After taking out lunch at a nearby restaurant which didn't have tables outside, we needed a place…read moreto enjoy our food. A friend suggested a nearby park so the three of us headed there. The Canyon Trail Park is a neighborhood park located at the end of a residential street. In the main section of the park, there's a large grassy area with a playground, two tennis courts and a couple of picnic tables. There were some parents and their kids in the park and a couple playing tennis. The empty picnic tables were perfect for the three of us to eat our lunch. The park has some mini hiking trails that I will need to check out in a future visit. There was a restroom next the clubhouse, but it was locked. But our object was met, finding this park to enjoy our lunch.

If you are looking for a nice path to walk in the neighborhoods-Canyon Trail is a very good places…read moreto go for，it has 3 designated parking space in front of the Art Center, and street Parking's too, a restroom was located next to the Art center, but please be aware, KEY was requested, and you can apply key from El Cerrito Community Center with a small deposit fee. Sometimes groups of parents and kids get together there for games, classes, birthday parties too, it has a large field of green green grass area, tennis court and a play structures good for little kids too. Canyon Trail is load with squirrels, birds, dragonflies...sometimes group of deers and turkeys will show up walked up and down. this trails supposed requires all dogs on leashes, but many people do let free their dogs, so watch out those aggressive ones. years ago we were be able to enjoy the little water pond down at the lower position of trail where the wooden sign was located, this tiny pond used to has lots of lives, tiny fishes, tadpoles, now seems not any more, pond now over growth with Cattails with some other water plants make it muddy muddy and no more clear waters. Near the pond it has three aged cherry blossom trees in about 2 months hopefully they'll be blooming and beautiful again. I truly hope those cattail in the pond that now damaged water quality and completely changed the living condition of this pod can be quickly clean out, we have not seen any tadpole this year so as other small fishes, sad lost of tadpoles lost of frogs singing around too.

I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this location. I helped organize an event who needed…read morean event space for 200 people. My objections were overcome when the likeable staff, the flexible meeting space and the free parking on the weekend changed my mind. The space offers a scenic view to the courtyard fountain that featured blue tiles and splashing water. This is a lovely setting with windows and skylights all around. We did a site inspection and the contact person bent over backwards to assist us. He answered our questions and let us poke around behind the stage. We went into the full kitchen and inspected for cleanliness. It looked good. The restrooms were clean but a little dated. There are plenty of tables and chairs to accommodate weddings, or conferences. On event day, we were able to enter a bit earlier and leave a little later. As we left we observed the staff mopping and washing the tabletops. The space if very clean, spacious and has friendly, low key staff.

Great experience decorating at this venue space. The staff was professional, cordial, and easy to…read morework with throughout the entire process. My team and I had the pleasure of creating a beautiful custom backdrop for our client's special celebration, and the venue provided a wonderful setting to bring the design to life. To see more of our work and this event, visit www.fourfortyfourevents.com. -- Four Forty Four Events

Disappointing. Walnut Creek Recreation broke the CA "Honest…read morePricing Law" (SB478). Walnut Creek Rec sends out a catalogue every year for the camps they offer. There is pricing in these catalogues- just like the catalogues you receive for clothes or Costco or whatever you get- they list a price, the store needs to honor it. We get the catalogue, we have a budget, the kids are excited to pick their camps within that budget. I register the kids for camps. Usually there's no issue. But this year the price on the website for one of the camps was more than what was advertised. Walnut Creek Rec thinks it's OK to increase the price and write in the camp description that "the price is different in the catalogue". I registered my kids because I thought the "Community" Center would honor their original pricing, but no. The option I was told was, "We can unenroll your child if you don't like the new price." Even after I told them this was "bait and switch", this was still their only option offered. This is an audacious and patronizing response and doesn't hold anyone accountable. The difference is $16 or $17 dollars, so it's not like they messed up 1 number when typing out the catalogue. An employee from Walnut Creek Recreation signed off on the printing of this catalogue with specific prices. The lady I spoke with and her staff member claimed this was a printing error. This was not a printing error- at no point did the printer mess up. This is their error and someone needs to hold them accountable. The lady who called me confused "accountability" with "acknowledgment". If you're reading this- look it up. You claimed you were being "accountable" when the words "the price changed" were included in the camp description on the website. "Acknowledgment" (with no corrective action) means you know you messed up, you admit it, and you do nothing about it- like this situation. You shouldn't be in a job that has a direct impact on other people because you do not value the community you work for. "Accountability" means you understand you messed up and you do what you can to make the situation better. The person who does this knows and values the impact they have on their community.. they also value their community. This review is for the staff and the lack of respect they have for the law and their community, and the lack of understanding how their actions can negatively impact their community.

A Wonderful park dedicated to a special missing child. May all who visit honor her life and…read moreexperience joy in that place.

Amber Swartz Park, a 2 -acre open space adjacent to Ellerhorst Elementary, was dedicated in 2006 in…read morememory of Amber Swartz Garcia who was kidnapped in the otherwise very quiet neighborhood on June 3rd, 1988. While this isn't a particularly noteworthy attraction, the park is an important reminder of a little girl who was brutally murdered by a man who was only recently identified this summer after 21 years. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4176/is_20090706/ai_n32133611/

I would love to give this park a higher rating because it's in Berkeley and the structures are so…read morenice and safe. Who doesn't love Berkeley. The structures are gated and padded to minimize injury to children and then roaming off. There's an area to play volleyball, soccer and of course the picnic area with grills and tables. The down side... all the garbage cans were overflowing from previous event, there were no accessible restrooms so you have to walk just outside the park on the corner of Eighth x Delaware to a PORTA POTTY that wasn't serviced regularly, urine on the floor, sputum on the floor, empty hand sanitizer or portable hand washing station and more importantly a NON flushing one. Luckily I carry a spray bottle of 91% rubbing alcohol and was able to sanitize my hands. I contemplated driving to the hotel at the Berkeley Marina. There has to be a park ranger that comes around periodically to check for things like this. Apparently not today. Still enjoyed the birthday party but had to watch my liquid intake to avoid using that unkempt porta potty that was CLEAR across the park where the picnic tables and play structure were.

We were here for a away game 7th grade volley ball game. The space was well kept and the bathrooms…read morewere spacious and clean. I was very surprised. The bleachers were plentiful for the amount of people that attended. Parking was easy. We parked on the street right outside the gym. I would be happy to attend another game here.

We recently attended a Quinceañera here. Bright and large…read morecommunity room with lots of supporting rooms. held about 150 - love location in the woods. if you are think about hosting an event, this is a winner

Community centers remind me of the elderly, let's be real here, it's not always the sexiest place…read moreto throw a party. But, when done right, it's not a bad place to celebrate an occasion. I came here for my friend's baby's first birthday. In Korean culture, a baby's 1-year-old birthday is a HUUUUUGE deal. It's called a Doljanchi or a "DOL"--where the baby wears a hanbok (traditional dress) and there's a ritual (sort of a fortune telling) where a bunch of innocuous objects are placed in front of the baby, ex. a string, a gavel, a coin, a brush, etc. And when the baby picks up the object, say a gavel, then s/he will become a judge...something like that. It's all in good fun. Ironically, the baby did in fact pick up the gavel, which is rare, usually babies pick up the coin or a string since it's lighter and easier to grab. I've seen pictures of my DOL and it's off the hook. There is a bunch of food, especially Korean duk and tons of fruit-- to represent prosperity and long-life. My grandparents (on my dad's side) were so proud to hold me in the photo-- I looked kinda miserable. In fact, I looked like a boy. The reason why DOLs are such a big deal is because traditionally in Korea, most babies didn't survive past their first year of life. Apparently, my mom told me that when I was 3 months old, I got really really sick, and was sick for another 3 months afterward and she was afraid that I wouldn't make it. Dramatic, right? So, when I turned one, she threw a huge party-- "a thankful relief," she said. That's why when I get sick as an adult, I get really sick because my immune system is basically shot. And it's really cute, even today, my mom freaks out when I get sick, because she remembers back to when I was a baby. And always gives me the motherly speech about sleeping more and drinking fluids..and it's one of the rare times I actually allow her to "take care of me." Heck, I think it's the only time I let anyone take care of me. Either way, the celebration was beautiful. So proud of my friend for being such an amazing mother/woman-- and she's really blessed to have such a beautiful child, who will forever love and adore her. Babies are the best, they need you like no other, and I absolutely love taking care of them.

Tiny Tots Preschool program at the Community Center on L Street is the absolute best. Hands down,…read moreit can't get any better. Teacher Kathy and Teacher Lisa are the Monday, Wednesday and Friday instructors who are caring mentors that guide children thru preschool. This requires a waiting list perhaps, but definitely worth the wait. Field trips include the Police Station, a visit from the Fire Department and hands-on wonderful science experiences some of which include planting as well as watching the metamorphosis of butterflies. As a grandma, I was aware of the joy and excitement my grandson would exude the day of school. Thank you to Kathy and Lisa for making our community experience so memorable. We certainly appreciate you. The City of Benicia should also acknowledge your valued devotion towards teaching.

This building is super awesome because they turned an old elementary school into a new Community…read moreCenter. The class rooms are all very nice and clean and all the staff are friendly and helpful.

A friend took my husband and me to spend a day at Point San Pablo. It was an amazing and beautiful…read moreplace. As we drove up the "long and winding road" we all felt our cares and stress from the San Francisco traffic fall away. We ate at the restaurant, listened to some great jazz in the bar area and had fun walking around the property. Our friend discovered two burning man sculptures that have found permanent homes here. On was a tall steel structure that had a steel tree on top of it. It was really nice but when we walked inside it....OMG, we were transported to another world or an alternate reality, I don't know which but it was astonishingly beautiful inside this tiny room. I will attach some photos. The other burning man sculpture was a metal globe, hard to describe. It was nice and was at the end of a long road in a beautiful spot.

I was out this weekend showing my friend the brighter side of Richmond when we wandered into Point…read moreSan Pablo. It's on the back of an oil refinery (which sounds more ominous than it actually is) and is home to the Point San Pablo Yacht Club and the East Brother Island B&B. Getting to point San Pablo is like going back in time. It's completely untouched from the days when it was inhabited by factory workers (their homes remain boarded up). The sometimes gravel road is long and winding, and it's almost like going on a historical tour of Richmond. It's amazing because you can see how much promise the city actuallly holds if someone would just invest in development of the area. There is so much amazing greenery and the ocean views are unbelievable. At one point you can get a full view of the Richmond/San Raphael Bridge (Who knew it was that long). It's a cool place to stop by on your way somewhere else. It's not much for hiking since everything is gated and access is so limited, but the sunset is totally worth it.