Parsons Park

I have been having a love-​hate relationship with Castro Valley since I moved here a year ago. I’m learning to love but one thing I hate is that there are no damn sidewalks in the hoods. Where can my kid learn to ride her bike? Or roller skate? In the street? Certainly not in our street where not one but two of our beloved backyard deer got hit — in FRONT of the f-​ing speed bump! Come on people! SLOW DOWN!
We live right down the street from Parsons Park, so this is a good park to take the little miss to practice riding or skate or playing on the structure they have there, but there is no bathroom, so I always have to ask three times if she has to go before we leave. Usually no problem for the young boys who I’ve seen pee in the bushes next to the play structure (classy!), but not for my daughter, thanks. I usually see some kids running wild here and their oblivious, fed up moms sipping their Chardonnay from plastics cups. I feel for ya, ladies, we all need a break! Luckily, all is contained here and the gate locks so the kids and dogs can’t really escape.
This park is really well maintained, but I prefer to take her to the Community Center Playground, but so does everyone else so it gets really crowded. Maybe I’ll buy a big olé vat of concrete and make us a sidewalk!

This little park is situated in a quiet neighborhood in Castro Valley. It used to be a elementary school that my husband attended, but has now been turned into a park. It has wide open fields you can take your kids or leashed dogs to run around. There is a playground with kiddie & tot swings & a nice sidewalk that borders the park for runners & bicyclists to enjoy. At dusk it is a great place for dogs to meet other dogs. The downside is that there are no bathrooms, but it is a well maintained, clean park.