I started this blog with the intention to rate and review parks and playgrounds in Colorado. I noticed when searching for more information about local parks and playgrounds, that the internet is woefully lacking in information about these important places around us. My goal with this blog is to share with you as much information as I can about the parks, playgrounds, and kid places around us. If you have questions about a particular park that I have overlooked just ask! I may already know the answer or I will do my best to find out!
This is a great 10 acre park in Golden – right off I-70. Its surrounded by office buildings and condo’s.
My daughters especially love the pirate ship play structure. The pirate ship is great for a broad range of ages – just walking to older children who have developed imaginative play. The pirate ship is on sand.
There is also a play ground with slides and a couple of swings. This area is on bark chips.
This park has a covered picnic area that can be rented out for parties. There is a BBQ grill and electrical outlets. There is a restroom that appears to be handicapped accesible. Its only open seasonally though. Usually its open by May and into September.
There is a large parking lot right next to the park.
The park is a sports complex so there is also a baseball field, soccer field and tennis court.
On the north side of the park there is an additional playground. Smaller but it’s also less crowded. It’s a great spot for smaller kids as the play structure isn’t as tall and they can roam about without help. I believe the ground around the playground is also the composite rubber material, so its easier for little feet to walk around on.
On this side of the park there are bocce ball courts and a putting green over here as well.
Parking for this smaller playground is shared with the preschool – but the preschool has priority when its open.
This side also has a small picnic pavilion – only 4 tables. It also has a charcoal grill. This smaller area can be a great place to just stay for an afternoon with smaller kids and older kids who can use the putting green and bocce ball courts.
If your goal is this playground here is a better address to get specifically to this side.
13900 West 20th Avenue, Golden, Co
Now that the weather is nicer I will try to post additional photos.
Last weekend the girls and I tried a new park not too far from our home. We went to the Park next to the Countryside outdoor pool in Westminster. I am not sure if the park itself has a name, if it does I can’t seem to find it. So if you are looking to go you will have to remember Countryside Pool. The girls call it the Lighthouse Park.
It really a great park to spend some time in. This park has ZERO shade on the playground it self. It does have a small picnic pavilion though.
The playground it self is actually quite creative. It is an ocean theme. The first thing you will notice is the large lighthouse structure. You can climb interior stairs from the floor up to the top where you can slide down. You can also get out in the middle and walk to a cargo net that you can clamber across to another structure.
On the other side of the structure there is another slide as well as a boat! What’s amazing about the boat is that you can get it to swing back and forth – it was funnier for the girls if I got the momentum moving but they were able to get it going a little bit on their own.
On one side of the large play structure there is a monkey bar course and a spinning apparatus. There is also a sidewalk that surrounds the playground that has “waves” in it. A little boy was there while we were there and was riding his little bike up and down the waves.
On the other side of the playground is a structure for smaller kids that is themed like a ship. It has a ships wheel and a smaller slide. This part is also partially accessible to children with disabilities – the hard rubber play surface goes up to this structure. It does not extend to other parts of the park. There are 2 swings and 2 infant swings. There is also a see saw which is always a nice touch!
Last week I took my older daughter to the History Colorado Center. I didn’t know what to expect and was sort of expecting just to walk through and be done in about an hour. That was not the case at all! This museum is so kid friendly and so well done. Most of the exhibits are hands on with a lot of information for kids to learn while they play and do. We got our tickets for free from the Jeffco Library’s Culture Pass.
On the first floor is a 1920’s town in Colorado. It’s motion activated so it knows when you walk into the room and the audio tour (with a projection of the person talking to you on the wall) starts. It has a school, a general store, a home, and a farm. You can play with the food at the general store, the toys in the house, the cash register has money in it, and in the farm you can collect eggs to trade at the store and mil the cow! There is even slide in the barn kids can go down. The outhouse is a nice touch as well. There is also an old car the kids can sit in and then the screen in front begins and it looks like they are driving down the road.
Once you go upstairs there is even more to experience. There is a ski town in the mountains – with a little ski shop, an explanation of snow pack, the building of Eisenhower Tunnel. There is an area where you can pretend you are on a ski jump!
As you continue to wander you get into the other parts of Colorado History. There is an area that talks about Colorado’s unspoken history – the KKK, and the internment of Japanese during WWII. If you aren’t prepared to explain these topics to your kids be aware. These exhibits made for deep conversation with my daughter (6) and she came away learning so much.
There is another area that talks about water use and conservation in Colorado. My daughter was fascinated by the dust bowl exhibit. There is home you walk in and sit down and actually experience what it may have been like during this time.
There is so much more to this museum. Right now there is a Native American Exhibit – called Written on the Land. This exhibit is more grown up but there are still some hands on parts for the kids.
Finally, there was pretend mine to explore. The “elevator” that you go in is a little dark and bit scary for little ones but we did and it added to the experience.
The best part of our experience – granted we went on a Thursday during the school year as it was take your child to work day – was that she was the ONLY child in the entire museum. We had most exhibits completely to ourselves. Every exhibit was working and she was able to experience everything. I would highly recommend this museum. Spend a couple hours or spend the day! It would be good for my 3 year old daughter too I think, she just wasn’t with us that day.
There is so much in this part of town if you wanted to make a day of it as well. Before we walked to the History Center we were in the Colorado Supreme Court. It’s a beautiful building on its own but they also have a learning center. There are several areas where you can be the judge, or the DA or the Defense Attorney or a Juror. There is also a little bench and robes for an adorable Photo Opportunity.
The Denver Public Library is right there. The Denver Arm Museum is across the street as well (where kids are always free!!!). Even if you don’t go in the museum the art sculptures around there a great to walk around and look at.
Finally the Byers-Evans House is down the street. It is free with your ticket to the History Center. We did’t have time to go this time but we will definitely give it chance.
We took a trip to this adorable park tucked into a neighborhood in Arvada. It was just recently redone by the city. They added a three story play structure with a farm theme.
The structure looks like a barn. With 3 slides, a climbing wall spiral fireman pole.
There is also a tractor play structure. With little slides and you can get inside.
The ground is the soft composite rubber popular at playgrounds now. There is a picnic table and a large grassy area. Street parking is plentiful and it would be nicely shaded in the summer.
Maple Grove Park in the Applewood Neighborhood of Golden was always fun. It’s been recently redone and it’s better than ever.
Two different play structures for kids of different ages. Shade in the summer. Bathrooms and a little clubhouse to rent out for parties. There are picnic table outside the clubhouse and also between the two different play structures. Easy parking off W 32nd. Soft artificial ground under each.
It has a water feature – like old gold panning – in the summer. Hopefully we will go again when it’s on and I will be able to add photos of the water.
There are bathrooms and water fountains. The park includes a separate area that is perfect for smaller kids and then a big playground beyond it. It also includes an adult work out area if you are so inclined.
My daughter’s favorite part is the zipline and tire swing!
My youngest loves the spinning net and the cute hidden woodland creatures all around.
Click here for information on the park and how to rent pavilions for parties!
Louisville Community is an amazing park close to downtown Louisville.
Its has lots of parking, a playground, a splash pad, walking trail, bocce ball courts, horseshoes, bathrooms, and a large covered picnic area. It also has fenced dog park that is well maintained.
We rented the covered picnic area for our daughter’s birthday party a couple of years ago.
We had to make a trip from the Denver area to Lincoln, Nebraska. I researched the best places along I-76 and I-80.
Our first stop was in Julesberg about 3 hours into the trip. The Colorado Welcome center is accessible from east and westbound I-76. Clean restrooms, including a family restroom. There is area for the kids to run – but no playground. The tee pees are fun for the kids to run in out of and to have a snack in.
A good stop for lunch is the Valentino’s in Ogallala Nebraska. It’s right off the interstate and has a buffet that perfect for every member of the family. Great food and budget friendly.
Kearney is the next stop. Best place if you are in a hurry is the Burger King. They have a decent play place inside where kids can run around regardless of the weather.
If you need a place to stay – Kearney is a great place to stop for the night. This holiday inn is by far the best one I have ever stayed at! It had an indoor water park!!
If you are going through this area (Kearney and Grand Island) in the right time of year (October is not) you can go see the sand hill cranes. It doesn’t sound all that great but trust me it’s amazing when the birds are there.
If you final stop is Lincoln (like ours) it’s only a couple hours past Kearney. Before you head back the other direction if you can make a stop at the Lincoln Children’s Zoo the kids (and you) will remember it for ever. It’s not a huge zoo so it’s great for Little’s and don’t bring a stroller. There is so much to do and see and touch and learn that it’s better to let them roam free. And hopefully extend their nap to give you a head start in the car 🙂
This is an amazing park in Superior. It’s just to the south of Super Target – which makes it great for spending the day – grab lunch or coffee and walk back to the park!
There are three playgrounds! All for different age groups! The little details about the history of Superior really make this park special. It’s also a location on the Superior Passport.
There is a restroom (or you can walk across the street to target)
There is a pavilion for picnics or to rent.
A ping pong table!!
A climbing rock.
The little history details are a really fun touch. Something my 5 year old really loves about this park.
There’s even a running track!
Parking is right next to the park and includes and electric vehicle charging station.
This is a great 10 acre park in Golden – right off I-70. Its surrounded by office buildings and condo’s.
My daughters especially love the pirate ship play structure. The pirate ship is great for a broad range of ages – just walking to older children who have developed imaginative play. The pirate ship is on sand.
There is also a play ground with slides and a couple of swings. This area is on bark chips.
This park has a covered picnic area that can be rented out for parties. There is a BBQ grill and electrical outlets. There is a restroom that appears to be handicapped accesible. Its only open seasonally though. Usually its open by May and into September.
There is a large parking lot right next to the park.
The park is a sports complex so there is also a baseball field, soccer field and tennis court.
On the north side of the park there is an additional playground. Smaller but it’s also less crowded. It’s a great spot for smaller kids as the play structure isn’t as tall and they can roam about without help. I believe the ground around the playground is also the composite rubber material, so its easier for little feet to walk around on.
On this side of the park there are bocce ball courts and a putting green over here as well.
Parking for this smaller playground is shared with the preschool – but the preschool has priority when its open.
This side also has a small picnic pavilion – only 4 tables. It also has a charcoal grill. This smaller area can be a great place to just stay for an afternoon with smaller kids and older kids who can use the putting green and bocce ball courts.
If your goal is this playground here is a better address to get specifically to this side.
13900 West 20th Avenue, Golden, Co
Now that the weather is nicer I will try to post additional photos.
Eme and Len 
