Submitted by Many-Perception-3945 t3_11yuk9x in massachusetts
Hello Fellow Massholes, I got a question for the lot of you... what's the best playground in MA?
My family is in North Shore, but travel isn't an issue (indeed a perk so we can make a little day trip out of it) .
Figured this is exactly the sort of thing Reddit is perfect for solving!
Pete's (Frates) Park in Beverly is also brand new(2019) and pretty nice. Somewhere in Ipswich there is a pirate ship playground.
And Endicott Park in Danvers has a playground and a working barn with goats, pigs, horses, cows, rabbits and chickens. And it's free in weekdays.
Ooh. I have a good one. The playground at purgatory state park is nice. Plus there is sliding rock (don't miss it because it's farther in the park and you could.) And hiking the chasm!
That is, if you can park
I hate the crowds so we go a bit early and usually dont have a problem.
Peter Gilmore Playground in Waltham has a dope-ass climbing structure. Its so cool that I’m surprised it’s legal in America. It’s a block off Moody St. If you’re not familiar with Moody St, it’s worth it for the restaurant scene.
Spy Pond Park in Arlington is good for really little dudes, but the playground itself isn’t worth a trip from the North Shore. Bonus: You can rent canoes and shit in the summer every now and then and paddle out to a little island. You’ll need to check a website or two to see when those are available.
You can rent a kayak from Paddle Boston. Launch from the Medford location, paddle upstream on the Mystic, there’s a little peninsula with a beach and facilities opposite the Medford Boat Club where you can disembark and picnic/swim. There is also a good playground there with things for toddlers to 5/6yos. Lots of green space for frisbees and soccer. There are also some pretty cool walking paths through the woods along the shore there. You eventually wind up on the dam that creates Mystic Lake.
Beaver Brook Reservation in Belmont has great hiking/picnic spots and a nice splash deck for the kids. It’s close to the Mighty Squirrel Brewery as well, so the adults can relax with food trucks and a beverage later. Mighty Squirrel is family/dog friendly with games and things for tweens and adults. Table tennis, cornhole, foosball…
EDIT: I can’t believe I forgot Connor’s Farm in Danvers. Jesus Christ. That place is the shizznit. Unbelievable playground. Bouncy thing. TRAIN RIDES! Holy shit. I love that place.
There is Patton Park in Wenham with a real tank
Stage Fort Park Gloucester
Beverly Lynch Park, Dane St Beach
A few creative and different ones: Martin's Park near the Children's Museum. Alexander Kemp playground in Cambridge. North Point Park in Cambridge near the MoS.
There are a lot of good ones in Newton and Brookline, like Newton Center Playground (basically 3 playgrounds in 1), Albemarle Playground (great climbing structure), Soule Recreation Center (really good toddler area, another area for bigger kids and a splashpad), Pierce Playground, the new one at Ridley school (fka Devotion), etc.
We like the zip lines at Bobby Conners in Waltham and the Esplanade Playground (also a cool climbing structure for bigger kids). The slides at Skyline Park in Arlington. Artesani in Allston and Beaver Brook in Belmont during the summer for their water features.
Saw someone else recommend a farm, so I'll mention Connors Farm in Danvers even though it's not free.
most have dog rules, so check if you plan to bring a dog
Dean Park in Shrewsbury. Fenced play equipment are, walking trails, a pond you can fish (just Sunnie's).
Castle in the Trees in Littleton. Souch fun.
Northborough has a splash pad with an abutting playground. The playground was redone and is good for littles more than older kids now.
SMILE Playground/Haskell field in Sudbury. Big, shade and fence. Bathrooms open most of the year. Huge soccer fields for municipal games, so playground can be packed on weekends and evenings.
Coes Park in Worcester. Really nice equipment. Not huge. On a reservoir good for walking and have an overlook.
Cushing Memorial Park in Framingham. Big manicured park with flat walking paths and fun playground.
Ooh, Castle in the Trees is very cool!
Lincoln Park in Somerville is pretty impressive. Good restaurants nearby.
If you care to travel all the way to Plymouth: Nelson Park in Downtown Plymouth is great. It has an inclusive playground, splash-pad, bathrooms and concessions stand, lots of grass for picnics, boat ramp, beach, as well as access to a two mile long rail trail that's great for walks. It's also close walking distance to everything downtown Plymouth has to offer: food, shopping, museums, etc.
I love the playground at Winn Brook Elementary School in Belmont- Joeys Park. Very cool set up and easy street parking.
Seconding Beaver Brook in Belmont, cool playground, the splash pad set up is great and there is walking trails, parking, and close to Mighty Squirrel.
Sherborn playground is also great and has shade, so it’s nice when it’s hot out. There’s also an ice cream nearby that serves food as well, C&L Frosty.
[deleted]
Keep 'em coming guys!
This is awesome 🥰😋
I think I see a spreadsheet in my future 🔮
I am wishing my kids weren't young adults. Will need to wait for the grandchildren.
Oh oh please post it here too ! 😁
Robbins Farm Park in Arlington is pretty cool, and great for sledding, too. They have a massive slide and great views of the city.
The old wooden ones were great, especially the one by Winchester Center @ Ginn Field, but they changed it. Alas, I am old now and no longer know an awesome playground when I see one. The new one looks decent, but not as exciting.
What it used to be:
https://patch.com/massachusetts/winchester/ginn-playground-could-be-renamed
What it is now:
I searched in google maps for playgrounds, and this one came up - first picture looked underwhelming, but if you look at the other photos, they have some cool climbing stuff!
Playground https://maps.app.goo.gl/5yzQHHEYPFJ5hj4NA?g_st=ic
The Alden Play Area in Cambridge looks little, but fun:
Playground https://maps.app.goo.gl/DFQmmJvwBC1LnMti9?g_st=ic
This one is very different:
Alexander W. Kemp Playground (617) 349-4800 https://maps.app.goo.gl/UGjs4t5yFAjQdjTC7?g_st=ic
Nearest and dearest to my heart and ancestral homeland (and recently redone):
Central Hill Playground https://maps.app.goo.gl/bEM2PTgfQmxCKUjf7?g_st=ic
Damn you, OP! I have fallen down a playground rabbit hole!
Go back in time about twenty years and peep the old fall river playground that shit was so cool
tegrtyfrm t1_jd9hzme wrote
Lynch park Beverly something for everyone