City of Oakland California

Entrance at Grand Avenue & Bellevue Avenue

Lakeside Park is best known for Lake Merritt which is one of the most celebrated and accessible parks in Oakland with hundreds of visitors enjoying the park and its unique amenities daily.

There are so many enjoyable activities and places to have an adventure while visiting Lake Merritt inside Lakeside Park. Stroll along Edoff Memorial Bandstand which was built in 1923, jog or bike along paved trails, or bird watching nearby the five bird islands on the lake that serve as the oldest Wildlife Refuge in Northern America.

We enthusiastically invite you to visit Lakeside Park and the variety of surrounding attractions while you are in Oakland, make Oakland your destination.

There are a plethora of features and attractions for everyone to enjoy while visiting Lakeside Park.

Bonsai Garden
Through a partnership with the Golden State Bonsai Federation and the City of Oakland the garden has been made possible, with a variety of beautifully placed trees and stones that are changed throughout the year.

Childrens Fairyland
A historic 10 acre outdoor park in which children's literature is "brought to life" through fairy tale exhibits, animals, and Talking Storybooks which children activate by turning a "Magic Key." 30 colorful sets depict the make believe world of Alice In Wonderland, Captain Hook's pirate ship, the enchanting Dragon Slide, and many more beloved fairy tales and nursery rhymes.

Demonstration Gardens
The Lakeside Demonstration Gardens serves not only as a garden but as a valuable resource to the community. The garden itself is surrounded a variety of beautiful plants, herbs, vegetables and trees. The peaceful environment of the garden is relaxing and an oasis to escape to from urban living. It includes a Japanese garden, rhododendron, fuchsia, cactus, lily herb, iris, palm, fire escape, city, vegetable, compost, herb gardens and a koi pond.

Edoff Memorial Band Stand
Take a stroll along Lake Merritt on Bellevue Avenue and you will come across a magnificent bandstand where in recent years there were weekend concerts performed by an extremely talented Oakland band. The Edoff Memorial Bandstand was built in 1923 and was recently renovated after the damaged incurred during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

Edoff Memorial Garden Center
The Lakeside Park Garden Center is a large, charming facility which houses two separate fully functional kitchens and three separate rental rooms. Centrally situated inside Lakeside Park, the Lakeside Park Garden Center is one of the city's most inviting and versatile complexes. The center boasts a Japanese Garden and Koi Pond and an extensive array of herb and flower gardens.

Japanese Garden
Open daily 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Free admission
(510) 523-0954

Junior Center of Arts & Science
558 Bellevue Avenue
Oakland, California 94610
(510) 839-5777

Founded in 1954, is an independent, nonprofit organization serving over 35,000 children annually The Junior Center of Art and Science encourages children's active wonder and creative responses through artistic and scientific exploration of their natural urban environment. The Junior Center's classes, workshops, exhibits, and events integrate art and science to promote children's fresh, hands-on and personalized interaction with their world. The Junior Center contributes to the development of citizens who value nature and appreciate the importance of art and science in our community.

Lake Merritt
Lake Merritt is a focal point, it stands as the jewel of Oakland, even crowned with lights. A unique fresh and salt-water lake, the largest such lake located within an urban area consisting of 3.4 miles around the circumference of the lake, covering 155 acres of land. The depth of Lake Merritt varies upon how much water is allowed to filter in from the Estuary and upon rain water intake.

Lake Merritt Boating Center
The Lake Merritt Boating Center is open year round for everyone to enjoy the plush scenery and calming atmosphere. The Boating Center rents a variety of non-motorized boats to the public to enjoy leisure afternoons and weekends with family and friends. Boats range from pedal boats to sailboats. With plenty of sailboats for all sailors to use by providing sailing certification and/or an verbal test followed by an on the water sailing test.

Lake Merritt Sailboat House
The Sailboat House is a rental facility which features a main room with floor-to-ceiling windows, which lends a pleasant setting for special occasions. Resting on Oakland's Lake Merritt surrounded by a "Necklace of Lights." The Sailboat House also includes a spacious outdoor balcony with a sweeping view of Lake Merritt.

Lawn Bowling
The Lakeside Lawn Bowling Club invites everyone to join in this fun and active sport. The bowling greens are immaculately groomed. Members have an active social calendar planned, special events and invitation matches, for more information please contact (510) 625-9937.

Rotary Nature Center
Constructed in 1953, the Rotary Nature Center is an interpretive establishment, providing education and information about the natural environment to its surrounding community. Continuing in this long tradition of education, the Rotary Nature Center offers a variety of services such as outreach programs, and summer day camps instructed by our dedicated naturalist staff.

Sally Rutherford Thales Memorial Fountain
This fountain was dedicated in 1961.

Wildlife Sanctuary
Lake Merritt originally resided as a wide, tidal estuary (salt water marsh) that was known as the Laguna Peralta. The Pacific flyway has remained a sanctuary and stop-over for thousands of migratory birds. 

Parking inside Lakeside Park on Bellevue Avenue is $2.00 for two hours (or $10 for all day parking) during weekdays and $5 all day parking on the weekend and holidays. The parking operating hours are from 7:30am until dusk.