OVERVIEW
In the East Bay’s City of Berkeley; home to U.C. Berkeley, Telegraph Avenue, and streets graced by Julia Morgan architecture resides (Ceasar Chavez Park at) the Berkeley Marina. This park offers views of three major bridges, Golden Gate Fields, a limited variety of short paved and dirt trails, and a small off-leash area in the center. If you are looking for a somewhat pet-friendly activity in the East Bay, go do the CANGO at the Berkeley Marina.
HOW PET-FRIENDLY IS IT?
Given the fact that the Berkeley Marina runs along the Bay, the surrounding area is not very polluted or congested, in fact, the outer path is rather refreshing on a hot day or during allergy season; although, I must warn that the western side can get outrageously windy. The Marina is located at the bottom or western end of University Avenue, a major thoroughfare that runs from the water to campus (U.C. Berkeley). The Berkeley Marina is close to the University Ave freeway exit off of I-80.
To give you a better sense of the layout of the park, there is an outer paved path that runs along the Bay and includes a small refuge for burrowing owls. The inner paths lead to some small picnic/BBQ areas that are infrequently used. And at the top of the mound of what was once a landfill, resides the official off-leash area for dogs and their people. The paths in the off-leash area are unpaved, but depending on the time of year, you may spy some cedar chips, though they seem to mysteriously vanish as quickly as they arrive.
In keeping with the City of Berkeley’s history of political activism, the Ceasar Chavez park at the Berkeley Marina is no stranger to controversy. In common with the Albany Bulb, there was a small population of overzealous bird watchers who did not like dogs in the park because they argued that it would scare away the birds that they liked to watch during their walks. Many dog owners rightfully argued that the birds are wild and need to be able to avoid predators in order to produce healthy flocks- survival of the fittest. There is a small part of the park on the Northeast corner that is dedicated to a manmade burrowing owl habitat and fenced off from dogs and people.
As someone who has worked with a lot of wildlife organizations and featured some in documentary videos that I have produced, including a segment about burrowing owls, I tend to think that people need to keep wild animals wild and not weaken a population by overcompensating; however, I also think that dog owners should be responsible and honest about their dogs’ temperament- if your dog has a strong prey drive, s/he should not be off-leash near potential prey like the burrowing owls.
I would recommend this park, if any of the following applies to you and your dog(s): (1) you enjoy a scenic walk and do not mind having to keep you dog on-lead for most of it, (2) you like to be able to walk with your dog instead of standing and watching them play, or (3) you do not mind having to walk in a bit to get to an off-leash area where your dog can frolic with other dogs, where others are there (it is not as predictably packed with potential playmates as Point Isabel or even the Albany Bulb). This park is also a very popular spot with people who like to fly kites and small toy airplanes.
IS IT CONVENIENT OR A PAIN IN THE —?
Parking varies depending on the time of day and weather. There are a somewhat limited number of free parking spots available at the western end of the road at a roundabout traffic circle. You can also park along the street leading into the park.
Since the Berkeley Marina is popular spot to walk with or without dogs, and given the fact that it does house a small off-leash dog-friendly area, it is fairly easy to dispose of waste, with trash cans and doody bag dispensers at the southern entrance to the off-leash area in the interior as well as the western and eastern sides of the leash-required exterior.
*Warning: city officials are very uptight about the leash rules and dole out expensive tickets to “violators”, so take note of the signage and always carry a leash, ready to put it to use.
The closest 24/7 emergency vet is PETS Referral Center located at 1048 University Avenue in Berkeley. This clinic is just under 2 miles away or about a 10-minute drive. Although I do not want to be held accountable for individual experiences, I will share with you that this facility is the resource utilized by locals, if they have an after-hours emergency.
*[Please note: We provide the veterinary locations as a reference and resource, not a referral or endorsement].
Click here to explore more dog parks in Alameda County or other counties in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area.
