Photo above: The Alvarado Adobe museum on San Pablo Avenue in San Pablo, California, 2018. Rockyroadz, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Parks, a creek trail, two small museums and a library, with the bigger outdoors just up the road. In town that means Davis Park, a restored stretch of Wildcat Creek with a walking and biking path, the Alvarado Adobe and Blume House on San Pablo Avenue, and a library that opened in 2017. For bigger hikes and the water, San Pablo Reservoir, Kennedy Grove and Wildcat Canyon are a short drive away.

Here is where to go, with the source for each.

Where are the parks in San Pablo?

Eight city parks, most of them small. The City’s General Plan 2035 lists about 26.6 acres of public parkland (City of San Pablo, General Plan 2035, Table 6.1-1, 2024 data):

Park Type Acres
Davis Park Community park 11.6
Wanlass Park Community park see note below
Rumrill Sports Park Community park 4.4
Wildcat Creek Trail Linear park 3.2
Kennedy Plaza Community park 1.8
Brentz Lane Park Neighborhood park 0.8
14th Street Park Neighborhood park 0.1
Happy Friday Park Neighborhood park 0.1

Davis Park, at 17th and Folsom Streets, is the biggest. The City describes it as a place for a stroll, a picnic or a game of baseball, and it is home to the Senior Drop-In Center, (510) 215-3094 (City of San Pablo, Outdoor Destinations page, checked September 24, 2026). A Class I bike path runs along its northern edge (General Plan 2035).

Wanlass Park sits on San Pablo Avenue near the north end of town. It was private land until the City bought the site to add green space (Outdoor Destinations page). The City’s two sources list different sizes, so ask Recreation if acreage matters to you.

Happy Friday Park is at Bush Avenue and 17th Street in Old Town (General Plan 2035).

The City also has a joint-use agreement with the school district and Contra Costa College that opens their facilities for recreation outside school hours (General Plan 2035). Check with the City’s Recreation office for what is open and when.

Can I walk or bike along Wildcat Creek?

Yes, between Vale Road and Church Lane. The City restored 2,200 feet of Wildcat Creek there and added a shared walking and biking path with lookouts, benches and tables. Construction ran from spring 2020 to summer 2021, and the project cost about $6.2 million (City of San Pablo, Wildcat Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail page, checked September 24, 2026).

For a longer ride, General Plan 2035 lists Class II bike lanes on San Pablo Avenue between 23rd Street and Evans Avenue, and separated Class IV lanes on El Portal Drive between Rollingwood Drive and Fordham Street.

What history can I see in San Pablo?

Two house museums on one lot. The Alvarado Adobe and the Blume House sit on former City Hall property at 13831 San Pablo Avenue. The City describes the Adobe as a replica of Governor Alvarado’s home. The Blume House is a farmhouse built in 1905 and moved to the site in 1979 (City of San Pablo, Outdoor Destinations page, checked September 24, 2026).

The City’s page also lists the small, two-floor San Pablo Art Gallery. For museum and gallery updates, the City gives (510) 215-3210. Call before you go, since hours are not posted on that page.

What is at the San Pablo Library?

A 22,000 square foot building at 13751 San Pablo Avenue, at Church Street near City Hall. The County Library lists a large children’s area, a Teen Zone, laptop lending, a cafe space, two group study rooms and 56 free parking spaces (Contra Costa County Library, San Pablo Library pages, checked September 24, 2026). The Wildcat Community Room on the Church Street side is booked through the City’s Recreation Department at (510) 215-3080.

Where can I hike or fish near San Pablo?

Up San Pablo Dam Road and along the ridge. The City’s Outdoor Destinations page (checked September 24, 2026) points to three places:

  • San Pablo Reservoir, a few miles up San Pablo Dam Road. The City lists trout and bass fishing, boat rental and launching, picnicking and hiking.
  • Kennedy Grove, about half a mile below the reservoir on San Pablo Dam Road, open year-round, with grassy fields, picnic areas under tall eucalyptus and short hikes.
  • Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, along San Pablo Ridge, with bay views and trails that continue into Tilden Park in Berkeley.

Check each park’s operator for current hours, fees and closures before you head out.

What events does the City put on?

The City’s Community Services Division runs citywide events through the year. On the calendar now is City Hall-o-Ween on October 29, 2026, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at City Hall, 1000 Gateway Avenue, with trunk-or-treat, a pumpkin patch, carnival games and a dance party (City of San Pablo, City Hall-o-Ween page, checked September 24, 2026). For the full list, watch the City calendar at sanpabloca.gov.

What new parks are coming?

Two are in design. General Plan 2035 names the 4.8-acre McNeil Park near Contra Costa College, and a small open space that comes with the San Pablo Avenue Bridge replacement, which also includes a redesign of Kennedy Plaza. A small play lot is also part of the Chattleton Lane townhome project. No opening dates are given in the plan, which was adopted July 7, 2025.

Questions people also ask

What is the biggest park in San Pablo?

Davis Park, at 11.6 acres, per the City’s General Plan 2035 parks table (2024 data). It is at 17th and Folsom Streets, with room for a picnic or a game of baseball and the Senior Drop-In Center, according to the City’s Outdoor Destinations page checked September 24, 2026. A Class I bike path runs along its north side.

Where is the Alvarado Adobe?

At 13831 San Pablo Avenue, on former City Hall property, next to the Blume House museum. The City describes the Adobe as a replica of Governor Alvarado’s home and the Blume House as a 1905 farmhouse moved to the site in 1979. Call (510) 215-3210 for museum updates, per the City’s Outdoor Destinations page, checked September 24, 2026.

Is there a trail along Wildcat Creek in San Pablo?

Yes. The City restored 2,200 feet of Wildcat Creek between Vale Road and Church Lane and built a shared walking and biking path with benches and lookouts. Construction ran spring 2020 to summer 2021, per the City’s Wildcat Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail page, checked September 24, 2026.

How far is San Pablo Reservoir from San Pablo?

The City’s Outdoor Destinations page says the reservoir lies a few miles up San Pablo Dam Road, with fishing, boat rental and launching, picnicking and hiking. Kennedy Grove is about half a mile below it on the same road. Check the operator’s page for hours and fees before you go, as of September 24, 2026.

Your next step

If you are house hunting, tell us which of these places you would use every week. We’ll show you homes within an easy walk or drive of them. Talk to a San Pablo agent on our team or call (510) 949-5525.

More on San Pablo: Is San Pablo a good place to live? · How much does a house cost in San Pablo? · What’s my home worth?

By Bill Davis, DRE #01880656, The Davis Team at eXp Realty, San Pablo, CA. Updated September 24, 2026.

Sources

  • City of San Pablo, Outdoor Destinations: sanpabloca.gov/949 (checked September 24, 2026)
  • City of San Pablo, General Plan 2035, Chapter 6 (Parks) and Circulation Element (bicycle facilities), adopted July 7, 2025: sanpabloca.gov/2804
  • City of San Pablo, Wildcat Creek Restoration and Greenway Trail Project: sanpabloca.gov/2589 (checked September 24, 2026)
  • Contra Costa County Library, San Pablo Library location and About pages: ccclib.org (checked September 24, 2026)
  • City of San Pablo, City Hall-o-Ween: sanpabloca.gov/1457 (checked September 24, 2026)