BBQ & Picnic Areas in Parks

See the map for locations for grilling food in Lakeside Park and Pine Knoll Park.

Map of Designated BBQ Locations(PDF, 7MB)

BBQ, Picnic & Facility Rentals

  • Rental permits for the Redwood, Sequoia, and Dimond Grove BBQ & Picnic area are required
  • Groups of 25 or more are required to obtain a Park Use Permit. Groups of 49 or more will also need to obtain an OPD Permit after completion of our permit request process. Smaller groups should obtain permits to guarantee a space is reserved for their event. All Permitted groups get protected use of their rental space.
  • We do not allow; Food Trucks or Food Vendors, Alcohol, Smoking (of any kind), Drugs, Weapons, Portable BBQ's (propane or charcoal), Radios/ Speakers, DJ's, Musical instruments, Live Bands, Jumpers, Generators or Gas-powered Scooters in the park.

Redwood Grove BBQ Area or Sequoia Grove BBQ Area

  • Both sites have enough tables and seating for 100 people, 2 large BBQ grills, Water access and garbage receptacles.
  • $25 per hour with a 4 hour minimum.
  • $100 deposit - returned to the payee's credit card after a successful and properly run event. This means fully cleaning the area your group used & followed all the rules as signed in the permit contract.
  • Holiday charge + 50% of base rental fee (1/2 100=$50).
  • Permit requests under 30 days before your event will be charged an admin fee of $75 to speed up the permit process. No permits will be issued less than 10 days before the event

There is a $15.00 non-refundable processing fee for family and smaller events

Dimond Grove Picnic Area

The Dimond Grove Area is designed for small groups No larger than 25 people.

  • Dimond Grove Picnic Area is available for Day of Use rentals at a fee of $25.00 per strip of tables (2 long tables with seating on each side are included).
  • No heating/cooking allowed in this area. No Propane or portable BBQ grills, or heating sources are allowed in this area. Cold foods, previous cooked foods that require no heating, may be brought in.

Find BBQ Locations in Parks

Charcoal grilling is only allowed in designated areas where stationary grill pits have been installed. Please do not remove hot coals from pits.

Non-charcoal grilling is only allowed in designated areas. You may bring in your own portable non-charcoal grill. Your grill can not be wider than 27 inches.

Please note: Charcoal grills are not allowed in non-charcoal designated areas.

Large groups are encouraged to use the Bandstand and Lake Merritt Boating Center picnic sites. These locations have 3-section stationary charcoal barbecue pits and 3-4 picnic tables. You can download a map of these locations.

Location Type of Grill Hours for Grilling
Bandstand Picnic Area located behind the Edoff Memorial Bandstand on the lake edge between Fairyland and the beach Stationary charcoal pit grill(s) Dawn to dusk
Picnic Area on knoll behind Lake Merritt Boating Center (Picnic Tables Near Sailboat House) Stationary charcoal pit grill(s) Dawn to dusk
Park area between Labyrinth and pump house (Statan @ Bellevue) Stationary charcoal pit grill(s) Dawn to dusk
Open space at the eastern end of Bellevue Avenue at Grand Avenue Portable non-charcoal grills only

Grill size: Not to exceed 27 inches in width		 Dawn to dusk
Park on the east side of Lake Merritt from Boden Way to Pine Knoll Park

Section 1 (Boden @ Lakeshore)

Section 2 (Cleveland @ Lakeshore)

Section 3 (Brooklyn @ Lakeshore)

Section 4 (Wesley @ Lakeshore)		 Portable non-charcoal grills only

Grill size: Not to exceed 27 inches in width		 8:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Pine Knoll Park (Lakeshore Avenue and Hanover Avenue) Portable non-charcoal grills only

Grill size: Not to exceed 27 inches in width		 8:00 a.m. to 3 p.m.
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