Have you ever taken the time to explore the playgrounds outside of your own neigborhood? Over the past couple of weeks, we have ventured out of the suburbs, packed some picnic lunches and discovered some fantastic playgrounds in Edmonton - and found a couple of new favorites. Here are ten parks that can get you out of your suburb-ubble.
1/ Borden Park Playground
The large tree trunk structure and vast green space, with close proximity to one of the central Edmonton outdoor pools is one of the reasons that we love this park. You can climb on a bear, have a picnic and enjoy the green space. During the summer, stash some mosquito repellent in your bag.
Where: 7507 Borden Park Road
2/ Jackie Parker Playground
This playground is huge. If you’re searching for a place to play that’s going to be exciting for the entire time you’re at the park - you’ve come to the right place. It’s huge, so you’re going to want to make sure that there’s a good parent to kid ratio and it’s not the best place to bring the kids if you want to catch up on a bit of reading while you’re there - but it’s very fun.
Where: 4540 50 Street NW
3/ Ramsay Heights Playground
Ramsay Heights has one of the best structures to play ‘lava tag’ on, with tons of space to run around on the structure itself and a nice big platform in the structure that’s perfect for playing ‘picnic’. There’s a slide that begs to be climbed up, and the ‘pancake swings’ as the girls call them. They didn’t forget about the younger children though, as there are some fantastic areas for the younger children to play while you’re there.
Where: 15130 43 Avenue
4/ Brintnell Playground
Brintnell playground has one of the coolest toddler parks around. It’s worth a drive to the area so they can hone their ‘rope climbing’ skills and slide on the fun play structures. Plus, it’s accessible and no sand means that you’re not going to be cleaning up sand in the car until the end of time. Little kids can climb on the low rocks, see who can balance the farthest on the log and head over to the bigger kid play area to top it off.
Where: Brintnell Blvd + 45 Street
5/ Castle Downs Playground
Cool climbing ropes, close proximity to the splash park and an awesome sideways house structure that begs to be climbed on and the pirate ship park in Edmonton are three of the reasons that you need to check out the Castle Downs playground.
Where: 153 Ave + 117 Street
6/ Broadmoor Lake, Sherwood Park
Opening July 1, this playground is going to have the best slide in the city, with access to a spray park right beside. The slide is full of adventure, similar to the slide at the Telus Spark in Calgary. The other structures include a pirate ship, traditional climbing structures and water features for kids of all ages. This playground is huge, and comes with the added bonus of the green space, Farmer’s market during the week and a path around the lake to walk/run/bike.
Where: Broadmoor Lake, Sherwood Park
7/ Kinsmen Grizzly Bear Lodge Playground
Green space, a natural feel and the resident Grizzly bear climber are three of the reasons that you’re going to want to visit the playground. A wonderful view of the city, it would make the perfect addition to your places to picnic in Edmonton list. In addition the classic slides in the hill, there are fantastic new climbing structures including rocks, caves, bears and climbing ropes and four different park areas for the kids to explore. Plus, all summer long the playground is staffed with a green shack member, daily from 10-6 to entertain and engage the kiddos.
Where: Kinsmen Park, 9100 Walterdale Hill
8/ Father Jan School Electronic Playground - St. Albert
Similar to the indoor structure that can be found at Millennium Place in Sherwood Park, this outdoor electronic playground that has lights to play games, while getting active with a purpose at the playground. This is cool, great for kids that are a bit older that might be ‘bored’ at the playground and a perfect way to get out and active, as you join in with the kids. It’s active between 7:30 am until 10 pm, ensuring that everyone has a chance to enjoy the game.
Where: 15 Mission Avenue
9/ Spruce Grove Natural Park
Looking for somewhere to play in Spruce Grove? The Natural park is our top choice for active play. Watch those toddler skills develop as they climb across the ropes, and climb up higher than even they thought they could.
Where: Main Street and Mohr Avenue
10/ Greenfield School Playground + Greenfield Community Playground
After a bunch of messages, it’s clear that I missed one of the most awesome parks in the city. Check out Greenfield Park for a fantastic for kids that want to maneuver and climb through the playground, plus a kid-friendly slide and a great size to be able to sit on the sidelines and watch the kids play amongst themselves. Those climbing rings look like our little monkeys would have a blast on them. Also, just down the road, check out the community playground that’s been recommended a bunch of times.
Kimmy says
Glengarry has amazing park to play at!
cheryl says
Avonmore Community Spray Park is awesome at 79 ST just off of 76 Ave.
shanti says
Great list! And I love that the girls name those pancake swings! I never know what to call them but that will do perfectly! My grandson loves ramsay park too! Also has skateboard ramps and huge hill where I saw a group put up a temporary water slide! Looked like a great time! Green Shack program here is also terrific!
Great article! Edmonton has so many great places for kids to play. As for the spelling- Spell those words however you want (within reason lol!). I hardly ever use the “u” with those words.
Lindsay says
Just an update for the Natural Park in Spruce Grove; it seems to be in repair. I visited today, June 23. Definitely not worth going to until it’s back up and running. Thanks for these awesome lists! My husband and I are making it to as many parks and spray parks as we can this summer.
Bonita says
Kinsmen is grat! That is Bonnie the Bear and she was moved to the front of the park now.
I love Hodgson Park….in the neighborhood between 23 ave and Rabbit Hill Road. And Rossdale playground. East of the Ball park.
Linda says
And favourites is also spelled with a ‘u’. Where are ‘U’ from?
Pamela says
Oh calm down. Thanks author for providing this list.
Signed, a Canadian who appreciates.
No, you should know how to spell if you are publishing an article.
this is hilarious. I am not going to EVER add a “u” into those words. It looks odd. I apologize for offending your sensitive eyes, I hope you’re not as easily offended at the playgrounds where I’ve usually got the toddler ripping off their clothes (;
Me too
People can make mistakes that’s normal and everybody understood
Colleen says
A few years ago some people decided Canadians should differentiate themselves from Americans by not following American spelling reform but rather keeping the unnecessary ‘u’ in certain words, spelling them the British way. However, we don’t apply this thinking to other words such as “programme” - mostly it’s just the unnecessary ‘u’. It’s silly to call someone out on this. Languages change and no amount of know-it-all comments and opinions are going to stop it - c’est la vie. It’s always been this way, which is why we don’t say “ye” and “thou” in conversational speech in 2015. Dropping the unnecessary ‘u’ is a step forward, in my opinion. Do Canadians really need ‘colour’ and ‘neighbour’ and ‘favourite’ to mark their British heritage or a non-American identity?!? Personally I would love to see the whole spelling system overhauled to a more phonetic system, which would dramatically reduce the rate of reading difficulties in schools and make life easier for many people. Languages that use a phonetic spelling system have dramatically lower rates of reading disabilities, and they don’t spend years working on spelling lists in school. Imagine that!
I often put the ‘u’ in because I feel an obligation to as a Canadian, and I’m usually an excellent speller (yes, I did win the Grade 5 spelling bee, thanks for asking) , but the more I have had to explain our spelling “system” to kids with learning disabilities, the more I resent it. It’s arbitrary. It’s spelled that way only because we say it is. Maybe we don’t have to say it is. Maybe we can spell it one teeny tiny step closer to the how it sounds - without the ‘u’.
Thanks for inspiring me, Linda. Starting tomorrow, I will purposely NOT use the unnecessary ‘u’ so that when people call me on it I can talk their ear off about history, language change, symbols, and spelling reform. I need more converts for spelling reform anyway.
These are wonderful playgrounds! I have enjoyed several of them myself. Thanks for sharing these.
Linda says
To the author of this wonderful piece: In Canada, neighbourhood is spelled with a ‘u’.
Neil says
For real, your biggest concern is about spelling. Way to look for the negative.
Lindsay says
Maybe if she was publishing a corporate handbook or an official document the American spelling of word would be unacceptable. But it’s a blog. Personal writing. Wouldn’t go so far as to say she is misspelling, c’mon!
Chris Campbell says
http://www.yelp.ca/biz/w-c-tubby-bateman-park-edmonton
Jason says
surprised Jubilee park didn’t make the list.
Granya099 says
Borden Park was closed for renovations two weeks ago - large, loud machines working.
I really love WC Tubby park in Old Strathcona. Tiny, but is a great park for the younger set.
LV says
West Meadowlark Park playground is a hidden gem! Climbing wall, two large play structures with lots of fun little features, old favorites mixed in, and a brand new just-opened spray park.
Address please! We live on the west end and would love to find more cool parks closer to home….
lisa says
West Meadowlark Park: 95 ave & 165 Street - on the site of the Catholic school. They just opened up a spray park about a week ago (June 2014) and the park is clean due to the rubber ground cover stuff (official stuff it’s called ????)
Agreed. I live 5 minutes away and my 3 year old could spend hours there
Lorena says
I can not find this park
Could you tell me how I can get there?
Should I take whitedmud and 149 St
Like when you go to the zoo and after 142 st is close ?
I don’t see nothing in there
Keltie says
I beg to differ about not getting reading time in a Jackie Parker Park. My son is old enough where I can set up in one spot and he can play in the spray park or on the playground. I don’t need to be tracking his every move.
Keltiesupermom says
Tracking his every move? LOL Whatever makes you feel better about doing it Keltie. Somebody feels guilty about neglecting their kids while they sit on their probably fat behind and not watch their kid huh? I’m sure he’ll be fine.
Some chikdren are capable of playing alone. Name calling uncalled for.
Danita M says
Yup I love Greenfield too - decent play structure, small spray park and last year they had amazing interactive green shack staff. The two green shack people would go find kids in the park and give them different activites to do - it was awesome. I drive to Greenfield on purpose to read a book while my kids get a full day to themselves to run around.
neil says
How did greenfield not make this list….
That park is extraordinary.
Um, it did??
Yes, it’s there now, but it wasn’t on the original list.