Temescal Regional Recreation Area — Attraction in Oakland

a review from @amom2kidsandapark

Temescal Regional Recreation Area is the place to be with families of all interests. The Rec Area offers so much to do! Two playgrounds. Lake. Fishing. Animal sightings. Creek. Bridge. Chances for exploring. Big grassy area. Summertime beach area. Flower garden. Picnic area and bbq.

There is a parking fee from April to October when the kiosk is attended. There are two entrances, North (on Broadway) and South (on Broadway Terrace). There is a playground near each parking lot. The north entrance parking lot has the most playground needs: swings (bucket only), slide, steps, ladder. The playground near the south entrance is on sand so bring your sand toys! It has two slides, steps, ladders and bridge. There are no extras (like swings or a teeter-totter).

You can walk completely around the lake (not stroller friendly) or choose to just want the east side with a stroller (also wheelchair accessible). Along the water, you can see fishers (and the fish they caught), many birds (including a huge white bird!), and lots of neat plants. There is a creek and a bridge near the south entrance.

Look out for neat rocks showing proof that you are literally standing on top of the Hayward Fault.

Along the east side, there are some stairs up to see a birdbath and discover a “secret garden” with a water fountain and pretty flowers.

The beach is only for summer swimming but it currently closed due to the pandemic. Once open there is a fee to swim.

There are grassy areas on the north and south sides plus restrooms near each...

Clean. Nice place to hike or even mtn. Biking. Park rangers are so nice. So I was driving to the park going 70mph having a blast hitting the corners and there was not a lot of people or cars at all the time. Tires screeching while hitting corners and I didn't see the park ranger and I thought I was gonna get in trouble and or for sure a ticket. So he followed me and we got to a stop sign and he stopped next to me. I looked at him and he looked at me. He gave me a smile and rolled his passenger window down and told me that I was driving and hitting those corners pretty fast and gave me a mean look with a smile and said "why don't you show me what you got". He wanted to race me. And then he said to me " if you loose I give you a fat ticket, and If I loose" right before he could finish his sentence I cut him off and said to him in a manly serious voice " suck my brown nuts " and took off burning rubber. He didn't have a chance at all. After finishing the lap I just kept driving and gave him the...

Pretty unknown even for locals. Hidden gem. Lots of grassy areas, trail around the lake. Bike trail. Bathrooms with toilet paper.

Unfortunately dogs are only allowed leash. There are some children playgrounds and a beach that is usually closed with algae.

People like to fish here. We were offered fish from a fisherman while we walked by once.

Two parking lots. Usually were never staffed but there’s a sign saying there will be paid parking from July 2023 onward. We paid $5. Another friend couldn’t get change for her $50 so came to borrow and then rain back to the kiosk to get her parking ticket for her dashboard. There is free parking on Broadway street if you wanted to walk in. Makes the parking lot much emptier.

Supposedly there is a charge for dogs but we hang been charged this ever yet.

There is a paved road on one side of the lake and a rocky one on the other. There’s also a steeper trail on...