Playgrounds

There are many town run playgrounds in the area, typically open to the public from dawn to dusk and varying if there are restrooms available. Many school playgrounds are available to the public during select hours, so check town laws or posted signs before using playgrounds. This is by no means an exhaustive list (even for the towns mentioned), just some of the more frequented and popular playground locations or places that may be worth the drive. Email me if I’m missing your favorite!

Arlington

  • Robbins Farm Park , 61 Eastern Avenue, Arlington, MA, is probably the most popular Arlington playground. Often called Skyline Park, it is located across from the Brackett School, with on-street parking. There is play equipment, sandbox, picnic tables, two straight long slides that are built into a hill and a view of the Boston skyline.
  • McLennen Park, located on 2A (Summer Street) just over the Lexington line. There is easy parking, walking trail and playing fields, playground, skate boarding ramps.
  • Listing of Town of Arlington parks:
    http://www.arlingtonma.gov/departments/public-works-/parks-fields/list-of-parks

Bedford

  • Bedford Town Center Playground, Mudge Way, Bedford, MA. Enclosed by fence and surrounded by playing fields, bathrooms in the Town Center, Library or Police Station.
  • Other playgrounds in town are at Davis School, Lane School, and Springs Brook Park, and may have limited availability to the public during certain hours of operation.

Belmont

  • Beaver Brook Reservation, corner of Trapelo Road and Mill Street (near Waverly), Belmont, MA. Playground, spray pool area for littler kids, picnic area.

Billerica

  • Kids Konnection Playground, 11 Andover Road, Billerica, MA. Behind the O’Connor Hardware building, this is a local favorite of Bedford Parents. Lots of shade and a variety of structures that aren’t at many other local playgrounds.
  • Manning State Forest Water Park. This park offers a small sprinkler park for children to enjoy. The ground is paved, so water shoes would help protect feet. There are also a lot of walking trails for exploring. Directions: Rte 3 to exit 29 go onto rte 129 toward Billerica. After about ¾ of a mile on the left hand side, look for the brown gates to the park, and take a left into the parking lot. It’s a State Park, so you can use your parking pass from Walden Pond if you have one!

Burlington

  • Simonds Park, corner of Bedford Road/Route 62 and Cambridge Street/Route 3, Burlington, MA. Entrance on Bedford Road. Gated playground with equipment for infants and elementary school students. (Note: ONLY Burlington residents may use wading pool.)
  • Wildwood Park located at 114 Bedford Street, with playground, fields, walking trail and picnic area.
  • Listing of other Burlington town parks: http://www.burlington.org/community_development/recreation/parks.php.

Carlisle

Concord

  • Emerson Playground, Concord, MA. This is a playground that has equipment for toddlers through elementary school students plus a sprinkler park that operates during the summer during certain hours. There is plenty of shade for picnicking, but none covering the playground. There are bathrooms in the recreation center. Directions: Take Route 62 toward Concord . Go past the Colonial Inn, and take a right at the rotary into Concord Center, take second left onto Sudbury Road, then a left onto Thoreau Street. The park will come up on your left.
  • Rideout Park Laws Brook Road, West Concord. Large wooden structure for all ages.

Lexington

  • Lincoln Field Playground, Lincoln, St., Lexington. Gated playground best for the pre-school crowd.
  • Center Playground, Park Drive, Lexington. Can get crowded when school lets out, and no fence if your kids are runners, but there are restrooms!
  • Listing of other Lexington Town Parks: http://ci.lexington.ma.us/recreation/parksplaygroundsfieldstrails.cfm

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