Godfrey Park

I have mixed feelings about this park. I just moved in and I like how close I live to it. In a way I also like how u crowded it is. But I think it’s run down and may be the most run-​down park in the city. A little surprising considered how much the city uses it. The chain-​link fence is off-​putting.

oh godfrey. A small hidden litlle park in bay farm. My mom used to teach preschool at the location and thats when it was in it prime. Preschoool kids running around Soccer games Little league games BBQs. Your everday park. The preschool program there ended and ever since then i havent been back in about 7 years. Then i took a lil drive over and see what it was like. Oh man it changed all right. They got new playground equipment and it loooks like somthing someone bought from litle tikes. The old playground was steel and was super fun even for me lol. Another thing no one was there. All i saw was a kid and his dad playing basketball in the courts. What Happpned this place used to be the place for familys when mommy used to work there now it just went a wrong turn and no ones there. I think i even saw a tumbleweed.

Godfrey Park has a huge baseball field, basketball courts, and playground. It’s out of the way and has a sort of abandoned feel to it. Lots of soccer games here.

You know why this park is awesome?
Two basketball courts. Three picnic tables. Five BBQ grills. Two play structures (One for big kids, One for little kids). One HUGE baseball field. Several rays from the sun shining down on your as you play. Several breezes blowing through your hair. One good time enjoying a picnic in this park.
ZERO OTHER PEOPLE AROUND.
It’s the perfect park that nobody goes to…

There is an area on Bay Farm Island that no one ever talks about. It is situated southeast on the island bordering the public golf course. If you head directly east into the area, one of the first houses you’ll see has an old-​style satellite dish that is almost as tall as the one story ranch-​style house it services. My uncle used to affectionately call that type of dish the «West Virginia State Flower.»
This is an area where every house looks different; clearly untainted by anal HOA (Home Owners’ Association) standards. One can actually install a screen door on one’s front door without receiving a nasty-​gram about HOA «aesthetics.» One can park an RV on the street, or even in their driveway, unlike the rest of the island. No one would dare say «Boo» if you wanted to put a whole flock of pink plastic flamingos in your front yard and on top of your roof. I like this area immensely. It gets me deeply in touch with my Inner White Trash.
Every summer, Alameda Parks and Recreation Department offers various summer camps. The typical summer daycare mainstay for working parents with children in the first through fifth grades is called the «WOW» camp. The «World of Wonder» camps take place in various public parks throughout Alameda. This is where I sent my older two kids until they graduated to the Alameda Parks and Rec. «Teen Center.» This is also currently where I send my soon-​to-​be-​in-​first grade wild child.
The Godfrey Park WOW is the only WOW held on Bay Farm Island and is located in the neighborhood I described above. The ARPD staff working there is wonderful and the park is a very peaceful place. There are climbing structures and a playing field. The park «club house» has a fully equipped kitchen and a general meeting room where the kids do arts and crafts.
Some day, you might see me parked near the park in my future RV sporting a mullet and eating potato chips and sour cream dip as I sip on my bottled wine cooler. And I’ll fit right in the neighborhood. So what are *you* looking at?

This is a great location, there is a large field, basketball court and two play structures, one for little kids and one for bigger kids. There are picnic benches and big trees. However the place is just run down. I saw a tic and some type of rodent running on the lawn. If the City of Alameda ever fixes it up, it will be a hidden gem.