For more detailed info about playgrounds throughout New Jersey including photographs and a mom’s commentary, visit www.njplaygrounds.com.
Brookside Park
Hetfield Ave., Scotch Plains. Baseball field, basketball court, preschool playground, picnic area, field house, roller hockey, pond with trail.
Somerset County Park Commission
Colonial Park
Off of Amwell Rd., Franklin. 651-acre park with picnic areas, softball, tennis center, putting course, paddle boats, gardens, and leash-free dog area. Playground features barrier-free equipment.
Columbia Park
Plainfield Ave., Berkeley Heights. Ballfields, basketball courts, shuffleboard court, ice rink, practice handball-tennis board, 6 tennis courts, skate park. Children’s playground and separate toddler playground. Picnic tables.
Somerset County Park Commission
Duke Island Park
Old York Rd., Bridgewater. 339-acre park along the North Branch of the Raritan River features picnic areas, prime fishing, softball, bandshell, walking trails, and visitor center. Playground features barrier free equipment.
Union County
Echo Lake Park
Springfield Ave., Mountainside, 908-527-4900. New playground, picnic area, large field provides space for soccer and softball, fitness trail, fishing, fenced in Dog Park and amphitheater.
Hedden County Park
Reservoir Rd., Dover, Randolph & Mine Hill, 973-829-8257. Six-acre lake, ballfields, hiking and biking trails, picnic sites and shelter, Indian Falls and playground.
KidStreet
Claude Dr. at Garretson Rd. & Commons Way, Bridgewater. Large wooden play and climbing structure.
Essex County
Kip’s Castle Park
22 Crestmont Rd., Montclair, 973-268-3500. Estate grounds open dawn to dusk. April-Oct.: Castle open for first floor self-guided tours Mon.-Thurs. 12-4. The former estate of Frederic Ellsworth Kip is Essex County’s newest park encompassing a 9,000 square foot mansion that replicates a medieval Norman castle and 11 acres on the ridge of First Mountain with spectacular views of New York City. The park will become the County’s premiere cultural resource center as county offices, public meeting space, museum space and educational programs are developed.
Lewis Morris Park
Rt. 24 West, Mendham, Morris and Harding Twp., 973-326-7600. Daily 8am-dusk. 1,154 acres, adjacent to Jockey Hollow. Saturn Kids Kingdom in Doe Meadow features a wood and plastic climbing structure with slides, rings, rope ladder on woodchip surface. Picnic areas nearby along with miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails, parcourse fitness circuit, ballfields and Sunrise Lake.
Littell People’s Park
Memorial Park, Wahler Rd., Livingston. Ramps, rings, ladders and slides on woodchip surface within fenced area; sandbox.
Loantaka Brook Reservation
Morris Township, 973-326-7600. Dawn to dusk. Access trail from Loantaka Way, Kitchell Road, Green Village Road or South St. Five mile paved recreation/bicycle trail from Green Village Rd. in Chatham Township to Seaton Hackney Stables in Morristown. Duck pond at Kitchell Rd. with picnic areas, small playground, ballfields. Playground at South St., also with picnic area and ballfields.
Lurker Park
East Hanover. New tot lot features handicapped-accessible swings and two jungle gyms, one for smaller children.
Mabie Playground
26 Elm St., Summit, 908-277-2932. Preschool playground with mulch, basketball courts, bocce ball courts, horseshoe pits and game tables across from the train station, a short walk from downtown Summit.
Meadowland Park
N. Ridgewood Rd., South Orange, 973-378-7754. Large park with vast fields, tennis courts, platform tennis, playground, duck pond and the Baird Center housing the South Orange art gallery and recreation department. Site of summer outdoor jazz concerts and community events.
Memorial Field
Ashland Ave., Summit. Two wood climbing structures—one for preschoolers, one for elementary age, large sandbox, paved walks for bike riding and rollerblading, tennis courts and backboard, basketball, ballfields, kite flying, picnic tables.
Mindowaskin Park
Downtown Westfield. Scenic park with walking/strolling trail around duck pond, playground and bandstand.
Union County
Nomahegan Park
Springfield Ave., Cranford, 908-527-4900. Paved bike/jogging/walking path, fitness circuit, playground, ballfields, pond, picnic area and rest rooms.
Somerset County Park Commission
North Branch Park
Milltown Rd., Bridgewater. 185-acre park along the North Branch of the Raritan River is home to the Somerset County Park Commission administrative offices. Picnic areas, prime fishing, large fields provide space for soccer, softball, flying model aircraft and launching model rockets. Playground features swings, slides, suspension bridge, bars and rings.
Pleasant Valley Park
Valley Rd., Bernards Township. Large, pretty park features wood playground with open climbing structure, pond, picnic shelter, walking/bicycle trails, tennis and paddle tennis courts, fitness trail, athletic fields, amphitheater and community pool.
Riverside Park
Valley Rd., Gillette, 908-647-8000. 24-acre site includes three tennis courts, basketball, bocci and horsesehoe courts, children’s playground designed for ages 2-5, two soccer/
lacrosse fields, walking paths, canoe launch and picnic grove at the Passaic River. Restrooms available.
Schooley’s Mountain Park
Camp Washington Rd., Long Valley, 908-829-8257. Lake, ballfield, picnic areas, hiking trails, mountain biking and fishing.
Shunpike Park
Shunpike Rd., Chatham Twp. Soccer, baseball fields and basketball court currently undergoing renovation. Castle climbing and play structure, swings, slide and rope climb.
Snyder Avenue Park
Snyder Ave., Berkeley Heights. Lighted multi-purpose turf field, baseball fields, fenced playground area features new equipment on soft, rubber surface.
Taylor Park
Main St., Millburn. Fenced in playground, ballfields, walking/strolling trails, duck pond, tennis courts, teen center, basketball courts, site for summer concerts.
Tourne County Park
40 McCaffrey Ln. or Old Denville Rd., Boonton Twp. & Denville, 973-326-7600. 500 acre-park includes a bird sanctuary, wildflower trail, ballfield, family picnic areas, group picnic shelter, playground and trail system with picturesque overlook.
Union County
Watchung Reservation
The Loop, Watchung Reservation, Mountainside, 908-527-4900. Play and climbing structure with lookouts, platforms, tube slides, tire swings, sliding poles and track riders. Upper, middle and lower tiers accommodate children ages 2-12. Open fields, swing sets, picnic sites (with grills), trails nearby including trail to Trailside Nature & Science Center and Museum.
New
New climbing equipment, slides, misting devices, soft-impact rubber surfacing and wheelchair accessible equipment planned.
Van Saun Park
216 Forest Ave. (Rt. 4E to Forest Ave., turn right at exit), Paramus, 201-262-3771. Playground with multiple-age play areas, sprinkler, picnic areas, zoo, train ride and carousel. See listing for Bergen County Zoo.
White Oak Park
Baird Rd., Branchburg, 908-526-1300. 127-acre park features soccer/lacrosse fields, baseball/softball fields, batting cages, tennis courts, practice wall, basektball court, sand volleyball courts, 1.5 mile walking/jogging path, nature trails, playgrounds, wooden tot lot, pavilion, picnic tables, campfire ring, pond, restrooms and concession stand.
SPECIAL NEEDS
For more detailed info about playgrounds throughout New Jersey including photographs and a mom's commentary, visit www.njplaygrounds.com.
See general listings under this category for additional universal playgrounds with barrier-free equipment.
Edgemont Park All Children's Playground
20 Edgemont Rd., Montclair. Full playground offers universal access for children of all ages and abilities.
Memorial Park
Westfield. Built by Greg Ryan, Jr. in 2004 for his Boy Scout Eagle Project, the wheelchair-accessible playground includes a sidewalk from the parking lot to a ramped playground structure with rubber surfacing, two infant, two regular and four special needs swings, one accessible picnic table and four benches.
Morris-Union Jointure Playground
Central Ave., New Providence. Open for use by the public on weekends and after 6pm weekdays. Playground, specially designed for children with special needs, features swings with high sides, platform swing, basketball court, enclosed slides, reduced-height climbing bars, cushioned with a 15-inch carpet of wood chips.
Phil Rizzuto Park
Morris & North Aves. (across from Kean University), Union, 908-527-4900. 10.4-acre recreational area features a fully accessible play area for children of all physical abilities. The park is decorated with baseball themes, a baseball-style seating area, gazebo with stadium-theme overhead, and granite dedication monument. Other attractions include a spray pool, pedestrian bridge, soccer field and para-course fitness stations.
Rainbow Land
Midland School, Readington Rd., North Branch. Fully handicapped accessible playground for student and community use features sandbox and planter, mock post office and bank, large tire toy, small theater, wheelchair slider, slides, swings and numerous other sensory-motor activities.
Van Saun Park
216 Forest Ave. (Rt. 4E to Forest Ave., turn right at exit), Paramus, 201-262-3771. Playground with multiple-age play areas, sprinkler, picnic areas, zoo, train ride and carousel. See listing for Bergen County Zoo.
Votee Park
Located at the northern end of the park, 1097-1235 Palisade Ave., Teaneck. Wheelchair accessible construction designed for children ages 2-12, consists of supportive swings, hanging bars and slides on a rubber surface.