Playgrounds at Allen Pond Park

Last week, on my last day of summer before returning to work, the three youngest and I met up with friends via a playgroup at Allen Pond.

Even though it was a hot day, we gathered in the shade by the playground closest to the parking lot. There were another small group or two having playdates and a few other people there so it wasn't crowded. (From past experience, if day camps or school groups come, it easily gets crowded).

1st play area, from the shade

We usually only make it to the first two playgrounds, which are officially known as Opportunity Park. There's the 5-12 structure and the smaller kids area. It was renovated within the past few years so there's a mix of the rubber ground and mulch throughout. Although we enjoyed the original, my kids like the new one. They love swinging, using the dragonfly seesaw, and running through the larger equipment. My 5-year-old loves trying to convince the 1 year old to do something except play in the mulch.

Ages 5-12 Play Area at Opportunity Park

Ages 2-5 Play Area at Opportunity Park

Then there's a more recently renovated Tot Park. I usually skip this one even when my kids beg to go, because there's very little shade. However, while we were on a walk around the pond, the 3-year-old refused to continue. Thankfully, a friend was willing to supervise the 5-year-old, while 3-year-old ran around the other playground pretending to be a dragon. I hadn't realized the Tot Park had been renovated, but the changes were great! There's a patch of shade in the back, where I stood most of the time we were there, but the larger equipment had a long walkway with numerous manageable slides. The smaller, older set was still up, but it's still in fairly good condition. There was a new swing there with a parent or child seat when the baby seat so someone can swing with the baby.

Tot Park from the path around the pond

Half of the older play structure

The new play structure

New play structure from the shade; little play house on left

Swings!

The trip concluded with feeding the ducks and geese, thanks to my friend who remembered to bring bread (as I had walked out of the house without it).

06.03.16 - from an earlier trip this summer

Amenities

Bathroom: Yes, between the parking lot and the Opportunity Park playground.

Seating: Benches within the playground areas; picnic areas throughout the park.

Shade: Opportunity Park is half-shaded by trees while the Tot Playground doesn't have any over the play structures except certain areas of the equipment.

Sports: Soccer and baseball fields as well as an ice arena.

Water Fountain: Yes.

Other: There's an amphitheater which often has concerts on Sunday evenings during the summer and a nice trail for walking around the pond. Again, there are many ducks, geese, and the occasional heron which the kids enjoy.

A (great blue?) heron? My mom would know.

Return Potential

This is one of our go-to places (when I trust that my kids won't run away in the fence-less area near the pond) so we will definitely go back again.