Kennedy Park — Hayward
Kennedy Park is 17-acre large and offers playground fun mixed with theme park rides and a petting zoo!
The wait is over! The newly remodeled Kennedy Park in Hayward is open! With The Farm theme present throughout, it’s easy to see how this will become a favorite for kiddos of all ages!
The playground has a tractor, old-style pick-up truck, "corn maze", swing set, and climbing elements all centered around the large "structure".
The tractor has a spot for two little bottoms to sit at the steering wheel as well as a small crawl space where the engine would be. It is a bit tricky to get up to the seat.
Don't be confused, the old-style pick-up truck isn't your regular old truck! After walking up the steps to the truck bed, you can either enter the cab to steer the real wheel or go out the back and down the slide.
The corn maze is such a great added touch to the farm theme!
The swing set has bucket, standard, and hammock-style swings.
Various climbing elements are trickled throughout including haystacks, a cow, beanstalks, logs, pumpkins, and a boulder with a saddle (yeehaw!)
The central structure is enclosed (like a barn) with multiple levels, steps, and walkways inside leading to the twirly tunnel slide from the top floor or the double straight slide or single straight side from the middle floor. Inside has more fun elements like a ring ladder, a sliding pole and suspended vertical ropes. There is a rock-climbing wall on one section of the outside.
Other elements that are new to the park include a teacup ride, a bocce ball court, and a lot more covered picnic areas (1-7 are on the McConoghy House side of the park, 8 and 9 are near the train station, 10-18 are along the Target side of the park, 19-23 are closest to the playground. 23 is the closest of these to the bathroom). Elements that remain from the Kennedy Park of the past include the carousel, the train (which travels along the perimeter of the park… no railroad crossing barriers so look both ways, and the petting zoo (although I’m guessing there will be a lot fewer animals since the gated area where we used to pet the goats is gone).
There is a very large parking area with entry on Gold Course Rd and Hesperian Blvd or parking on Golf Course Rd. When you enter on Hesperian there is a small parking area near the McConoghy House. Continue driving along the park and youll end at the back side parking area.
There are bathrooms (not gender-neutral) and a snack shop both located in the large building by the carousel.
Tickets for rides are $3 each one ticket per person per ride.
If I’m missing anything please let me know. It was a wet, busy morning.
