Pickleweed Park Community Center

I visited this park frequently until I found out that they regularly spray the park with Round-​Up Weed Killer. Round-​Up has proven to be carcinogenic, which means it can cause cancer.
The day that I was at the park, I was pulling weeds by hand because I had been told by the park that they always post visible signs when they spray. When I was done weeding, I found a small piece of paper with a two inch piece of tape on it indicating that they had already sprayed Round-​Up on the park that morning. That means that people’s kids were roaming all over the park without knowing that they were running and playing and rolling in areas that were sprayed with a carcinogenic weed killer. That goes for people’s dogs as well.
I wrote a letter to Mayor Phillips about this last April, and he never responded. It’s time that we worked together to find safe, healthy alternatives and never use chemicals in our parks.

Tucked in the corner of «Canal» district is a lively park called Pickleweed Park. The first thing that I noticed on one late Saturday morning that the pace of life can be slow and yet, so peaceful and relaxed. Families scattered on a numerous benches, while kids hanging around like monkeys on the play structures – Saturdays here are truly times for real family fun and catching up with friends and neighbors.
This park probably has more play structures than most pocket parks scattered in much of the gentrified parts of Marin.
There are no food trucks here, though I saw at least two food carts keeping up the Spanish speaking character of this place – one woman selling ice cream bars that you won’t find in Three Twins, and the other guy assembling and selling all kinds of delightful treats: one kid got corn wrapped in butter and powdered sugar stuff and looking like a little roll in stripes, another walked away with a bag of orange slices with some yummy-​looking sauce, a bag of chips also with some kind of sauce, while many other kids lined up for shaved ice cones. I wondered how many tricks he got under his sleeve!
Just next to this park (which itself is next to Picklewood library) is a trail that goes around a soccer field to the edge of canal and to the other side of the library. Make a few semi-​circle walks, catch a game of soccer, watch a canoe or boat going up and down the canal, look into the bag, feel the breeze, and viola you just completed your 30 – 40 minutes of walking – good for your heart!
The thing that I loved about this park was the vibe and character and the unassuming people in this humble corner of Marin. When I retire, I will sell my car and settle down in one of the little cheap (relatively speaking) apartment among people who don’t live behind fences and hedges. But for now, I will just enjoy visiting and walking here whenever I can. It’s weekends well spent here.

This place is fun and awesome!
A park, a community center, a library, educational classes and to top it off, it has a great field and play area.
Most important: it’s got a wonderful community spirit.

Im going to comment more specifically on the basketball courts, seeing as I don’t have much experience with the other facilities. Although it does appear that the learning labs, soccer fields, volleyball are all top notch; and the whole place is great for kids. The basketball courts can be crowded depending when you go. They change the hours fairly often; currently: 7 – 930 pm on Monday, 5 – 7 pm on Wednesday, and 530 – 930 on Friday. If you go early you will be guaranteed a few games, but as more people show up the wait can get pretty long (if you don’t win). There are two courts, but if young kids want to play a court is usually reserved for them. Additionally the courts are small, end to end. But they are in great condition — indoors, glass backboard, etc. Its a fun place to play for players of all skill levels.

Great community center that does a lot for the under-​served residents of the Canal. They offer a bilingual library, computer classes, ESL classes, rent their amphitheater for quinceaeras and balies and host indoor soccer tourneys. There is also large sporting field for soccer and baseball. There are quite a few pick-​up games during the week and vendors selling waters, gatoraide, ect. My only qualm and reasons for three stars is the fact that the field closes way too early in the winter. I know San Rafael Parks and Rec. want to preserve the turf, but come on, lets wait ’till it really starts raining.