12 Favorite Marin Parks for Outdoor Birthday Parties

May 26, 2019

Having your child's birthday party at a local park has a lot of advantages: It's outdoors, there's plenty for everyone of all ages to do, and, best of all, you don't have to clean the house! Here are 12 terrific Marin parks that are perfect for parties. Our criteria were that they had to have plenty of space for games and the obligatory bounce house, group picnic areas, preferably with BBQs, and decent parking.

Here's our list in alphabetical order. Needless to say, reservations for group picnic areas must be made in advance; we've linked each park's name to its web page where you can get full contact information.

Boyle Park, Mill Valley

This park near the tennis courts off East Blithedale Avenue has a large lawn area, play equipment, and a group picnic area. 11 East Drive, Mill Valley 94941

Corte Madera Town Park

Corte Madera's spacious Town Park has plenty of lawns, a playground, and group picnic areas. It's adjacent to the Corte Madera Community Center. 498 Tamalpais Drive, Corte Madera 94925

Gerstle Park, San Rafael

The side of a long-gone mansion, Gerstle Park boasts plenty of lawns, a new playground, and picnic areas, plus lots of places to explore. San Rafael Avenue, San Rafael 94901.

Hal Brown Park at Creekside, Greenbrae

Located across from Marin General Hospitcal in Greenbrae, Hal Brown Park at Creekside features awesome playgrounds, plenty of fields and picnic areas, and amazing views of Mt. Tam.

Marinwood Community Park, San Rafael

Marinwood Community Park offers two group picnic areas, one located near the playground. You can also reserve umbrellas and bounce houses! The park is adjacent to the Marinwood Pool, which can also be rented for parties. 775 Miller Creek Road, San Rafael 94903

McNears Beach Park, San Rafael

This county park alongside San Pablo Bay has a seasonal swimming pool, spacious lawns, a fishing pier, and many picnic areas. 201 Cantera Way, San Rafael 94901

Miwok Park, Novato

This park under the trees has a creek running alongside and a big lawn for games. There are several picnic areas, a playground, and bocce courts. 2200 Novato Boulevard, Novato 94947

Old Mill Park, Mill Valley

Nestled under the redwoods, Old Mill Park is a cool oasis on a hot day. Group picnic areas, a playground, and even an amphitheater make this a great spot for a party. Parking can be a challenge on weekends, but it's worth it. 352 Throckmorton Avenue, Mill Valley 94941