Becky Temko Tot Park

This is a clean, fenced-​in tot park, perfect for under 5. It is one of the few parks in Berkeley where no one lives at night, and there was no litter.
Slides, tube tunnel, baby swings, sand, grass. There are also abandoned ride toys like at Totland Park.

Hmm… we only moved to the neighborhood, so I can’t speak to the issue of the crazy neighbor. But as far as I can tell, this park is great for young kids. It has sand, slides, swings, a place to kick a ball around. No complaints.

I’m giving this park one star because the City of Berkeley has abandoned it. There are not swings. Any toys left for the children to play with disappear overnight. The City has put up «please be quiet» signs in the park. The man next door threatens women and children. The police don’t do anything about it, not even a citation for disturbing the peace. The City Council sends out letters asking people to use the park quietly, and reminds people that «unauthorized» play equipment will be removed. I give Berkeley City Govt. 0 stars and Dona Spring on the City Council owes her constituents 3000 stars to make up for her obscenely inappropriate reaction to this problem.

This used to be a great park for the 5 and under set, until two things happened:
first, the neighbor in the house adjacent to the park on the north side started chasing people away (blaring loud gangsta rap music to keep nannies and infants away, yelling at older children, getting in the faces of parents and grandparents, calling the cops to complain that families were making too much noise); and second, the city removed the tire swing, citing safety issues. I called the city and asked about the swing: the parks manager told me they had no intention of replacing it.
I’m giving the park two stars, however, because Old Man Cranky’s diatribes deserve to be on Berkeley’s Hidden Gems tour.
November 2007 update:
The rap music has been replaced with jazz.
And the neighbor has now moved on to threatening nannies, yelling at toddlers, and breaking glass and throwing wood (on his side of the fence) in an effort to scare park visitors.
February 2008 update:
The city has put in new swings.
The neighbor has been issued a restraining order against him which prevents him from harassing ANY park users or from playing music outside his house with intent to disturb park users.
Three stars now.
Do not visit the park without a cell phone and these numbers: Berkeley’s police department on your cell phone: (510) 981‑5900 to complain about noise; (510) 981‑5911 for emergencies.