Berkeley Aquatic Park

This is our neighborhood park, too bad that, like our neighborhood, it is full of litter and leftovers from illicit activities.
The playground is big and has a lot of nooks and crannies, ideal for tag and hide-​and-​seek games. (Also ideal for whatever activities happen at night…) There is a butterfly path, a sandbox, some small tables, and even a puppet show area with seating (I’ve never seen this space utilized).
Bathrooms are available, but I wouldn’t dare check on their cleanliness. I’d just assume the worst. There is a path that crosses the park all the way from Addison to Ashby, good for biking or jogging.
This would be a five-​star park in any other city.

This would be a five star spot for hanging, running, biking, picnicking etc. except for one thing … LURKERS … There are always suspicious creepers wandering around or sitting for long periods of time in their car. You’ll catch a junkie/​crack head doing their thing pretty often as well.
However, I’m not completely deterred because it’s really pretty, especially at sunset and most of the time the sketchy folks haven’t approached me. You can also cross a pedestrian bridge through the park and check out the Berkeley marina and some beautiful trails along the water.
… But yeah… Just beware of the creeps

My toddler really enjoyed playing at this playground.
But, I personally thought the playground was not maintained well and very dirty. Spider webs and trash everywhere. I wonder if someone actually cleans this place?
It is very windy walking from the parking lot to the playground because we are so close to the ocean. Wear layers!

This review is strictly from a disc golf player’s standpoint. The tee boxes aren’t clearly marked and there are walking paths everywhere which could lead to a lot of injured people unaware of their surroundings. I stopped playing after hole #2 due to some other park goers taking a nap less than ten feet from the basket. I didn’t know it until I walked up for my next shot. I got dirty looks from one of them, picked up my disc and left. Worst course I’ve ever attempted to play. I would give it 0 stars but the app won’t let me, and I only played two holes. Who knows, maybe the back 16 are the greatest ever but I doubt it.

Fantastic playground for kids with enough to keep very small to pretty big satisfied (toddlers through elementary). Directions are not clear from google, but come down Bancroft and turn left when you see water.
Good walking/​running/​child biking/​scooting path with nice up/​downs for variety. It’s well used, so keep an eye out for others on the path. Lots of dogs (on leash, please) and frisbee golfers.
You can rent canoes or kayaks, support a local youth program at the aquatic café, do some bird watching.
I know ppl say keep a look out for men having sex in bushes. We haven’t had that issue. It’s a city park, and it is big.
The downside: The bathrooms aren’t great. Port o pottie at the south end and a standard Berkeley metal bowl near the playground that isn’t always open or clean. Trash are sometimes overflowing (again, high use). If people really want to keep it up, establish a conservancy.

Good for 18 holes of well marked disk golf. Plenty of regulars around to ask for guidance if you get off track. I’d give it 5 stars but there’s sometimes seedy characters in the periphery.

I had to laugh reading some of these reviews. Aquatic park is a great place with something for everyone. I’ve seen guys going into the bushes, parked by the side of the road, etc., but it never bothered me. One poster who was afraid to get out of his car is likely gay and needs to come out of the closet. I’ve run through in tight running shorts, with no shirt. Guys (and women) look, but no one has ever tried to rape me, jump out of the bushes and attack me, or in any way disrespect me. Welcome to the world that women have to navigate every day. The big difference is that women are routinely disrespected by straight men and have a valid fear of sexual assault. I, as a married straight male, who is very in shape and good looking, on the other hand, don’t have to worry that a gay man might go beyond anything other than an appreciative look. Get over yourselves guys.

I am all about green spaces and places to walk outside. Buuuut ya know what ruins green spaces?
Crack pipes.
Also, used condoms. Also, sketchy dudes in parked cars throwing weird looks. Also, lots of trash. Also, creepy Lurkers.
Know what’s nice? The water. The view. The trees. Boats and frisbees. The water birds and baby ducks. The playground.
What this park needs is a serious clean-​up so that women and kids can feel safe here. Thanks Berkeley po-​po!

This place would be great if it wasn’t for all the straight men (1 per car x hella dudes) looking for gay sex taking up all of the parking. Also it’s helpful to avoid anywhere with tall bushes as there is either someone living there or someone having sex there.
Stick to the path and you should be fine.

I was thinking of living at the park at night. I am homeless from Antioch CA. It looks like a great safe place. I like that people are always around it. That is the one thing that I like. People around.

This review is primarily relating to the disc golf course. The park itself has some nice places to walk, sit, look at the water, and a playground for kids.
There is also quite a bit of trash, freeway blight, and apparent transients. This windy park is a 3 with high upside when clean.
The disc golf course is one of the roughest ones I’ve ever played, both figuratively and literally. There are several holes where you are throwing over part of the bay or risk landing in murky swampland. There are also blind shots on popular walking trails.
The first time I played the course, I decided that it was the worst course I had ever played. It didn’t help that the decided lack of signage made it hard to know where to start and where the tees/​baskets are. I decided to go back again and this time armed myself with knowledge (enter on the north side, that’s where #1 is and download or take a picture of the map at the beginning).
I then decided to play this course in a manner that would allow me to enjoy it. That meant putting the drivers away playing a smart and safe game to avoid the bay and swamp. I’m a very experienced player, but not quite at the pro level where every throw goes exactly where I want it. I also don’t have discs that I’m willing to throw into the bay knowing that they’ll be irretrievable. Since there are shots with nothing but water between you and the basket, you’ll either have to try to go around and save par, or just risk it all and try to make it over the water (with steady gusts coming off the bay).
You’ll probably only throw it with all your strength on 1 or 2 shots if you’re playing it safe. It would be fun to try to bomb over the water each time, but it’s about 70% likely your disc is gone forever.
If I lived near here, I’d probably make some rounds to practice my short game, but it’s too rough of a course to really be able to enjoy.
P. S. Be sure to avoid joggers and keep an eye out for the guy fishing for discs. He might sell you one if you’re interested.

I wish I could give Aquatic Park both 4 stars and 2 stars, but I’ll settle on 3. I come here to play disc golf and ride my bike. The disc golf course has a great set of regulars who are always down to help out noobies and care about the course quite a bit. Almost every time I come I lose a disc, or get mucky, or touch a used condom as I’m reaching for my disc. All those things are real bummers that are just part of the park, although I’ve heard the City might be doing something about the condoms.
There are some beautiful parts of the park that I love walking along, and on a sunny, non-​windy day, there are even parts where you could spread out a blanket conceivably.
The Course: They’ve done a great job with the layout, but a multi-​use park like this is always going to be frustrating to play disc golf at. Just come prepared to wait and fetch discs out of the woods.

I come to aquatic park to disc golf. It’s a long 18hole course. Being right beside the lake the course has a lot of water hazards. I myself have lost 4 discs in the lake over the past few weeks. Another draw back is the hiking/​biking trail which divides the course in ½. It’s hard to keep a good rhythm going when you’re always waiting for people to clear. Even with the drawbacks it’s still a fun course to play.

What You Do Today Is Important Because You Are Exchanging A Day Of Your Life For It: There you are at this open play space next to the water with fresh ocean air being pulled into your lungs. My son is happy running around discovering new things. The habitat is made of natural wood that you simply do not see in parks today. The play area is well thought out from sophisticated architects rather than builders, offering kids a variety of play areas. Some I had never seen before such as crawl spaces inside the wooden play structures. There are also amazing tire swings and pulleys to hold onto as found in a ropes course. The trails around the park are amazing with incredible butterfly plants and Californian native species cultivated in such a way to peak parents and children’s curiosity. Our three years young toddler had an excellent time. The only thing missing from this place is bungee jumping, but that is okay in my books for now.

The trail around the park is flat and easy to walk. I’ve added this to my urban walk list. It is too bad that the Emeryville portion is, um, I guess the nicest thing to say, it isn’t as pleasant for most people as the Berkeley portion of the park.
I just wish I would see all the birds that a photographer friend finds here.

Enter from Addison coming from the fourth street area. Ignore that other side that makes most of us shake our heads at why there is not crack down on that sort of activity so close by. But coming to and from the fourth street area you will not know or see the other side.
Great walking area around the lagoon. Lots of green and water and you can almost ignore the freeway. Great toddler and bigger kid park area — Dreamland for Kids with nice custom wooden structures. The toddler thinks he is a big kids here… it is fun park for him to explore! The sand box could use a dumping of sand here it as this area is so hard that their are no kids in it. Climb to the top of the structures with your tot as the trains go bye and say CHOO CHOO.

I love its proximity to the Berkeley marina and it seems like a nice place to go running or biking. It’s perfect for photography buffs too (or aspiring ones) since you can practice your macro and landscape photography with blooming flowers, watery reflections, tots and slightly older tots (like me) on the Dreamland playground, and even a sunset if you come in the evening. I’d be wary about coming here at nighttime though, since other reviewers have mentioned the presence of some shadier folks in the foliage. Verdict: it’s not a bad place to go if you’ve already explored the shops on 4^th Street and need someplace to go before dinner on the marina.

One loop around the mirror-​like lagoon is a little under three miles (rough estimate). There are boat and bike rentals near the entrance of the park (Addison St.), as well as a cute waterside café. Further along the trail, you’ll find an adorable playground, dubbed Dreamland for Kids, with imaginative wooden structures and swings!
Ornithologists will rejoice the presence of several ducks, geese, and other waterfowl that I do not know the names of. The Aquatic Park is also next to an animal shelter for those interested in adopting a kitty! :P
The park connects to the Berkeley Marina via the pedestrian bridge, which crosses I-​80.
Tip: If you are running from Shattuck Ave. near downtown Berkeley, you’ll be running about 2.5 miles before you get to the Aquatic Park. In combination with the loop around the lagoon, this is a solid workout.

This review is primarily for the disc golf course at the Berkeley Aquatic Park. I’ve visited twice now, and have enjoyed the course, though probably more for the company than the quality.
There’s an 18-​hole course here, going up and back the length of the park. It’s not that heavily wooded, but there are lots of water traps on the first and final holes. A lot of the holes aren’t that well-​marked or maintained, and there’s the constant threat of folks coming down the main path that cuts through the park.
I’m not sure why I’d come here for a stroll when I could go a couple miles up to Tilden or just walk along the Bay Trail.

This is definitely a park for older children, not toddlers– the slides land higher than my 20 month old daughter’s head, and there are only strap swings, no buckets. If your kid is from 5 – 12 it’s pretty much perfect.
I have not had the misfortune to encounter riffraff here as some posts suggest, and the toilets were not fetid. I wish there was a dog run area. It would be the perfect place.