Inclusive Playgrounds and Playspaces you should know about
All-abilities playgrounds are universally designed to include adaptive equipment, high-quality surfaces, and many innovative features to welcome children of all ages and capabilities to play. Inclusive play spaces are popping up all over and we love seeing them. These eight are within an hour’s drive of us in the Oakland/Berkeley area (on a good traffic day). If you know of more, please drop a comment!
Littlejohn Park (Alameda)
About 30 minutes from Berkeley, Little John Park outdoor playground is wonderful for all abilities with climbers, swings, and sensory playthings.
Location: 1401 Pacific Avenue, Alameda
Mia’s Dream Come True Playground (Hayward)
About 35 minutes from Berkeley, this fully-gated all-abilities playground has accessible play structures, swings, slides, and a magical toilet. Mia’s Dream Come True Playground is part of Tennyson Park with additional fields and courts.
Location: 28377 Huntwood Ave, Hayward
Nearby: Within a few blocks on Tennyson Road, you’ll find ice cream, hamburgers, and pizza.
Matteo’s Dream Playground for Children of All Abilities (Concord)
About 35 minutes from Berkeley, this mostly-gated playground has the goal of allowing children who cannot walk, see or hear can play safely alongside children who can. Matteo’s Dream is part of Concord’s Hillcrest Park.
Location: 2050 Olivera Rd, Concord
Always Dream Play Park (Fremont)
About 50 minutes from Berkeley, this smallish, inclusive, outdoor playground has water play, sandpits, spinners, and climbers. It is part of the much larger Central Park and Lake Elizabeth recreation area. Learn more about Always Dream >
Location: 1110 Stevenson Blvd, Fremont
Find more resources for families with special needs >
Imagine Playground (Dublin)
About 50 minutes from Berkeley, this inclusive outdoor playground with many climbers, structures, sandpits, climbing domes, lovely landscaping, and all-abilities everything, Imagine Playground is at the Dublin Sports Ground with additional sports fields.
Location: 6700 Dublin Blvd, Dublin
Magical Bridge Playground (Palo Alto)
About 55 minutes from Berkeley, this inclusive outdoor playground in Palo Alto’s Mitchell Park, Magical Bridge is a very large play area for big imaginations and all abilities. We think it is wonderful and worth the drive for East Bay families.
Location: 3700 Middlefield Rd, Palo Alto
Inclusive Indoor Playspaces in the East Bay
Spirited Play Labs (San Ramon)
Membership-oriented indoor play space for children ages 0-7 curated by developmental specialists for your child’s growth and enjoyment. View website >
Location: 2220 Camino Ramon, San Ramon
