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Area: North Scottsdale (Hayden Rd. & Thompson Peak Parkway)
This park has a playground that is awesome for all ages. The surface is all soft-fall rubber so you don’t have to worry about little ones eating sand or wood chip and it has a great babies to toddlers play area right beside the bigger play structure. Fully shaded and with an in-ground wheelchair accessible merry-go-round, this park is really accessible. While it is not fully fenced, it is set back well from the parking lot and not surrounded by high traffic areas so it feels manageable, even when you are outnumbered. The larger grounds of the park itself also have multiple sport courts, green areas, and a small pond. It is a great park to bring the stroller to walk a bit before or after playing!
Area: Anthem (Anthem Way & Liberty Bell Way)
While almost everyone knows that Anthem has a great “main” park, it can be pretty overwhelming for parents of multiples after your little ones want to play at the bigger playground (the “Little Kid” fenced playground is still a favorite for many though!). However, Liberty Bell Park is a great option for those who still want a lot of variety without quite as much going on. Liberty Bell offers a wood chip play area that includes two zones for younger and older kids, as well as a sand pit area that includes spring riders, diggers, and a seesaw. The bigger kid climbing area offers fun, unique play equipment like a spiderweb net, multiple rock walls, and a glider. In the summer months, there is also a separate, gated splash pad with multiple play features. Extra bonus? The bathrooms are immediately accessible from the playground so this is a great one for recent potty trainers. The park itself is not fenced but it is very well set back from the parking lot.
Area: Glendale (Peoria Ave & 59th Ave)
This one has peacocks! Honestly, the animals are one of the big draws to this park because it makes for such a fun outing. There are wandering peacocks throughout the park but they really like to spend time by the Library area on the north side. There are also a few chocolate brown bunnies that you might spot, edible fruit trees that can be picked, beautiful historical buildings to explore, a rose garden, and multiple play structures for the kids (two pretty close to one another and a third smaller one as well). The main playground area is wood chip footing and is well shaded with lots of climbing equipment and two zones of play for different ages and swings. There is so much to explore, this one is definitely worth checking out!
Area: Surprise (163rd Ave & Grand Ave)
Tucked away behind the library and basketball courts, this playground has great climbing equipment, a good amount of shade, multiple play zones for different aged kids, and several well placed picnic tables/benches. With lots of grassy space surrounding and the local library within walkable distance, it makes for a great morning out and about.
Area: Scottsdale (Pinnacle Peak Rd. & 91st St)
This turf-topped, fully-shaded, and completely fenced park is open to the public Monday-Saturday 7am-9pm and Sunday 12-9pm. There is a really nice mid-sized playground with some detached climbing/play zones as well as a small splashpad when the weather warms up.
There is convenience seating for parents and family-friendly bathrooms. And when we say shaded, we mean fully covered with a solar awning, not just shade cloth so it is a great option for after things start heating up again in the summer.
For those that want to take their littles to a park solo and feel most comfortable with a fenced space, this is a great alternative to the large park in Anthem. Admittedly, Anthem Community Park is lovely and it does provide two fully fenced play areas as well as nice green spaces and a duck pond. However, can be overwhelming due to the size of the structure in the larger park and use of boulders in the fencing can make containing "climbing kiddos" a bit more dubious.
Area: Chandler (Germann Rd. & Arizona Ave)
This is one of those parks that really feels like it has it all! The barn themed play area is very cute and there are some fun thematic play elements that you don’t find everywhere, like the giant Gila monster, zip-line, and a fully shaded play area. One thing to be mindful of would be going here solo with multiple kids because it can be a bit crowded and it feels spread out when you have to divide attention. That being said, it is a great option for quieter weekday mornings or family outings! It is definitely not a park that you run out of things to do at and it is very well kept. It is also right by the Arizona Railway Museum for train enthusiasts.
And speaking of trains…
Area: Scottsdale (Indian Bend Rd. & Scottsdale Rd.)
The playground itself is a very nice and offers lots of shade with a variety of climbing options for different aged kids. It is currently getting a refresh but is expected to reopen late January. However, the sand play area with its “Old West” vibe and the walk through train cars are some of the real gems of this park. And of course, you can’t forget the carousel and mini steam train rides. Plan to potentially spend about $10 per child for miscellaneous costs attending this park because they are hard to pass up but definitely a good value for what you get. While it is certainly not unknown, this park is one that feels more like an experience than just a playground visit, and that’s why we had to include it on the list.
We couldn’t wrap up this blog without reminding everyone about PVMOM’s upcoming family event at the McCormick-Stillman Train Park on March 2nd! Keep an eye on our social media and Event Page for more details!
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