These are parks near Mountain View, CA that work really well for birthday parties.
My preference is based on the criteria that they have nearby bathrooms, easy parking, picnic tables, and playgrounds. I also prefer being able to see the playground from the picnic table area for younger kids.
| Park | City | Highlights | Challenges | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bubb Park | Mountain View | This is a nice park where everything is close by. Perfect for elementary age parties. | There is a huge picnic table area. For a younger party like age 1 or 2, the picnic tables are pretty far from the playground. | Read More |
| Cooper Park | Mountain View | Nice playground for preschool and young elementary. There is green space nearby to run around. | Street parking can be a little ways down the street on busy weekends. | Read More |
| Cuesta Park | Mountain View | Huge green space with beautiful trees, lots of parking, a small playground and a big playground. | Unfortunately, the playgrounds aren't within eyesight of the picnic tables. There is a little hill that blocks the view. For older children, it would be totally fine. Bathrooms are a tiny walk for toddlers to get there in time so plan ahead. | Read More |
| Schaefer Park | Mountain View | A small fenced-in playground. Great for elementary age. In the summer, there is a water feature on the sandbox. It has one of the large, climbable merrygrounds. | There is plenty of parking, but it's shared with a baseball field. On baseball game days, you may need to find street parking nearby. | Read More |
| Whisman Park | Mountain View | Nice playground for younger children around 3-8. Lots of green space tall trees. | Street parking is easy enough to find. | Read More |
| Grant Park | Los Altos | Two small playgrounds together. One for younger preschool age and one for older kids. There's a large green field nearby. There is a community center room that you can rent during rainy season as a backup. | There should be plenty of street parking, but soccer season could fill up a lot of it. | Read More |
| McKenzie Park | Los Altos | This is another lovely open green space tucked away. There are two playgrounds for younger and older children. They are separated by the large green field. The picnic tables are closest to the younger playground. | One challenge might be carrying in party items because parking is a stroll away. You can unload at the offices behind the park and move your car. | Read More |
| Shoup Park | Los Altos | This lovely park is tucked away behind a residential neighborhood. There is lots of green space and a creek bed that's fun to play in or follow along a nature walk. There are two playgrounds, one for younger and one for older children. The picnic tables are fairly close, and there are a few of them. | Parking can be a bit of a stroll down from the street parking above. If you're carrying in party supplies you'll probably want to unload and then go find parking. | Read More |
Mountain View, CA Parks for Birthday Parties
Picnic Tables near playground | Bathrooms near the playground | Street Parking only but should be plenty
Park: A lovely, little park with some green space to run around. It’s also doubles as a green space for dogs off leash starting around 5pm.
Playground: A nice little playground for younger children at the front. It has a few swings and a sandbox. I’d say it’s most fun for kids under 6. There’s also a larger playground at the back of the park for kids under 10.
Picnic Tables: There are a lot of picnic tables nearest the under 6 playground. I like that you are next to the bathroom, and you can see the playground. There are four picnic tables near the under 10 playground.
Bathrooms: The bathrooms are right next to the younger playground and very close within eyesight of the older playground.
Parking: There is street parking only, but I have almost always found a nearby spot. The fall soccer season might make take up more parking on Saturdays sometimes.
Whisman Park
Picnic Tables near playground | Bathrooms next to the playground | Street Parking nearby
Park: This is a lovely, large green space. I think it works ideally for around age 4-10. There are tall trees and lots of green space to run around. There are tennis courts nearby. There is an offleash dog park, but it is separated from the playground area by the tennis courts. And Stevens Creek Trail is accessible from the very rear of the park back near the baseball fields.
Playground: The playground has a few medium slides, monkey bars, and a toddler play wall.
Picnic Tables: There are a few picnic tables to use. They are between an open green space and the playground.
Bathrooms: There are bathrooms close by.
Parking: There is some street parking very close by. During the week, I always find parking easily. Weekend parking might require a short walk.
Picnic Tables nearish the playground but not in eyesight | Bathrooms nearby | Parking is usually easy with some street parking nearby
Park: This is Mountain View’s largest park I believe. It’s a lovely, large green space full of trees.
Playground: There are two playgrounds right next to each other. One is for older children 6-12, and one is for younger children 2-5. There is a large sandbox in between the two. There are several swings. There are lots of green spaces all around for playing.
Picnic Tables: There are some picnic tables that you can reserve near the playground, but when you are at the tables you cannot see the playground. This might not matter, but I always liked seeing the party from the tables too. There is a tiny little hill in between the two that you need to cross over.
The picnic tables are reservable for a fee during “picnic season”. I think April-October is when reservations are required. Otherwise they are first come first serve.
There is also a large picnic table area that is further away from the playgrounds. You can reserve space in this “BBQ area”. It’s great for adult parties or a child’s party where you don’t need to be close to the playground. You could do some fun activities in the green space next to it instead.
Bathrooms: There are two bathrooms in the park. One is closest to the BBQ area and not too far from the picnic tables. It feels like a tiny walk from the playgrounds, but for young kids still learning it can feel really far away.
Parking: There is typically enough parking in one of the two lots and nearby street parking too. Sometimes it fills up on beautiful holiday weekends. In those cases, you can still just park in the neighborhoods nearby and walk over.
Picnic Tables near playground | Bathrooms next to the playground | Street Parking only
Park: A nice green park with green space to run around near the playground.
Playground: A nice little playground for younger children. I’d say for under 6 crowd ideally.
Picnic Tables: There are a few picnic tables near the playground.
Bathrooms: The bathrooms are right next to the playground.
Parking: There is street parking only, which can make you walk a bit. You can usually find a spot not too far away.
Schaefer Park aka McKelvey Park
Picnic Tables near playground | Bathrooms next to the playground | Parking nearby and street parking
Park: This is a cute, little park. I think it’s ideal for around age 3-8. There is a nice sandbox with a wonderful rock, waterfall feature during non drought seasons. They have one of the new large, heavy merry-go-rounds. There is a small patch of green grass near the playground. It’s also open to dogs as well.
Playground: The playground is small, but it has some fun features. It has one of the new, large merry-go-rounds. It also has a large sand area with a rock waterfall that is fun for seasons without drought. There is a slide, and a few swings. For ages that would enjoy this particular park the best, I’d go for ages 4-10. The playground is fenced in, although there are a few gaps in the back where curious children can escape from.
Picnic Tables: There are a few picnic tables near the playground. From the picnic tables you can see the playground.
Bathrooms: The bathrooms are right next to the playground. They have been open during the week when we visit, but I’m checking on official hours.
Parking: There is a parking lot nearby. This lot is right next to two large, little league baseball fields. During spring baseball season, these parking lots will no doubt be more crowded. There is also street parking nearby.
Los Altos, CA Parks for Birthday Parties
Picnic Tables near playground | Bathrooms near playground | Easy Parking | Rainy Day Option
Park: This is a pretty little park with two play structures. Note for kids who love to swing, there are only a few swings. On the plus side, there is a large green field next to the playground that children love to run free in. Bring a few balls or some bubbles and they’ll be very happy there. On the weekend, it could be filled with soccer games during the fall.
Playground: The playground is on the smaller side. I think it’s big enough to entertain kids especially if they haven’t been there before. But it’s definitely small.
Picnic Tables: There are a few picnic tables nearby, enough to seat maybe 20 people. But they’re great to set up your food and gifts on.
Bathrooms: The bathrooms are very close to the playground which is great for little ones.
Parking: There is close by parking in a lot and street parking nearby too.
Rainy Day Option: There is also a community room available that the city rents out. It’s not fancy, just a plain room with a sink and chalkboard. But it would be a good backup for birthdays where it might rain or shine.
Picnic Tables near age 2-5 playground | Bathrooms near playground | Easy Parking
Park: This is a large, gorgeous green park. It’s like a breath of fresh air in the city. There are two play structures for younger and older children. They are separated by a big green open space. There are also tall trees along the edge of the fenced in park that feel like a fun place for kids to explore.
Playground: There are two playgrounds. One for younger children age 2-5 and one for older children 6-12.
Picnic Tables: The picnic tables are closest to the age 2-5 playground. This would be wonderful for a younger sibling with an older sibling party because they both have somewhere to play.
Bathrooms: There are clean bathrooms close by. They are closest to the older playground.
Parking: There is typically a lot of parking in the lot near the tennis courts. If that’s full there is some street parking on the other side of the park in the residential area near the younger playground. There’s a bit of a walk from the main parking lot, so I’d probably unload stuff at the business parking lot behind the playground and then go park.
Picnic Tables nearish the playground | Bathrooms near playground | Easy Parking
Park: This is a lovely park with a lot of green space and mature trees that are lovely. There is also a creek bed nearby that kids love to go down and explore. Sometimes the creek is dry and other times flowing with water.
Playground: There are two play structures. One for younger children and one for older children. There is a seesaw which is a fun bonus that you don’t find in too many parks.
Picnic Tables: The picnic tables are nearish the younger playground, but they aren’t just right there next to it. And there are only a few picnic tables.
Bathrooms: The bathrooms are close by.
Parking: The main parking lot is on the small side. It can be challenging to find spots at times. There is street parking as a backup. It’s not typically hard to find a spot if you don’t mind a little walk. You might want to drive down and unload your party supplies first and then go park. I think the park is well worth any trouble you find parking.
Sunnyvale, CA Parks for Birthday Parties
Seven Seas
Picnic Tables near the 0-5 play area | Bathrooms near playground | Challenging Parking
Park: This is a wonderful park for the 0-5 age group. The play structures are fun. It is covered in a foam bottom. There is a special area just for babies and toddlers that is enclosed with a fence. There is another play area for preschoolers. The picnic tables are closest to the baby area. There is really large green space near the playgrounds for kids to run around in.
Playground: The playgrounds are the best part of this park. I think they’re cute and fun for kids. They are covered in that springy foam material. I loved going here when my son was newly climbing and wanted to explore. There is a play structure that is fenced in for babies and new walkers. The larger play structure is nearby and not fenced in.
During the hot summer months, there is usually a little splash pad area for kids to run around in.
Picnic Tables: There are picnic tables near the playgrounds.
Bathrooms: There are bathrooms very close to the playgrounds.
Parking: Unfortunately, parking can be a challenge because there is only a tiny parking lot, and there isn’t much close street parking. You have to drive and find street parking or get lucky.
Bounce Houses: Not allowed.
Learn More at the Sunnyvale Parks Website
Menlo Park, CA Parks for Birthday Parties
Burgess Park
Picnic Tables right next to the playground | Bathrooms near playground | Easy Parking
Park: This is a park that I definitely recommend for toddlers. It’s a small park, but perfect younger kids age 1-3. It’s fenced in all the way around. I loved knowing this when my daughter was younger because she loved to just go go go.
Playground: The playground is quite small, but plenty big for this age group. There are tunnels to crawl through. There are several swings. There are little steps to go up.
Picnic Tables: Another one of my favorite things about this park is the little picnic tables. They are lower to the ground for younger kids.
Bathrooms: There are bathrooms nearby.
Parking: There should be plenty of parking in the lot or streets nearby.