1. Best Play Structures
If your kiddos prefer traditional play structures with big slides, monkey bars, swings and other active fun, Hendricks County boasts plenty of large playground sets, but I will highlight just two.
- Hummel Park, run by Guilford Township and located in Plainfield, has three playground structures, but the main playground is a large multilevel play structure located on a foam rubber surface. It boasts both open and enclosed tube slides and features many different climbing options including ladders, nets, monkey bars and stairs. The main playground also features a seated merry-go-round, a glider, a swing set and a retro metal tower slide.
- Blue Heron Park, formally known as Avon Town Hall Park, has a large playground structure with many different levels for children of all ages to access. There are various climbing features and ramps to access the levels and small and large slides for kids to enjoy.
2. Wood Fort Playgrounds
There is something about wood fort play structures that just lets the imagination soar. These are, personally, my favorite type of playground. I love the additional level of imaginative play elements built into these play structures.
- Blast Off Playground at Williams Park features rocket and boat elements, a young child-sized performance stage that encourages dramatic play, a rubber-padded surface that leads to a swing with back and shoulder support and a seated merry-go-round.
- Playscape at Ellis Park is a multilevel and multi-structure playground that includes a zipline and imaginative play structures, including a teepee, a train station, racecars and more.
- Northview Community Park in Brownsburg features many different themes, including a barn and sea adventures.
3. Best Toddler Playgrounds
It can be overwhelming as a parent when you have children of different ages and abilities at a park, so playgrounds with a toddler play area right next to the big kid play area are definitely a lifesaver.
Some of our favorites include:
- Washington Township Park in Avon recently made renovations to their upper playground's play area. The upper playground still features the large big kid and toddler green and orange play structures and the large climbing net. But they've also added a geometric climbing structure, a spinning merry-go-round, three toddler play houses and music-making elements.
- Arbuckle Acres Park in Brownsburg has a great toddler play area. I absolutely love the little neighborhood playhouse structures that include a market, restaurant and firehouse.
- Scamahorn Park in Pittsboro recently updated their playground equipment to include two new structures, one for big kids and the other for smaller children. Their toddler playground is fenced in and features a toddler swing set, ladybug and turtle rockers, a musical instrument feature and a small play structure. Other park features include spinning bucket seats, a tower slide and a seated glider.
- Swinford Park in Plainfield is a farm-themed playground with a large barn-themed play structure. The park also includes a "corn" wall maze, a horse corral with toddler-sized riding horses, a carriage play structure and an additional toddler playground.
- Jack Willard Park in Danville is an enclosed playground that is completely secure with a fence around the perimeter for those worried about its close vicinity to a busy street. Named in honor of Danville’s first fire chief, the park was built as a tribute to those who protect and serve and features a fire truck play structure perfect for young kids.
4. Best Nature-Themed Playgrounds
I love it when playgrounds feature nature elements. It adds an extra sense of adventure and warmth by incorporating logs and rocks for climbing.
- W.S. Gibbs Memorial Park boasts a wooden playground comprised of two play structures, one for toddlers and the other for bigger kids. These play structures look like tree houses or log cabins with wooden pillar and log accents and include different levels, slides and rock-climbing walls. The park also features a swing set, a brand-new sound garden, a nature play area and nature trails and offers guests the ability to rent the GRIT Freedom Chair, an all-terrain mobility device.
- Hummel Park has a nature-themed playground nestled on the west side of the bridge that spans White Lick Creek. Near the outdoor amphitheater, the larger structure is surrounded by mature trees and features a wood-accented, nature-themed design with a rock wall, making it look like a tree fort in the woods.
- Pecar Park not only has a free indoor nature center, but outside, next to the playground, children can see chickens in the outdoor chicken coop.
- Virgil Park is the newest park in Brownsburg and is also a B&O trailhead. The playground structure at the park is smaller in size but also includes log and rock features for balance and climbing and a water table for water play,
5. Best Accessible and Mud-Free Surfaced Playgrounds
As a parent and teacher, I love that playgrounds are becoming more accessible and inclusive, benefiting children of all abilities.
Features of an accessible playground include rubber mat surfacing, swings with protective backing with shoulder harnesses, spinning merry-go-rounds that can accommodate wheelchairs, sensory-engaging elements on play structures, communication boards and more.
- Murphy Aquatic Park Inclusive Playground is an ADA-accessible playground with a wheelchair-accessible merry-go-round and accessible zipline with back and safety belt support.
- Stephens Park in Brownsburg features a sensory activity wall that engages the senses of touch, hearing and seeing, a playground structure with climbing, music and sliding elements, a rotating balance wheel, a large climbing net, two saucer swings and a spinning covered seat, all located on a foam surface.
- Franklin Park in Plainfield just recently upgraded its playground area. The new playground is on a mud-free rubber surface and features several play structures, including climbing nets, a geometric-shaped rock wall, a swing set, a rocking element with a backed bench seat and more.