Ohlone Park Playground With Nature-Inspired Play Structures

Ohlone Park runs along Hearst Street in Berkeley, between Sacramento Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Another stretch of the park continues along Hearst between MLK Jr. Blvd. and Milvia Street. Ohlone Park has several play structures throughout, but the one near the corner of Hearst and Bonita offers a fresher take on playground design and was updated in September 2023.

The play structures are mostly made from logs, from climbing frames to swinging seats that challenge children with balance and coordination tasks.

The ground is primarily bark, which means it’s not accessible to strollers or wheelchairs.

A chain-link fence surrounds most of the playground; however, there is one opening wide enough for a double stroller—or for a child to slip through. The fence will easily contain younger toddlers who don’t notice the gap, but my more observant toddlers have found it, so I use our double stroller as a makeshift gate blocker.

A small playhouse area invites imaginative play, and a couple of rocking animals have been installed, too. A large sand play area is within the fenced playground, while a huge grassy field is adjacent to the playground, ideal for running around or kicking a ball.

Bottom line on Ohlone Park’s newest playground

This park is a wonderful improvement for those walking over from the neighborhood. Six parking spaces are right in front of the park and on-street parking is not too challenging if those spots are full. Bike racks allow easy access for cyclists. Benches for supervising grown-ups or kids taking snack breaks are around the edges. This is a great stop if you’re heading to Trader Joe’s or grabbing a coffee at Café Etoile.

Location: Hearst and Bonita Ave, Berkeley
Bathrooms: There is a public bathroom within Ohlone Park but it is not going to be great
Spaces for eating and meeting: Loads of grass and tables and benches in the surrounding area, outside of the playground
ADA: Wheels can enter the playground area, but most of the ground is bark
Water fountain: Yes
Parking: Free street parking

Learn about more Berkeley playgrounds >