Totally worth the drive for our family: Emerald Glen Park in Dublin has a splash park; a large sandlot; a playground structure for all ages; a spacious open sports field; and a garden. Picnic areas and picnic tables are available and can be reserved. A parking lot is available, however can get crowded as it is within The Wave water park complex. Dogs on leashes are welcomed.
That’s right, a totally free water “feature” is sharing the same park complex as Dublin’s large water park.
An amazing park: Emerald Glen Park in Dublin
Emerald Glen Park is easily my favorite park in the East Bay. It’s an easy park to meet everyone’s needs including the dog! My toddlers, ages two and three, spent hours splashing through the water and climbing the structures. The kids discovered their inner archeologists and dug for dinosaur bones hidden beneath the sand.
Large boulders adjacent to the splash park are easy to climb before sliding down one of the two concrete slides. The play structure and swing sets are appropriate for all ages. Towards the back of the park, there was a peaceful garden; an open field perfect for flying kites, outdoor sports, and walking our dog; a beautiful art installation (to learn more click here); and shaded picnic tables.
The best part of this park is its proximity to each other. Everything is fairly close to one another allowing for easy supervision from wherever you are sitting and quick access to the bathroom (potty training woes). The only pitfall is its limited shaded areas — a portable shade tent can mean fewer tears. On a hot summer day, the sun can really wear you and your children down.
Plan your visit to Emerald Glen Park
The water play area operates from June 15 through Labor Day weekend, daily from 11 am to 7 pm. Weekdays have the most parking available within the lot.
Location: Emerald Glen Park is located at Tassajara Road and Central Parkway, Dublin. This recreational park and water play area are located just EAST of Wave Park. Turn left into the parking lot after passing the Wave Park on the left.
What to bring:
- Sunblock, sun hats
- Bathing suit
- Sand toys
- Picnic blankets and a shade tent if you have it
- Extra bag for wet bathing suits and clothes
- Towels to dry off
- Lunch
- Water shoes (the floor can get really hot!)
- Dog
