Seven Founding Hills

It’s Opening Weekend for the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park, and I can’t wait to take all four of my kids to a game! If you’re heading to the ballpark with little ones, here are some of our favorite kid-friendly spots around Oracle Park and Mission Bay.

Playgrounds Within a Mile of Oracle Park

South Beach Park (<0.1 miles walking)

Just north of Oracle Park near the Yacht Club, South Beach Park features a small playground, picnic benches, and a grassy lawn right on the waterfront. The play area, best suited for ages 2–5, includes a pretend boat, several rocking horses, a climbing structure that resembles Mark di Suvero’s Sea Change, and a deceptively fast merry-go-round. Although the playground is modest in size, my preschoolers can easily spend an hour here.

Mission Bay Kids Park (0.5 miles walking)

Located at China Basin and Long Bridge Street, this massive playground is great for all ages. It includes three climbing structures, two carousels, three swing sets, a sandbox, and several natural play features. It’s the perfect place for kids to burn off energy before the game.

South Park (0.4 miles walking)

I haven’t taken my kids here yet, but I’ve heard great things. South Park includes a modern rope climbing structure, a sandbox, a native plant garden, and a large lawn. It’s on our list to visit soon!

Public Parks Near Oracle Park

China Basin Park (0.1 miles walking)

Directly across McCovey Cove from Oracle Park, this scenic park has a sandy beach, grassy lawn with stunning Bay Bridge views, shady terraces, a bronze statue of Giants legend Willie McCovey, native plant garden, and amphitheater-style seating along the bike path facing the San Francisco Giants Stadium

Before games, China Basin Park often hosts an open-air bar and food trucks—and on select days, there’s live music and kids’ activities too!

Mission Creek Park & Mission Creek Stormwater Park (0.2 miles walking)

Running along the Mission Creek waterfront, these parks offer serene views, shaded seating, and a peaceful walking promenade. Along the creek, you’ll find a small amphitheater, basketball and volleyball courts under the freeway, and plenty of quiet corners—ideal for kids who need a break from the crowds.

Bayfront Park (0.7 miles walking)

Located across from Chase Center on the SF Bay Trail, Bayfront Park features wide walking paths, terraced lawns, and a dramatic steel observation deck. It’s a stunning space that blends recycled materials from the old Bay Bridge span with native landscaping. Right now, in early April, you can see checkers and California sage blooming along the trails.

Koret Quad at UCSF (0.8 miles walking)

Just shy of a mile from Oracle Park, Koret Quad is a hidden gem on the UCSF Mission Bay campus. This 2-acre park includes two large lawns surrounded by pine, magnolia, and sycamore trees, plus several art installations.

The giant grassy hill next to 4th Street is topped by Dreamcatcher, a towering steel sculpture that always lures my kids in for a climb. Nearby, the Genentech Hall Amphitheater—with its spiral stairs and circular terrace—reminds me of an X-ray image of DNA. Whether or not that’s the inspiration, it’s a favorite spot for my aspiring scientists.

Baseball Statues Near Oracle Park

Willie Mays Statue

Willie Mays Statue
William Behrends | Bronze, 2000
Located at the main entrance to Oracle Park, this dynamic statue of Willie Mays captures him mid-swing, eyes following the ball he just hit. It’s a must-visit photo op and includes a plaque with his career stats.

Juan Marichal Statue

Juan Marichal Statue
William Behrends, 2005 | Bronze
This statue, near the Lefty O’Doul Gate by the Third Street Bridge, shows Marichal in his iconic high-kick pitching pose. My kids love trying to mimic his stance!

Orland Cepeda Statue

Orlando Cepeda Statue
William Behrends, 2008 | Bronze
Located near the 2nd & King Street Gate, this statue depicts Cepeda in a relaxed pose, glove on one hand and ball in the other.

Gaylord Perry Statue

Gaylord Perry Statue
William Behrends, 2016 | Bronze
Also near the 2nd & King Street Gate, Perry is shown following through on a pitch.
Fun fact: Giants manager Alvin Dark once joked, “They’ll put a man on the moon before Gaylord Perry hits a home run.” Perry hit his first homer on July 20, 1969—just 20 minutes after Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon!

Willie McCovey Statue

Willie McCovey Statue
William Behrends, 2003 | Bronze
Across McCovey Cove from the ballpark, this beautifully composed statue shows McCovey poised to swing. I’m so happy it’s back on display after being stored during China Basin Park construction (2020–2024).

Toni Stone Statue

Toni Stone Statue
Dana King (b. 1960–present) | Bronze, 2023
Located at Toni Stone Plaza and Dr. Maya Angelou Lane, this ground-level statue honors Toni Stone, the first woman to play in the Negro Leagues. She played for the San Francisco Sea Lions in 1949. The statue shows her smirking with a bat resting on her shoulders, and her career stats are displayed at the base.

Giants History Walk

Located along the Portwalk, this 570 ft. walkway features bronze commemorating significant events in the history of the park.

Read Before You Go: Kids’ Books About the Giants and Oracle Park

Introduce your kids to the San Francisco Giants and Oracle Park before you go to your first Giants game through reading.

Does your kid know who Willie Mays was? Do they know what a splash ball is? Learn about all of this

My kids love reading about the San Francisco Giants and enjoy seeing Oracle and Candlestick park Featured in these four books.

S is for Slugger – Mathew Shipley

My preschoolers are thoroughly entertained by this ABC baseball book. Oracle Park is featured on one of the pages. Can you spot what is missing?

The Night Before Baseball at the Park by the Bay – David Schnell

My preschoolers love this book written in the prose Twas the Night Before Christmas. The cute story captures many kids dream of playing in the Big Leagues. It appears to book is no longer in print, but is available used on amazon and is available at the San Francisco Public Library

You Never Heard of Willie Mays?! – Jonah Winter

Learn about the life of Legendary Giant Willie Mays. This book is written for younger elementary school kids.

Ballpark Mysteries: The San Francisco Splash – David A. Kelly

The Ballpark Mysteries series is written for young chapter book readers. My kids love the reference to McCovey Cove, The Coca Cola slide, and Pier 39. It is a fun read for new readers.

Have a Favorite Spot Near Oracle Park We Missed?

Share it in the comments—we’re always looking for new places to explore with kids! And if you love discovering family-friendly adventures around the Bay Area, be sure to follow along for more guides, tips, and local fun.