The following is a descriptive listing of the public parks in the Lamorinda area. Help us keep the list up-to-date! If you have any suggestions, recommendations, additions or changes, please contact us! 

Lafayette Parks and Trails

Moraga Parks

 Orinda Parks and Trails

Parks and Trails Around the Bay

The Bay Area is fortunate to have a wealth of parks ranging from local playground parks to regional, undeveloped open spaces. To learn about parks and trails throughout the Bay Area, check out these great resources:

      • Parks page at BayAreaKidFun.com

      • East Bay Regional Park District

Be Aware of Potential Arsenic in Play Strctures, Decks and Piers 

 A mom from the Safe Playgrounds Project send us this:

Chromated Copper Arsenate was the primary preservative used in the pressure-treating process to protect wood against weather, mold and insects. Chromium was used to bind the two toxic metals (arsenic and copper) to the wood fibers, but it was later discovered that chromium was not as effective at locking in the arsenic and copper as originally thought. Studies show that CCA-treated wood is continually leaching (releasing) arsenic to the surface of the wood. Of the three chemicals (chromium, copper and arsenic), arsenic is considered the most toxic.

Arsenic is known to cause cancer in humans and is much more toxic than previously believed. Arsenic is a potent skin, bladder and lung carcinogen. Arsenic is also linked to liver and kidney cancer, immune system suppression, increased risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, endocrine disruption (altering normal hormone levels or activity in the body) and diabetes.

Recent studies have confirmed that high levels of arsenic can be released to children's hands by direct contact with arsenic-treated wood. Young children, in particular, are at risk of ingesting (swallowing) arsenic when they put their hands in their mouths after touching CCA-treated wood. Children are more vulnerable than adults for many reasons but particularly because their bodies are still growing and developing. Children may be at greater risk than adults because their livers metabolize the toxic metal more slowly.

Where do you find CCA-treated wood?

CCA-treated wood has been used for outdoor residential structures such as playground equipment, fences, gazebos, decks and patios, landscaping timbers, foundations, walkways, boat docks, park benches, and picnic tables. It has also been used for outdoor industrial structures such as utility and construction poles, marine timbers and pilings.

What to do

• If you let your kids play on pressure treated wood structures or piers wash their hands after playtime
  
• Never let them eat while playing because they may exposed to unhealthy levels of arsenic.
  
• Seal once a year any pressure treated wood structure in your back yard with a penetrating stain and do not clean with abrasive products or sand the wood before staining.