Best Playgrounds In Baltimore

When you're a kid and it's a beautiful day, the whole world is your playground and there's no better way to spend it than jumping, swinging, sliding and running around outside. For Baltimore parents and their kids, there are lots of playgrounds big and small to choose from, making the choice of where to spend a single day a bit daunting. This list narrows down the options to provide the top five parks throughout the area that offer both a unique and memorable playtime experience. Since most of the parks are open from sunrise to sunset, there's never a better time than now to visit one, or even two, of these playgrounds.

Our Playground at Stadium Place
900 E. 33rd St.
Baltimore, Md. 21230
(410) 889-2369
www.stadiumplayground.org

Free and open to the public seven days a week, Our Playground at Stadium Place provides tons of exercise and entertainment for parents and kids. Spend the whole afternoon jumping from one activity to the next – enjoy a go around on the tire swing, play a musical tune on the built-in xylophone or swing wildly across the monkey bars. This playground is extra special as the design was drawn after hearing input from community kids and then built 100 percent by local volunteers. After a drastic fire, the site was rebuilt in 2009 to be even better than the original park.

Related: Ask A Carpenter: Tips For Building A Kids' Play Area In Baltimore

Patterson Park
27 S. Patterson Park Ave.
Baltimore, Md. 21231
(410) 276-3676
www.pattersonpark.com

Known to many as the "Best Backyard in Baltimore," Patterson Park has something for everyone including two playgrounds to choose from. Playground #1, which is located near Linwood Avenue, was renovated in 2000 with swings, slides and a host of climbing equipment. Playground #2 near Eastern Avenue was built in 2005 and features separate play spaces for toddlers and older children plus a not-to-be-missed jungle gym. No matter which location you choose, parents will appreciate the shaded benches and picnic areas. Additionally, with nearby tennis courts, a swimming pool, dog park, boat lake and even an ice skating rink, this park is ideal for the family trying to compromise on activities while still playing at the same location.

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Cox's Point Park
820 Riverside Drive
Essex, Md. 21221
(410) 887-0255
www.essexrec.com

Cox's Point Park is set on a breathtaking 25.9-acre waterfront park that is open to the public year round from dawn until dusk. The playgrounds offer a sheltered place for kids to play on the equipment like twisty slides, swings and a sandbox while visiting with (or feeding) the ducks and geese. Children not only have lots of room to run, but will also enjoy watching the boats sail past on the Bay or learning how to fish off the docks. Built-in grills and picnic tables provide the perfect excuse to stay for a meal and further enjoy the lush scenery.

Double Rock Park
8211 Glen Road
Parkville, Md. 21234
(410) 887-5300

Double Rock Park joins the Parkville and Overlea communities through its playgrounds, athletic fields and hiking and biking trails. Spread out over 102 acres of land, the park has several playgrounds to choose from that include fun, double slides for racing, a variety of climbing and hanging apparatuses and a pleasurable exposure to nature that encourages unlimited, imaginative play. In addition to the playground, kids can take a hike to practice rock hopping and learn more about the abundant array of wildlife from red foxes to snakes, numerous species of birds, owls and even bats in the summertime.

Druid Hill Park
2600 Madison Ave.
Baltimore, Md. 21217
(410) 396-6106
www.druidhillpark.org

Playgrounds at the Druid Hill Park have a climbing bridge, lots of stairs and ladders to adventure across, slides, swings, built-in games and more – an unbeatable combination for both younger and older kids seeking thrills. Due to its convenient and easy-to-find location in Baltimore, these playgrounds are a great choice for playdates and birthday parties. Plus, the Frisbee field offers ample open running space for all kinds of games and sports. The park is very dog-friendly, meaning the whole family can spend the day playing together.

Keri Ann Beazell is a Baltimore writer following the latest developments in arts and culture, natural wonders, lifestyle and pets. She enjoys promoting thought-provoking discussions, education, new ideas and smiles among readers. Follow her online at Examiner.com