San Jose Parks

Almaden Lake Park is a gorgeous 65-acre recreational area anchored around its names 32-acre lake, which serves as a popular seasonal fishing spot for San José residents with valid California fishing permits. The park, which is open to the public each day between 8:30am and dusk, offers opportunities to rent pedal boats for exploration of the lake's waters throughout the summer months. Visitors should note that personal boats and watercrafts are not currently permitted on the lake due to California's drought concerns. The park is connected via the 3.9-mile Los Alamitos Creek Trail to adjacent Santa Teresa County Park, which is home to a public fitness course.

6099 Winfield Blvd, San José, CA 95120, Phone: 408-277-5130

Berryessa Creek Park is a charming 13.5-acre regional park in northeastern San José, located near Milpitas. The park is anchored around its namesake seasonal creek, which spawns tributaries such as Piedmont, Calera, and Penitencia Creek and collects urban runoff throughout the summer months. Two children's playgrounds are offered at the park, including a safe play space for young children up to age five and a livelier playground for children up to the age of 12. ADA-accessible swings are offered, along with a softball field, soccer field, and exercise course. Day-use picnic sites are also available, with barbecue grills offered on a first come, first served basis.

1855 Majestic Way, San José, CA 95132, Phone: 408-535-3570

Cahalan Park is a lovely 9.5-acre neighborhood park in San José's eastern region, offering a wide variety of park amenities for families and children to enjoy throughout the summer months. Two separate children's playgrounds are offered, including a safe play area for children up to the age of five and a more active playground to be enjoyed by children ages five through 12. Play equipment includes swings, slides, and a tire swing, with a variety of sporting courts open to the public, including basketball, tennis, and softball fields and a multipurpose turf. First come, first served picnic sites are offered for visitor use, with several barbecue pits available for food preparation. The park's Homeward Shelter is also available for private special event rental.

770 Pearlwood Way, San José, CA 95123, Phone: 408-535-3570

Canyon Creek Park is a delightful 37-acre park located adjacent to the Evergreen Community Center, bordered by the Hillstone Development and Thompson Creek. A developed community park area spans 1.2 acres near Larkspur Canyon Drive, with extensive areas of open space remaining undeveloped. Visitors can enjoy use of a children's play area, which offers separate equipment for younger and older children, including bucket swings and climbing equipment. A lovely globe-esque water fountain is a popular spot for children and families to play, while large grassy areas provide space for picnics and pickup sporting games. Lovely city views are offered from the top of the park's hill, including excellent vantage points for Fourth of July fireworks viewing.

Larkspur Canyon Drive & Trinity Hills Court, San José, CA 95138, Phone: 408-793-5510

Edenvale Gardens Regional Park is a spacious 19.5-acre public park located on the grounds of the 1891 Hayes Mansion, a designated National Historic Landmark since 1975. The Hayes estate was once home to more than 646 acres of orchards and farmland, producing a wide variety of fruit, vegetable, and nut crops throughout the year. During the mid-2oth century, the estate was home to the Frontier Village amusement park. Following the park's closing, the estate's lands were purchased by the City of San José in 1987 for the purposes of creating a public community park. Today, the park is home to two age-separated children's playground areas, along with basketball, tennis, and sand volleyball courts and day-use picnic sites with barbecue grills.

200 Edenvale Ave, San José, CA 95136, Phone: 408-793-5510

Emma Prusch Farm Park is a unique 43.5-acre public park in East San José, originally opened to the public in 1962 after its lands were donated to the city by regional resident Emma Prusch. The park preserves the former farm homestead of Prusch's as a living history museum, which showcases the largest preserved barn in the city, open to use by the region's 4-H groups and Future Farmers of America nonprotfit organization chapter for the purposes of raising urban livestock. A rare fruit orchard showcases more than 125 rare tree species, overseen by the California Rare Fruit Growers Association. Other attractions include a sustainable urban agricultural community farm known as Veggielution. Each October, visitors can attend the annual Harvest Festival at the park, which offers a 4-H animal show, wagon rides, and a variety of live performances.

647 King Rd, San José, CA 95116, Phone: 408-794-6262

Falls Creek Park is a lovely 1.07-acre neighborhood park in San José, offering a wide variety of play equipment and park amenities for visitors of all ages to enjoy. Two separate play areas are offered for visitors with children, including play structures for older and younger children and a set of baby swings. Day-use picnic tables are available on a first come, first served basis, available for birthday parties and relaxing with lunches on warm days. Visitors should note that no barbecue grills, fire pits, or public restrooms are offered at the park. Ample bench space is offered for parents to sit and watch children at play, and a large grassy field offers additional opportunities for free play.

4673 Batten Way, San José, CA 95135, Phone: 408-535-3570

Foothill Park is a sparse but spacious 6.9-acre public park located at the edge of the Santa Teresa Foothills, offering stunning views of the surrounding Blossom Valley. The park is home to a walking trail that follows alongside the Coyote-Alamitos Canal, which moves water between the Los Alamitos and Coyote Creeks and protects the region from hill runoff. Visitors can pick up the park's trail at the intersection of Foothill Drive and Cahalan Avenue and walk for more than one mile, with an additional dirt bike trail area that continues on past another foothill toward nearby Almaden Lake. The park is an excellent hiking route for visitors with children in tow due to its lack of trail obstacles and dramatic elevation changes. Each year, the park serves as an excellent spot for viewing the city's Fourth of July fireworks.

6209 Cahalan Ave, San José, CA 95123, Phone: 408-535-3570

Fowler Creek Park is a charming 9.5-acre neighborhood park offering beautiful panoramic views of San José's skyline. The park is home to a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities for visitors of all ages, including two children's playgrounds divided by age group and a seasonal children's water play area. Fall risks are minimized at both playgrounds by rubber flooring covering the play area's tanbark surface. Three tennis courts and two bocce ball courts are available for visitor use, along with a number of day-use and reservable picnic sites with barbecue grills. On Wednesdays and Sundays, the park hosts the Evergreen Farmers Market.

Altia Ave & Cortona Dr, San José, CA 95135, Phone: 408-535-3570

Frank M. Santana Park is a lovely neighborhood park spanning 5.3 acres along South Monroe Street, home to ample shaded areas and large open spaces perfect for stretching out and relaxing or playing. A children's playground at the park offers climbing and play structures best geared to children ages five to 12, with a number of day-use picnic sites and barbecue grills available on a first come, first served basis. A softball field is also available for visitor use, along with a cement pathway that offers jogging and walking opportunities around the park's perimeter. Nearby, one of the city's most upscale shopping districts offers a variety of boutiques, restaurants, and coffee shops.

511 S Monroe St, San José, CA 95128, Phone: 408-793-5510,