Park for active baby and wheelchair user
Hi, I don't know if anyone would know this but I wanted to find a park that is interesting for babies that I could get through as a wheelchair user. I can't do woodchips or super soft ground, but the springy rubber material and solid ground or grass over solid ground works. I have a 6 month old who wants to pull herself to standing and crawl all over everything constantly. She loves swings but I was wondering if there's a fairly accessible park with anything else.
Jun 13, 2025
Parent Replies
Hi! The Becky Temko Tot Park (Dwight & Roosevelt in Berkeley) sounds perfect for you. Mostly firm surfaces, including under the baby swings. There is one sand pit in the back but the rest of the park might suit your needs really well.
It's aimed at elementary school kids, but Marin Elementary has a very nice playground with pavement, turf, and springy rubber ground. It has a little turf hill, which is just the sort of thing my guy liked at that age. It tends to not be crowded earlier in the day so she could explore the play equipment and turf hill without worrying about bigger kids.
Littlejohn Park in Alameda is wheelchair accessible. Rubbery surface, wheelchair ramp onto play structure, etc.
Have you tried Totland in Berkeley?? It sounds like it might check all your boxes. It's fenced in and really designed for babies - 3 years old. My son loved it at that age!
Virginia-McGee Totland is all paved, springy rubber, and lawn, except for the sandbox in one corner. It’s a tot lot, so everything is sized for babies and toddlers. There’s usually a nice group of them around to play with when we go, too.
Willard park is wonderful for babies and I believe it's all accessible by wheelchair. I'm so sorry that I'm not certain, but it's a recent enough build that I think it might meet all your needs.
Not a wheelchair user myself, but I’ve seen a few parents in them at the tot playground at San Pablo Park. It’s mostly the springy rubber surface, surrounded by a concrete sidewalk, then grass, then a fence. Concrete sidewalks lead into the park, and it all seems pretty smooth and even to me pushing a stroller (my best basis for comparison). It has swings and a fun play structure. There is a sandbox in it that might be tricky to navigate if she gets into it—it’s sunken in, so the wheelchair wouldn’t be able to follow her in, even if rolling on sand was a good idea. Hope that helps!
Robert’s Regional has a great barrier-free wheelchair accessible playground
Frog park just off Claremont — 5500 Claremont — is almost under HWY 24 but still a great park/playground in Oakland that has just what you are looking for! Also a fence to keep toddlers from getting onto Claremont. Easiest to access by car if you park at the end of Hardy St
Montclair park has two playground areas, and the toddler area has components that could be appropriate for a 6month old and has no wood chips or soft surface. The older kids area has baby swings (also no wood chips). There is also Moraga commons park, which has an all abilities area with similar wheelchair accessible ground.
I have taken my mom, who is in a wheelchair, to George Florence Mini Park, 2121 Tenth St. Berkeley. There is a fenced toddler park which may be good for you and your little one. It has the springy rubber floor material and several interactive musical structures as well as some structures that your little one could pull herself up on. There is ample space for a wheelchair to move about in, and my mom has enjoyed moving from structure to structure in the playground, in her chair. The families are friendly and there can be shade. I think the biggest challenge could be parking and negotiating the sidewalks. I usually park on Addison between 8th and 10th, but I am bringing my mom from San Pablo Ave, down Addison to 10th. The sidewalks are bumpy and in some places are very narrow from plant overgrowth on this walking route.
They are putting in an accessible path at Dimond Park! It was under construction a week ago, so it might be done now. Entrance is on Fruitvale near the tennis courts https://maps.app.goo.gl/8Mn1NafJEF4Zcpzk7?g_st=ic
Mia's Dream in Hayward is an adaptive park that would be a good option! It's big and has a lot of ADA parking, if that's helpful.