Memorial Park in Albany is home to so many family-friendly resources and events, that all parents in the East Bay should know about it. During the end of summer and early fall, kid-friendly concerts are held in the park some evenings. While parking is plentiful, the streets surrounding Memorial Park are flat and relatively quiet, so biking there is also inviting.
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Memorial Park Features:
Location: 1325 Portland Ave. Albany 94706
Unique Features of Playground: Large grassy field; big kid and tot play area; large redwood trees and plenty of seating.
Swings:Â Four big kid swings; two bucket swings in the tot park.
Fenced in? The tot area is; the big kid playground is not but it is separated from the street by grassy fields and trees.
Surfaces: Cushy rubber mat surface and sand all around the tot structure; sand pit in the tot area; wood chips in big kid park.
Bathroom: Yes, and newly renovated. Right next to the tot play area.
Unique Features of the Park Overall:Â Quiet neighborhood vibe with wide open space to run around. Sidewalk loops are great for scooting or learning to ride a bike.
Lunch tables & seating: Many benches and seating areas in both shade and sun.
Parking:Â Plenty of free street parking all around the perimeter of the park.
Shade: Plenty of large redwoods and other trees provide nice cool shade for snack time or relaxing.
Pros: Big corkscrew slide and lots of climbing opportunities. Mixed age appropriate. Shady and lots of rooms to run around.
Cons: Can get crowded at peak playground times.
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Albany Memorial Park toddler playground
The toddler playground is fenced in, which is a godsend for those juggling a baby and a toddler (Preschoolers tall enough to reach the handle from inside will quickly figure out how to open it). The tot playground features two baby bucket swings; a sandpit; and a play structure with one curvy slide, one baby slide, and climbing steps.
Memorial Park big kid playground
An open playground for kids five and older offers big kid swings, a very tall curly slide, and plenty of equipment to climb on and swing from. The swirly slide is exciting for the kids but makes me dizzy when I go on it too many times in a row with my girls.
Albany’s Memorial Park has more to love
Baseball fields serve the adjacent high school, Albany Little League, and occasionally, Bay Area Vintage Base Ball.
Find outdoor concerts your family will enjoy >>
There is a large green grass area for kids who need to run in circles or for those savvy enough to play a game of touch football. When the park hosts its annual 4th of July festival, this area is covered with inflatables and activities for families. There is a mustache and beard contest during the event, so consider this your warning: Start your facial hair growing today.
A cement platform serves as a stage for occasional concerts and also as a stage for my children to pretend they are putting on “shows”.
At the West end of the park are tennis courts, basketball courts, and the swimming pool complex, where classes and teams form. The pool is actually part of the Albany Unified School District, not the Parks and Rec department, so you’ll find information about swim schedules and swimming lessons here, on the AUSD website.
The park’s public bathrooms are newly renovated, but not always the cleanest.
Weekend tip: Pick up take-out food from nearby Solano Avenue and enjoy an outdoor dinner at Memorial Park.
[All photos by Kat Choi, used with permission]
