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Park · Santa Rosa, Sonoma County

Southwest Community Park picnic guide

Picnics welcomeWine allowedFree entryGroup sites

Can you picnic at Southwest Community Park?

Yes — Southwest Community Park has picnic areas open to the public. No reservation is needed for the picnic area. Fee: Free for first-come tables. 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 Southwest 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 for first-come tables; the gazebo site is $120 ($145 non-residents).
Groups
One reservable gazebo site (48 seats, up to 50 people); other tables first-come.
Dogs
Leashed dogs allowed (6-foot maximum leash); owners must clean up after them.
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

A 20-acre neighborhood sports park on Hearn Avenue in southwest Santa Rosa, with a lawn, picnic tables and barbecues, a reservable gazebo, a playground, courts, ball fields and restrooms.

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

Good for: Families · Groups · Budget-friendly

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About Southwest Community Park

Southwest Community Park is a practical local park for a birthday or group barbecue, with a reservable gazebo, grills, a playground and restrooms. Alcohol (not in glass) is legal on weekends and weekday evenings.

  • Reservable gazebo for up to 50 ($120)
  • Barbecues, lawn and playground
  • Restrooms and parking on Hearn Avenue
  • 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 groups 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 2.0 mi away

  2. Southwest Community Park (this park)

    Park · Santa Rosa

  3. Bayer Park & Gardens

    Park · Santa Rosa · about 0.9 mi away

Pick up picnic food nearby

More picnic spots nearby

From above
Park

Bayer Park & Gardens

Santa Rosa· 0.7 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
From above
Park

Andy's Unity Park

Santa Rosa· 1 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationWine allowedDogs OK

A community-designed county park in Santa Rosa's Moorland neighborhood, opened in 2018 with barbecue grills, picnic tables and plenty of lawn. It's a free, practical family picnic spot close to Highway 101.

Andy's Unity 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 · 2.9 mi

Details: Andy's Unity Park
Lawn and flowering garden beds beside Luther Burbank's white house and glass greenhouse in Santa Rosa
Park

Luther Burbank Home & Gardens

Santa Rosa· 2 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationNo alcohol

The home and gardens of pioneering plant breeder Luther Burbank are now a free, city-owned garden and museum in downtown Santa Rosa. A bench or one of the two small tables makes a pleasant spot for a quick lunch, but this is no place for a wine picnic: city ordinance bans both alcohol and glass on the grounds.

Luther Burbank Home & Gardens

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

Nearest picnic food: Criminal Cafe & Bakery · 0.7 mi

Details: Luther Burbank Home & Gardens
From above
Park

Juilliard Park

Santa Rosa· 2 mi

Bring your own foodNo reservationNo alcoholDogs OK

One of Santa Rosa's oldest parks, Juilliard occupies the former homestead of 19th-century winemaker Charles Juilliard, directly across the street from the Luther Burbank Home & Gardens. It is a handy free lunch stop downtown with lawn, tables and a playground, but it is alcohol-free unless you hold a permit.

Juilliard Park

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

Nearest picnic food: Criminal Cafe & Bakery · 0.7 mi

Details: Juilliard Park

All picnic spots in Santa Rosa & Bennett Valley →

Frequently asked questions

Can you picnic at Southwest Community Park?

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

Can you bring your own food to Southwest Community Park?

Yes. Outside food is allowed at Southwest Community Park.

Can you drink wine at Southwest Community Park?

Yes, alcohol is allowed at Southwest 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 Southwest Community Park?

No reservation is needed to use the picnic area. One reservable gazebo site (48 seats, up to 50 people); other tables first-come.

Is there a fee to picnic at Southwest Community Park?

Free for first-come tables; the gazebo site is $120 ($145 non-residents).

Are dogs allowed at Southwest Community Park?

Leashed dogs allowed (6-foot maximum leash); owners must clean up after them.

Sources & accuracy

We last checked this listing in September 2026 (freshest source: City facility and picnic-reservation pages live Sept 2026 (undated)). Policies change — especially for groups and holidays — so confirm with Southwest Community Park before you go. How we verify.

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