One of the best features of living in Central Park if you’re a kid (or parent) is the sheer number of playgrounds. You can barely go a few blocks without passing a structure with creative or challenging elements and space to run around. In addition to those smaller pocket parks throughout the neighborhood, there are a few exceptional playgrounds that are worth a special trip. Here are our favorites—tell us in the comments which ones you (and your kids) think are the best!
This is the major playground in our community! Centrally located in the 80-acre park east of Central Park Blvd and north of MLK Jr. Blvd, it recently underwent a major renovation. An awesomely tall tube slide and a zip line are the highlights, but there’s so much more to keep kids excited and burning energy for hours! A challenging net climber, a rock climbing area, two mini trampolines built into the ground, a sand pit with ride-on diggers, a little-kid area with a roller slide…the list goes on. It’s also adjacent to large grassy areas for playing all kinds of ball sports. Note: there’s a water misting area that was working last summer, and there are two water pumps that create a small stream that winds through the playground. The pumps weren’t operational last year, but we’re hoping they’ll be up and running this summer – fingers crossed!
This spot near Spruce Way and 24th Avenue is so simple yet magical. There’s a giant sand pit with a snail-shaped structure in the center that bubbles out water at regular intervals during the warm months. The structure is designed to create little streams and rivers that drip into the sand, leading to hours of building and sculpting fun. There are often plenty of buckets and diggers that the community just leaves out for anyone to use.
Playground next to Splash Landing pool
I don’t know if this one has an official name, but it’s just west of the Splash Landing pool. The climbing structure is perfect for a floor-is-lava situation. See if you can do the whole circuit without touching the ground! It also has a challenging rock climbing area.
Technically in Aurora, adjacent to the Stanley Marketplace, LuBird’s Light is an all-inclusive playground, meaning it’s designed to be accessible for kids with special needs. The surface is smooth enough for wheelchairs and there are adaptive swings, sensory play areas, and more. Kids of all abilities love playing there because the equipment is inventive, the multi-level setup is unique, and the roller slide is one of the longest we’ve seen!
High Plains Park Pump Track Ok, so it’s not strictly a playground, but it’s a unique spot worth a visit! Another relatively new addition to the Central Park community, this bike (or scooter) track at 57th Avenue and Elmira Court is just challenging enough to be fun without being intimidating for young riders. There’s a small loop for beginners and a bigger loop with a gentle entry, and plenty of exciting curves, walls, and rollers. (If you want to check it out before you go, Pump Track Locator does a really thorough video—though you do not have to go as fast as the rider in the video!)
