Mia’s Dream Come True: All Abilities Playground

This place genuinely lives up to the name — it’s one of the better all-abilities playgrounds in the East Bay, designed so kids with different needs can actually play together instead of around each other. The water feature (there’s a whale that spouts water) is a total hit, and the climbing structures and swings have enough variety to keep the 1-year-olds and the 12-year-olds both occupied. It’s fully gated, which parents around here will tell you is a bigger deal than it sounds. Shade trees and covered picnic tables make it workable even on warmer Hayward days, and the restrooms are clean and accessible. Parking is right there, so you’re not hauling gear halfway across a lot — small thing, but you notice it.