Did you know that there is one spot in Marin that has everything?

Well, maybe not the kitchen sink, but at this magical location you can:
-  Watch (or play) a cricket game
-  Attend a movie
-  Listen to bagpipes
-  Walk to a dock
-  Hold and attend birthday parties (both indoors and out)
-  Enjoy a playground for kids
-  Play: tennis, soccer, horseshoes, softball, baseball and even volleyball

Where is this amazing multi-functional location??? Piper Park in Larkspur!

A few weekends ago my family attended a softball opening-day ceremony at Piper Park. After watching the ceremony and enjoying all the girls’ enthusiasm and energy, I reflected on how many cool things we have done at Piper Park.

I started going there with my kids for the playground and found there is so much to do. We have enjoyed many fun times at Piper Park. We have held outdoor birthday parties there in September and indoor parties in the Rec Room in November – it is a great place to have a party with plenty of parking and fun to be had. In addition to the playground and birthday parties, we have attended several great movies in the park. Each summer, Piper Park screens three free movies and the first one of summer 2010 will be My Dog Skip on June 20. At the last one we attended this past summer, there was even a double rainbow over the park before the movie began.

In addition to the fun activities, there are plenty of options for enjoying field and court sports, with softball and soccer fields, volleyball and tennis courts, and even horseshoe pits. (Personally, I have missed the ball many times on the tennis courts.) A few years ago we discovered an added bonus: While out enjoying a Sunday walk (and after stopping by Baskin Robbins, which is within walking distance of the park) – we found that cricket was being played at the park. This isn’t a very common game here in the Bay Area, so it was fun to sit and watch while enjoying our ice cream, before heading over to see the water and views at the dock.

As for the bagpipes, several visits to the park have elicited “where’s that music coming” from comments. Turns out, the sound is bagpipes and in researching this post I have discovered that bagpipe competitions take place at the aptly named Piper Park – and the next one is coming up on June 12.

To get there: Piper Park is located in Larkspur along Doherty Drive, just past Redwood High School.

With everything it has to offer, Piper Park is my family’s favorite park in Marin. What’s yours?

Posted by:  Jen Masterson