Playground Tour #5 - Cannery Park, Hayward

It's Tuesday and since the library summer programs are now slowing down in preparation for upcoming school year, our day is set to visit another awesome park!!

So, #5 - Cannery Park in Hayward

Okay now is this a park or a museum coz' this structure is more like a work of art!  And there's plenty of it in this modern park.   Almost all kinds of play is encouraged here.  There's two play structures one in each end of the park (we didn't get to check out the other one).  In between are skateboard area/park, a single basketball court and a few rock structures to play in.  There's a soccer field and other basketball courts but the highlight of course is once again, the water feature. 

Okay, I guess I was clueless in thinking that water feature in a park is one of a kind.  Apparently, it is a popular feature and there are quite a few parks in our area that includes it.  The first one we saw was in Castro Valley. We liked that one since there was plenty of water to splash around in.  This one is smaller but it has it own unique flair that the girls liked.  

 They checked out the sand pit as well and liked the unique see-saw.  The only missing component for me was that it had too much sun exposure.  There's a few shade areas where you could sit and watch them from a safe distance from the water but otherwise most of the shade is in the grass area a little further away.  

We stayed for quite a bit enjoying the water and the different sets of kids moving to and fro from the water area. Then it was time for an ice cream treat before we head for home.

In a few days, my girls will be tuning out from the television - a new rule imposed by my husband and I as part of Mer's school adjustments and of course, as an effort to simplify their day to day lives.  We're hoping to replace them with more days like this one, away from the negative effects of the tube and giving more time for real play.  It's going to be tough, especially for Ickey who's been watching TV since she was a baby but that's the very reason why it has to be done.  Let's hope it works!