Community Tot Lot

1.3 mi

I love to walk. I used to get exercise at Planet Fitness. I…read moreleft their a few months ago and started walking outside instead of on a treadmill in an indoor environment. Normally, I go to Bird Park in Walpole or Millenium in West Roxbury, but when I don't feel like driving very far, off to the Father Max field I go! Father Max is a large complex in a small neighborhood area, visible from the Norwood Senior Center, and located at the intersection of Hawthorne Street & Vernon Street, easily accessible via Winter & Prospect Streets in Norwood. It has 2 large fields, as well as a large pool complex area (that gets very busy in the summer!), a playground, and a baseball field. Each of the large fields are perfect for walking around, and bringing pets. here are also large soccer nets for the athletes. Playground is great for kids with slides, swings and more. Parking lot on Hawthorne Street as well. Good neighborhood park, perfect for any day (except thunderstorms....). 4 stars.

Father Max Playground, Park & Pool of Norwood -- 295 Vernon Street @ Hawthorne Street, Norwood Park

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Father Max Playground, Park & Pool of Norwood -- 295 Vernon Street @ Hawthorne Street, Norwood Park

Billings Field

4.8

(6 reviews)

5.6 mi

One of - okay THE - nicest playground I've been to so far…read more It is always clean. There are plenty of benches for weary caregivers to rest while the kids run around and burn off that endless supply of energy. There are two play structures, both with slides and an array of climbing structures separated by a fence. One side for tots and one for older kids. There's a substantial set of swings (6 total - one for all ages). The playground is adjacent to a set of large baseball fields, tennis and basketball courts. There is no parking lot but I've never had trouble finding an on street space on beautiful LaGrange street. Its proximity to the plenty of shops and restaurants along Centre Street lend to making the visit to the playground a multi-purpose outing. I know how much effort it took to get the kids loaded up and out the door - so let's make the most of it! While it can get busy, it's never been so overwhelmingly crowded that my introverted personality couldn't handle it. I've always been very comfortable with the amount of kids and guardians. This is our favorite playground in the city so far, it has become our regular spot.

Great playground in West Roxbury that includes a baseball field, basketball courts and a field that…read moreyou can play soccer or even see some and entertainment my provided by DCR. I recently went there to see you too cover band called The Joshua Tree. It was very very exciting and end it hosted anybody he wanted to go there for free.

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Corrib 5k

Houghton's Pond Recreation Area

(53 reviews)

6.5 mi

Ah pictures are on the digi cam and I haven't pulled them yet…read more Houghton's pond is a nice local spot to us. It's got plenty of free parking, small park for the kiddos, a viewing area for the marsh, beach side is small but nice for picnic and swim. Plenty of geese and ducks that leave their natural presents all over the beach haha but that's nature. It's def a chill spot, i normally only ever went there as a meeting point when we are riding our motorbikes and meeting up with other friends. There are porta-potty bathrooms available between the beach and the kids park. Looks to be area for food vendors but don't know if it's going to open for the summer or not haha.

I've been going to Houghton's Pond for years! It's one of…read morethe many ponds in town and is always a great place to go for chill vibes. Popular for tanning in the summer & taking kids to play. They have a playground that's perfect to bring the kids. I love having picnic days here & going for after dinner walks here! Parking: lots of free parking available & is right off the highway Exit 3 Houghton's Pond or Exit 2B.

Geese

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Geese

Moynihan Spray Deck

5.2 mi

A little on the older side, but has activities for both younger and older children so that's great…read more Also is shady which is good on a hot summer day.

Noanet Woodlands

4.3

(38 reviews)

3.2 mi

It is a very beautiful, well-maintained park I only walked a mile so far, on a pleasant summer…read moreday, but will go back.

Noanet Woodlands is another favorite woodsy area to add to my list (another recent favorite is…read moreanother Trustees property in Andover, the Ward Reservation). The two are somewhat similar with different color coded trails and a trail to reach a summit for the skyline of Boston (I didn't check that out here at Noanet Woodlands for this trip). I enjoyed coming here on the weekend: it was moderately trafficked (which I like so it's not *too* isolated), and easy/moderate trails (I prefer long, ambling hikes). The only thing is that the orange trail I took was a bit confusing/not super clear. The overall system does a good job, but I would be sure to download a map/have AllTrails active to ensure you don't end up in the wrong spot. I fortunately ran into some folks who helped me get back on track, but a heads up that it could get confusing as it did for me. Otherwise, a wonderful shady (important to know on hotter days) set of trails that I would recommend!

Crystal clear dam water

Beautiful pond view

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Millennium Park

4.3

(44 reviews)

" Great walking area"…read more Def come here if in the area . Great walking spot . Nice views the park never gets old lots to do .

Very clean and nice park! I liked the sidewalks/pavement to run on. Good scenery with a lake/pond…read moreduring the run! Had soccer fields and playground I believe. They had plenty of parking! They also had a track if you prefer a flare surface and or want to get a speed workout in! The park I noticed had only porta potties and no actual restrooms

One of may paths

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Memorial Park

A very well maintained memorial park . They have a parking lot it's pretty big so parking is not…read morean issue .

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Artificial Turf!

Stony Brook Reservation

(12 reviews)

The address on Yelp will lead you to the parking lot for a skating rink and a community pool. It is…read morea convenient place to park, but I am not sure if is the best place to access longer trails. This location is not near the lake. The area is beautifully wooded, providing plenty of shade on a sunny day. The trails here were relatively short. I ventured off the main trail and discovered areas with overgrown greenery, lots of graffiti and decayed benches. Without anybody else around, it looked like a post apocalyptic world, and it felt eerie! Not sure who is supposed to fund or do the maintenance for this beautiful nature spot, so close to Boston, but it really needs some love! Without signage in the area and no phone connection, I almost got lost! I Ma aged to walk/run the trails for an hour but would love to explore different areas of Stony Brook if in the area again.

I used to come here often while walking my two Jack Russell Terriers. One day we were near the…read moreGeorge Wright golf course when (at least) two coyotes snuck up behind me and almost got one of my dogs. The coyotes were wicked bold and only my loud yelling got them to back off but they still followed. I'm bummed that I can't go any more because it is nice and quiet and the dogs love being off leash. Not trying to discourage anyone from going but if you have small dogs off leash, be careful.

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Mansion Beach

4.1

(14 reviews)

11.1 mi

What a beautiful spot! Beautiful stretch of sand and beach. Watch as the ferries go by. Water was…read morejust incredible. A stroll down the beach offered some very cool finds and the views of the cliffs are awesome. You'll have to get here by car, bike or taxi. The road is marked no mopeds allowed. Tip!!! If you take a taxi, make a designated time for them to come back for you. We were here during the summer of 2020 and due to Covid there were a lot less taxi drivers available. We later realized a prearranged pick up time would've been better than trying to call for a taxi and having a slight anxiety attack because it's an hour walk back to town and no one is answering! Lol! This is a beach person beach as there is no concession stand. The only major downside is no facilities so you know everyone is peeing in the water. I try to not think about that and in the end I truly had the best day of summer 2020 at this beach!!

Lots of reviews posted here for Mansion Beach in RI. This Mansion Beach in Wayland is hardly a…read morebeach at all. There's no parking lot, and the "beach" is about the size of a backyard.

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Crystal Lake Park and Beach

4.2

(5 reviews)

7.5 mi

This lake is just wonderful. You need a day pass or a year membership for the summer . The cost…read moreis affordable and reasonable. You then have access to the bathroom and changing facilities. The free parking lot. We usually buy the year membership for the summer. The staff here is also welcoming.

Great neighborhood lake. there's a little beach here and if your residence of Newton, you can pay…read more$8 dollars to use the beach and jump off the platforms. You can park at the beach house. One of her little kids, and one for adults. But on the side of the lake, they're a bunch of people jumping at their own risk, but it's very, neighborly and unpretentious. I just jumped in to stay cool. I wouldn't call this lake a destination.

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Millennium Park

4.3

(44 reviews)

" Great walking area"…read more Def come here if in the area . Great walking spot . Nice views the park never gets old lots to do .

One of may paths

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Community Tot Lot - playgrounds - Updated July 2026

People who viewed Community Tot Lot also viewed

Choate Park

5.0

(5 reviews)

We were on our way to a picnic dinner at Sweat Beach in Wrentham, MA but they decided to close two…read morehours early and shuffled everyone off. So we googled picnic areas nearby and put our GPS to Medway, MA. The rood trip was winding picturesque road through towns with beautiful houses and finally came to Choate Park. Free and plenty of parking. It's a trash free park, what you bring in, take out. There is an event pavilion and beautiful lake for catch & release fishing ....or turtles ( see pics) lol. There is a fantastic playground for the little & big ones. The trail around the lake has exercise spots and open fields with a huge wall mural. This will definitely be a go to spot for picnics, walking and being in nature.

I took my 5yo and 7yo to the playground and splash area. Very nice park. The splash area is simple…read more(just some fountains that shoot up from the ground) but is great to cool off on a hot day. The water stops at 5pm. I don't think the water area is particularly slippery but i would suggest water shoes. My son and a couple of other children who were barefoot did slip. The playground structures are really unique and fun. They have a smaller one for young kids and larger structure for older kids. There was also a trail and lake but we didn't follow. Highlights: -fenced in with only two doors -bathrooms (clean and open until 5pm) -clean - picnic area with tables and benches. Covered and large with plenty of seating. -electric car charging station (not free) -plenty of parking Cons -no trash cans. Small inconvenience. Overall would def recommend as a summertime activity.

Francis William Bird Park

4.6

(17 reviews)

Playground is closed as of 10/25/2023. All the old fixtures for little kids are gone and there is a…read moreplayscape with orange fencing around it.

Sherborn playground

5.0

Sherborn Playground is awesome! Me and my family have been going for years, and we make sure to…read morestop by after we go to Fireside Tavern down the street, and sometimes we make a trip there for a couple hours on the weekends! The playground is big, and it has many activities to do! You can go down the big tube slide, play in the sand, play basketball on the court over to the side, skate at the skate park, and so much more! There are big and small monkey bars, so that kids of all heights can play! It's also great that there's a C&L Frosty across the street! thanks for reading, make sure to stop by the playground if you're looking for some fun in Sherborn! -A

Rossmore Stedman Playground

(2 reviews)

My three year old loves this place, and has ever since he could walk. It's smaller than the Tot Lot…read moreon Burroughs/Brewer, but sometimes that's what you want! Nicely fenced in, gets good shade during the day so it never gets too hot. Plenty of benches for grownups to sit on, and lots of good play stuff for the kiddos -- one structure for the littlest ones, and one that's targeted at 3+ (YMMV on whether your kids follow targeted ages for structures; mine don't!). There are also some free-roaming toys for riding on, as well as a car/bus/airplane structure that kids of all ages love to make believe on.

It's a nice little park for smaller kids. It's on a shady spot which I like. There are a few…read morebenches around the park that allow you to watch your child play. I would say that the park needs some updating or maybe just a power wash. But still a nice spot for your little one to enjoy. It's on the corner of a 2 one way streets. So not a lot of car traffic.

Jam Time

4.6

(25 reviews)

Our first time here was for our kiddo's 3rd birthday, and Jam Time more than exceeded our…read moreexpectations! While planning the party, Jam Time set themselves apart from other locations with their price transparency right on their website, as well as consistent communication leading up to the party date so we knew how to plan for the day. The indoor space has a wide variety of toys and equipment for a range of ages, the highlights were the bounce house, the play structure with multiple slides, and the train table. They had a ton of ride-on toys and pretend play toys, as well as a dedicated area for younger babies to play and crawl around. All of the kids in our party had a blast! It was a shared space with the public so there were lots of other families there but it didn't feel overcrowded. Ari and Zane did an excellent job managing our party from start to finish. They took all the food we brought in and set it up in the party room in an organized arrangement, and they communicated well with us parents so we knew the general timeline of playtime, eating, and the cake presentation. JT the Moose came out at the end of the party to greet all the kids, he was a hit! At the end, they packed up all the food and cake for us to take back home. Highly recommend Jam Time for your birthday party needs or for just burning off some toddler energy!

We had our son's 4th birthday party here and it was amazing. The staff at the party were on point…read morefrom the get go, the party room was set up beautifully when we arrived, the event coordinators (Ari, Ava, Nyla) drove the party well. Thank you for such a memorable party!

Hollis Playground

3.0

I like this playground as it is fenced in and has a fair amount of parking. It is next to a school.read more

Forge Pond Park

3.9

(7 reviews)

The park itself - very nice. Tons of parking. Lots of open space, paved walkways, nice ballfields…read more The pond? Forge pond? Yuck. It actually stinks. Not sure if it's the water or the mud/dirt around it. Not good.

I love this park ! We have been coming with our pup for 8 years. One thing I do not like is that…read morethey are treating the fields with pesticides. I feel we should preserve the wild life there . And what about human and dog safety ???

Daniel Michael Shea Memorial Park

5.0

This quaint little park is nestled at the edge of the Blue Hill Reservation. There isn't parking or…read morebathrooms, which makes it perfect for local families that don't want a busy park. There is a sturdy play structure with a slide, a kids balance beam, four swings, and a picnic table. It appears someone keeps it clean and maintained very well. It's across from the St. Moritz Horseshoe Club.

Johnson School playground

Nice playground. The ground is wood chips and all the equipment is newer. There are 2 swings for…read moreinfants/toddlers. The slides are only good for older children which makes sense since this is the playground for the Johnson elementary school. Only opened outside of school hours.

Collins Rest-a-while Park