We're lucky to have so many great parks and playgrounds for kids. My kids have swung, spun, and raced through many of them ... and definitely have their favorites! Here’s a list of our family’s top five favorite parks and playgrounds in the Summit / Short Hills / SOMA area and the reasons we love them:
Mindowaskin Playground
385 E Broad St, Westfield NJ 07090
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Features: A little parking lot at the playground, but plenty of street parking available. It isn't fenced in yet but I believe that's coming! Wide ramps and special amenities for children with special needs, swings and slides for all ages, two separate play zones, climbing ropes, a roundabout, climbing walls, and more!
What my family loves: Mindowaskin Park just reopened in December of 2018 after a huge renovation and my boys are in heaven! The ramps are wide and spacious, giving the kids ample room to run and play on the actual playground equipment which my boys love. Both my 3yo and my 5yo have plenty of age-appropriate options to play on, and there's a ton for babies and older children as well. The roundabout is ever-popular at this playground and a great gathering spot for children to make new friends and play cooperatively. There are tons of hiding spots for hide-and-seek and lots of swings. It's in the center of Westfield, so we also like to take a walk to the actual "park" portion and see the geese and fish in the huge pond. In the summer we'll definitely make a day of it and picnic in the park and then walk to get ice cream in downtown Westfield.
 After playing, take a walk through beautiful Mindowaskin Park into downtown Westfield! |
Watchung Loop Playground
W R Tracy Dr, Mountainside NJ 07092
 |  Those daisies shoot out water! |
Features: Tons of parking, bathrooms, water fountains. Two separate playgrounds - one for toddlers and one for the older set. Each playground has swings, climbing equipment, slides, ropes, hiding spots, climbing walls, and more! In between the two playgrounds, there are huge daisies that shower water during the summer months.
What my family loves: This might be the most-requested playground from my kids. I love it because, unlike a lot of our playgrounds, it's not surrounded by a busy road and there is even ample field space between the playground and the not-so-busy road that it is surrounded by. There are a ton of swings and hardly ever a line at them, a bunch of different slide height options, and some really fun ropes obstacles. My kids also love to climb up the huge rock wall and pretend to be wolves at the top. As if this wasn't enough, The Loop Playground is situated right in the Watchung Reservation and you can walk from the playground right onto a trail for a quick hike if the mood strikes you. It also butts up against the Trailside Nature + Science Center Sensory Trail which includes some really fun features in and of itself. (It's #4 on this list if you want to learn more about that trail!)
Regatta Playground
Cherry Ln, West Orange NJ 07052
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Features: Plenty of parking, bathrooms, fully fenced, water fountains, ampleseating and tables. A huge pirate ship climbing feature, slides of all heights, swings for all ages, monkey bars, climbing ropes, rock walls, and more!
What my family loves: Situated right on the reservoir and across from Turtle Back Zoo, my children love the playground and I love the scenery! There are always a ton of people and, because it's fully and very securely fenced, they love all the freedom they get to run around all the different play zones. It's a great spot to bring a picnic and stay for hours. You can break up the day with a walk around the reservoir (bring a scooter or bike for more fun!) or with a ride on the swan paddle boats!
 Hop in a swan boat for a paddle around the Reservoir after hitting up the playground! |
Castle Playground
651 Shunpike Rd, Chatham NJ 07928
 |  The famous (in my house, anyway!) "conveyer belt slide." |
Features: Parking, basketball courts, swings, slides of all types, rock walls and climbing features, seating and tables, zip line, monkey bars.
What my family loves: The "conveyer belt slide" (a slide made up entirely of little metal rollers) is a huge hit with my boys! It's something I haven't seen at any other playground in the area and my boys now specifically request to go to this playground to go on that slide. They also love the huge climbing boulder, all the activity features and bridges, and the swings because they're low enough that they can get on by themselves!
Mabie Memorial Playground
Village Green, Summit NJ 07901
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Features: Tons of paid street parking, two separate play areas, wide open grassy area, swings, slides, monkey bars, zip line. Major drawback: no bathrooms!
What my family loves: The fact that you have to pay for parking and there are no bathrooms would normally be a major deterrent for me, but my boys still love to come here because there are always tons of other kids to play with. They love the telescope on the smaller playground and running between both of the playgrounds playing tag. They like to bring their scooters or a ball to play in the grassy area too! It's right downtown in Summit so we frequently head to the train station to watch the trains and then stop for pizza and ice cream downtown after a playground visit!
That’s our family’s top 5 list of favorite parks and playgrounds in the Summit / Short Hills / SOMA area, but I bet your kids have their own favorites! Let me know what’s on your family’s list for our best parks and playgrounds by leaving me a note on Facebook or emailing me at juliel@macaronikid.com.
I’ll be doing more playground and park reviews in the future, so I would love to have your input!
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