Community Corner
No Rain, No Worries! A Guide to Local Parks
The unusually warm weather is a great opportunity to get some outdoor playtime in before the rain reappears.
With all the sunshine packed days in recent months, it’s been a great excuse for moms, dads and kids of all ages to get in some unexpected outdoor playtime. Usually parents go to all ends to come up with innovative, creative and fun ways to entertain children during the rainy season, whether it be art classes, tumbling classes, karate lessons or fun at-home activities such as fort building, LEGOs or educational programming. Take advantage of the warm weather and head for the outdoors! It might turn back into wintertime at any given moment, but until then, here is a guide to some great San Rafael parks and open spaces, just perfect for burning off energy and having a blast.
This community playground and grass area is great for summer due to the old growth trees but don’t count it out in the winter months when the sun is shining. Two structures, two kiddie swings and two adult swings, a ton of plastic slides, play houses and digging tools are available for everyone to share. The bathrooms are very clean and there is a great area with picnic tables, just perfect for a birthday party with friends.
This large area has a playground at the corner of San Rafael Avenue and Clark Street with two structures and a tire swing. A nice spot for older kids too, as there are several basketball courts within the fence. A great feature to this park is the hiking trails in the open space adjacent to the playground, just perfect for a romp with the family.
Los Ranchitos Park
One of the newer parks in San Rafael, located off of North San Pedro Road is great for parents with younger children, as kids can be seen from every angle. There is very little shade cover so it can be very hot in the summertime but it is perfect for these winter days. A concrete path surrounding the structures is a great place for youths who want to ride their bikes or tricylces and the large grass field is perfect for soccer lessons.
This is a 20-acre space complete with duck pond stocked with fish, a futuristic playground and plenty of room to run. This park is a fun place on weekends, when the Civic Center might be hosting a festival or event. Don't forget to bring snacks for the ducks.
This is usually a great destination point for summertime fun due to the beachfront but don't count it out. A 55-acre regional park full of enjoyment, with newly rennovated tennis courts, picnic tables, sand volleyball courts, a play structure and a pier perfect for catching fish such as striped bass, halibut and even crab. This is a fantastic spot for an all-day excursion, as it has a $10 enterance fee.
