!

The park is great. Hard to complain about a free spray park for kids but the fact that they just…read moreshut it off without communicating is an issue. I've been there 2 weeks in a row and scheduled play dates with other friends, and the water never comes on. If they can provide a way to talk about updates or maintenance, I'll give this five stars. But without any communication and inconsistent hours, I can't give this a good rating.

I've lived near Howe Homestead Park for many years but only recently discovered it when driving…read moredown Walnut. While in and of itself it's a small park, it's a convenient and less crowded jumping off point to the Kovar trail leading in to Shell Ridge Open space and endless hiking loops. There is a small lot and water fountains and restroom facilities (fountains and bathroom currently closed due to COVID precautions.) The park itself is rather small but features a few pieces of old farming equipment, some benches to sit and relax on and a nice large lawn for dogs and kids to run around on. Adjoining it is also a community garden which was fun to walk around and see what neighbors are planting. It's a cute little neighborhood park perfect for coming to relax and read a book or to find an easy parking spot for hikes in to Shell Ridge. Love that I can walk here and spend some time enjoying this small, local green space. Review #16 of 100 goal review in 2021

Love has struck me yet again... and it's right here at this adorable park. A hidden discovery that…read moreI will now bask in until my darkest days... or at least until it becomes unbearably overcrowded. Howe Homestead Park is a small recreational park tucked right behind the streets of downtown Walnut Creek. I would have never guessed that a little park like this would be hidden only a few miles from the downtown area that I so often frequent. Coming down Ygnacio Valley Rd from Concord, you can reach this park by simply turning left on Walnut Blvd and keeping straight until you reach a small parking lot on the left hand side. I first came here on a warm Saturday afternoon, and there was virtually no cars parked in the lot. Parking is free and there is a little path that will lead you to the park. The park itself is small with many preserved antiques set along its' path like an old farming wagon and beekeeper boxes. There are a few benches where people can relax and have a nice picnic. The bathroom is immaculately clean, and there's also a beautiful community garden along the path behind the park. Perhaps, what is the most compelling aspect of this park for me is the Kovar hiking trail that leads you to the back of Shell Ridge open space. Once you pass the garden, you will see a badly degrading sign that will faintly read "Kovar Trail". You can follow this trail all the way up until you reach the top of a hill with a three-way trail intersection. I veered to the right and ended up going up some mini steep inclines. There's a beautiful viewpoint where you can see all of Walnut Creek, the beautiful rolling hills, and the highway 24 and 680 freeway. I kept going up until I reached a point where I could see tons of trails! It's a peak where you can see all of the various trails centered on Shell Ridge open space. At this point you'll begin to descend downward, however it can be quite dangerous. I'm not really into rock climbing, but I actually found myself doing this while trying to make my way down. Unfortunately, I got too afraid of slipping and took my ass back up the rock and back down the hills to the park. It's a great workout but I advise that you go early or bring LOTS of water because it gets HOT! I was drenched and extra tired because of the heat. This trail is one that is less traveled, making it more enjoyable for you to really soak up the views. I'm so happy that I discovered this amazing little hidden gem, and I can't wait to go back to hike a new trail next time around!

Lafayette Reservoir is a beautiful local park! And there is so much parking and bathrooms with…read moretoilet paper and soap! That's honestly way more than I was expecting. The parking lot we parked in had a max 2 hour limit, which isn't enough time to walk the entire perimeter of the reservoir but it looks like there are other lots that don't have as much time restrictions. Beautiful little walk - not much of a hike because of the paved path, but it's a nice distance and has beautiful views. We would definitely come back again.

The Lafayette Reservoir is the perfect place for a family walk or hike, especially with dogs!…read moreThere's lots of shady areas around and benches along the trail to stop if you need. Parking is easy to find and pay for, and is cheap ($4 for 2 hours on weekdays). There's multiple bathrooms along the trail too. We've been coming here for years and always come back to it. If you're looking for a great hike to go on with family, friends, and pups, check out the Reservoir!

Restrooms and shower area can use some updating and the 3-4 ft pool need resurfacing and better…read morecleaning, but admission is free this summer so certainly not bad at all! They have splash pad area that remains open during "break" time and fun for little ones who don't really swim. Parking can be full at the lot and you may need to park on the street when the park is busy. Overall, a nice community pool for the public. Water seems to be salted water.

I brought my little here for swim lessons a couple weeks ago and now visit weekly for the splash…read morepad. This place is such an asset and so much fun. It's a great pool for littles as it's smaller and a little easier to manage.

Beautiful! Free parking!…read more Dog friendly! Just gorgeous! Amazing rock formations! Also, poison oak. Be aware. Open spaces like this make me happy. All of the reviews are spot on. Whatever kind of hike you want to do you will find it here. Note- once you start to enter Mt. Diablo there are no dogs allowed.

Free parking , clean bathroom and multiples trail connecting (you can even connect to Mt.Diablo…read morestate park ! Must visit and revisit

This is a this is one of the smaller wilderness parks in the city of Walnut Creek. This particular…read morepark is in divided into several sections. Some of them are very close to the East Bay Mud water treatment plant. I don't believe there are any facilities in this park, and I did not see any drinking water. The trails are well maintained however. And the signs appear to be correct. While this is not one of my favorite parks, it's a decent place to go hiking. I enjoyed my visit.

My daughter's choir was practicing nearby. While I waited for her to finish I decided to take a…read morehike and that's how I arrived at Acalanes Ridge. This is a nice hike near downtown Walnut Creek. Residential parking is easy, as is finding the trailhead. This path seems well-worn by hikers and dog walkers alike. If I find myself in Walnut Creek with time to kill in the future, I'll come here!

A great place to get some steps in…read more Stopped by for my daily walk and was pleasantly surprised by the amount of features and activities they have! Features: Walking paths Baseball Field Restrooms Dog friendly Playground Swimming pool Public Garden Parking The park was clean, felt safe, and had plenty of space for walkers, runners, families, and people simply looking to enjoy the outdoors. Definitely a place I'll continue returning to.

This is a great park for kids of all ages! The fenced in toddler area was great when the kids were…read morereally small, and the huge sand pit is always a big hit with the littles. The bigger playground has different size slides and things to do for a variety of ages.