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Park · Santa Rosa, Sonoma County

A Place to Play Community Park picnic guide

Picnics welcomeWine allowedFree entry

Can you picnic at A Place to Play Community Park?

Yes — A Place to Play Community Park has picnic areas open to the public. No reservation is needed for the picnic area. Fee: Free. Wine and other alcohol are allowed (see the rules below).

Checked September 2026 from srcity.orgStated on the venue's own website

Aerial view of A Place to Play Community Park and its surroundings
From above: circled is where directions lead. USDA aerial imagery, public domain.

Picnic rules at a glance

Picnicking
Picnics welcome
Bring your own food
Allowed
Alcohol
Allowed, with limits (see house rules)
Purchase required
No
Reservation
Not required
Fee
Free
Groups
Picnic tables are not on the city's reservable-site list; groups over 100 need a park permit.
Dogs
Leashed dogs allowed (6-foot maximum leash); owners must clean up after them. A fenced community dog park is on site.
Kids
Playground and sports fields; busy on youth-sports weekends.
Hours
Daily sunrise to sunset
Season
Open year-round.
House rules
  • Alcohol: allowed at set times, never in glass.
  • Santa Rosa's park rules (City Code 13-24.050) allow alcohol in community parks on weekdays from 5pm to sunset and all day (sunrise to sunset) on weekends and City-observed holidays; other times need a permit.
  • Glass beverage containers are banned in city parks (13-24.070), so bring wine in a can, box or plastic.
  • Also: no smoking; amplified sound (including Bluetooth speakers) needs a permit; no camping.

What the picnic area is like

Santa Rosa's biggest sports park (77 acres) on West Third Street: soccer and baseball fields ring a large lawn with picnic tables and barbecues, a playground, restrooms, a dog park and a small wildlife lake. Best for a casual family picnic around a game rather than a quiet lunch.

  • Picnic tables
  • Lawn
  • BBQ grills
  • Playground
  • Restrooms
  • Parking

Good for: Families · Budget-friendly · Dogs

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About A Place to Play Community Park

A Place to Play is a large west Santa Rosa sports park with barbecues, picnic tables, a playground and a dog park. It gets busy on game days, and alcohol (not in glass) is legal on weekends and weekday evenings.

  • 77 acres with barbecues and picnic tables
  • Playground, dog park and a wildlife lake
  • Restrooms and a large parking lot off West Third Street
  • Alcohol OK weekends and after 5pm weekdays (no glass)

More dog-friendly spots in Sonoma CountyMore family-friendly spots in Sonoma CountyMore free spots in Sonoma CountyMore parks that allow wine spots in Sonoma County

Make a day of it

Stock up at a deli nearby, then picnic close by — a short, easy loop.

  1. Oliver's Market

    Deli & market · Santa Rosa · about 1.6 mi away

  2. A Place to Play Community Park (this park)

    Park · Santa Rosa

  3. Finley Community Park

    Park · Santa Rosa · about 1.2 mi away

Pick up picnic food nearby

More picnic spots nearby

From above
Park

Finley Community Park

Santa Rosa· 1 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationWine allowedDogs OK

A central, well-equipped Santa Rosa park with a gazebo picnic site, barbecues and a playground next to the Finley Community Center. It's a practical group-picnic option on West College Avenue.

Finley Community Park

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026
Own food
yes
Wine allowed
yes
Reservation
Not needed
Dogs
Yes
Fee
Free entry

Nearest picnic food: Oliver's Market · 0.8 mi

Details: Finley Community Park
From above
Park

Youth Community Park

Santa Rosa· 2 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationWine allowedDogs OK

Youth Community Park is a big, family-oriented city park with barbecues, a reservable gazebo, a skate park and a miniature train that runs monthly in summer. Beer or wine (not in glass) is legal on weekends and after 5pm on weekdays.

Youth Community Park

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026
Own food
yes
Wine allowed
yes
Reservation
Not needed
Dogs
Yes
Fee
Free entry

Nearest picnic food: Oliver's Market · 2.4 mi

Details: Youth Community Park
From above
Park

Northwest Community Park

Santa Rosa· 2 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationWine allowedDogs OK

Northwest Community Park pairs barbecues and picnic tables with a playground, pump track and dog park, a handy family stop near the Fulton Road and Highway 101 junction. Alcohol (not in glass) is legal on weekends and weekday evenings.

Northwest Community Park

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026
Own food
yes
Wine allowed
yes
Reservation
Not needed
Dogs
Yes
Fee
Free entry

Nearest picnic food: Community Market Santa Rosa · 1.7 mi

Details: Northwest Community Park
From above
Park

Bayer Park & Gardens

Santa Rosa· 2 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationNo alcoholDogs OK

Bayer Park & Gardens is a neighborhood park built around a community garden, with barbecues, two reservable picnic sites and a playground. Bring lemonade, not wine: alcohol isn't allowed here.

Bayer Park & Gardens

Bring your own foodChecked Sep 2026
Own food
yes
Wine allowed
no
Reservation
Not needed
Dogs
Yes
Fee
Free entry

Nearest picnic food: Oliver's Market · 1.1 mi

Details: Bayer Park & Gardens

All picnic spots in Santa Rosa & Bennett Valley →

Frequently asked questions

Can you picnic at A Place to Play Community Park?

Yes — A Place to Play Community Park has picnic areas open to the public. No reservation is needed for the picnic area. Fee: Free. Wine and other alcohol are allowed (see the rules below).

Can you bring your own food to A Place to Play Community Park?

Yes. Outside food is allowed at A Place to Play Community Park.

Can you drink wine at A Place to Play Community Park?

Yes, alcohol is allowed at A Place to Play Community Park. Alcohol: allowed at set times, never in glass. Santa Rosa's park rules (City Code 13-24.050) allow alcohol in community parks on weekdays from 5pm to sunset and all day (sunrise to sunset) on weekends and City-observed holidays; other times need a permit. Glass beverage containers are banned in city parks (13-24.070), so bring wine in a can, box or plastic. Also: no smoking; amplified sound (including Bluetooth speakers) needs a permit; no camping.

Do you need a reservation to picnic at A Place to Play Community Park?

No reservation is needed to use the picnic area. Picnic tables are not on the city's reservable-site list; groups over 100 need a park permit.

Is there a fee to picnic at A Place to Play Community Park?

Free.

Are dogs allowed at A Place to Play Community Park?

Leashed dogs allowed (6-foot maximum leash); owners must clean up after them. A fenced community dog park is on site.

Is A Place to Play Community Park good for kids?

Playground and sports fields; busy on youth-sports weekends.

Sources & accuracy

We last checked this listing in September 2026 (freshest source: City facility page live Sept 2026 (undated)). Policies change — especially for groups and holidays — so confirm with A Place to Play Community Park before you go. How we verify.

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