"Why do you have to say that there's always someone who can…read moredo it better than I can? But don't you think that I know that walking on the water won't make me a miracle man?" (Elvis Costello) There are four baseball fields in a park where Asylum Avenue and Trout Brook Drive meet in West Hartford. Three of the fields are used by the WH Little League. The fourth field is different. You might say it's a Miracle Field. This field was designed for physically and cognitively challenged players. The playing field is built with a soft rubberized surface that is fully wheelchair accessible. Instead of raised bases and a pitching mound, these features are painted into the field's flat surface. The  base paths, distance from the pitchers mount to home plate, and outfield fence distances are shorter than regular Little League fields. Other than these tweaks and accommodations, the Miracle Field looks very much like a  typical Little League field. Fundraising for the Miracle Field started in 2008, and through private, corporate, philanthropic and governmental entities, over $800,000 was raised to construct not only the field but a playground, restroom and concession facilities that were accessible to all. In 2012, the Miracle League Field opened as the first of its kind in New England. Their website says it's still the only one of its kind in Connecticut.

Wonderful playground in West Hartford, parking can be tricky as you park in the old UCONN parking…read morelot off Trout Brook. Drive to back of the lot where you will see a row of handicap parking spots and a small wooden bridge. The ball fields and playground are extremely well maintained with restrooms for your use. Our 2yr old had a wonderful time, love the ground covering. There are several picnic tables there are well if you want to bring a snack/meal with trash & recycling containers.

A clean and large playground that is fenced in. There is a porta potty onsite; no trash cans…read morethough. The parking lot had plenty of spaces. Across from the playground, there was a huge field with a large stage; I'm sure they have good events there. Right outside of the park, near the street, there is a long paved path for walking, biking, etc. My kids loved the playground!

Every kid is welcome to this community playground…read more There's a playscape for kids as young as 2 years old. There are no boundaries for abilities, because this is designed so children of all abilities can play together, whether the kids are fully able or have physical, sensory or developmental disabilities. The playground was opened in October 2002 and you'll find it off of Iron Horse Boulevard inside the Simsbury Meadows Complex. No admission and tons of free parking onsite. They have two playscapes, designed for kids aged 5-12 and another for kids aged 2-5. There's a ton of fun here - baby swings, slides, a sandbox, a huge Boundless playground, two pint-sized climbing walls and lots more. The playground surface is very soft and rubbery, sort of like walking on a wrestling mat. They have gazebo to sit and relax, and porta-potties for when that need arises.

"We're after the same rainbow's end Waitin' 'round the bend…read moreMy huckleberry friend" (Mancini and Mercer) Huckleberry Hill Road or Buckingham Road will bring you to this nice little 17.73-acre park and recreation center where you'll see three athletic fields and a fully accessible children's playground. We took advantage of the mild Easter Sunday weather and strolled around the park and neighborhood today. The park is crisscrossed by the Rails to Trails hiking path and walking paths that take you through residential backyards and the Buckingham neighborhood, complete with its town green, gazebo and social hall. The playground was crowded with young families enjoying the Spring like weather. One thing that really bugged me was the total disregard some dog owners had for the numerous signs that stated, "No dogs are allowed on the playing fields". I counted four dogs running free (off leash) on these fields, so I guess those signs don't apply to those who want to disobey them.

A nice big playground and baseball field. There were plenty of parking available. There's a walking…read morepath around the playground and the baseball field. Additional parking near the baseball field as well. The points board on the baseball field says Avon High School. Overall, a great spot to take the kids out to on a nice day; dogs were allowed too.

This is an awesome museum founded in 2012. They have a small parking lot on the backside of the…read morebuilding. The customer service was friendly. This place is welcoming to people from all walks of life, it feels very inclusive. Tip: we got discounted museum tickets from the library. We easily spent three hours there and my children loved everything minute of it. Children are encouraged to pretend play. Exhibits are created for kids ages 1 to 10. Everything was hands-on, educational, and invokes the different senses. The Museum was organized by room and theme. We went to the dentist, grocery store/garden, diner, bank, tree house, a stage, music room. There was an area you can "paint" with a wet brush on the wall. A mini firetruck, a maker space, a toddler area, and various exhibits. The interactive floor was another favorite. There was an area where kids can drive on mini cars. They have many events. You can even host a birthday party there. I'm very appreciative of their Asian Culture exhibit; there's a Japan, China, and South Korean display. Overall, we had a fun time playing with the kids there.

This place was amazing. Staff as well as product inside. They have everything u need and are…read morearound all the time freshening the rooms. We spent 5 hrs (8 yo & 4 yo)

Cute little playground in the middle of The Shops of Farmington. This is located in front of Barnes…read more& Noble and Dick's Sporting Goods. There are plenty of parking and picnic tables under shade on the median. The playground is gated with a couple of benches. There are no swings but the playscape was big enough to entertain a few kids and my toddler. There is a slide and two tunnels. Even though it's on the smaller side, kids were still running around having fun with tons of space around them. The playground is also on turf (fake grass). I think this is a great touch to add this playground for the kids; once they are done shopping/eating at the restaurants with their parents, they have a space to let the energy out.

My son and I discovered this park today because it had this golf and he loves to play! This park…read morehas so much to offer and the setting is absolutely beautiful! There was a great playground for children. A great little pond with Canadian geese and children feeding the geese. The disc golf course was excellent. There is a swimming pool that was obviously closed for the season and many people were just walking around in this beautiful setting. I can't wait to return.

Page Park has quite a bit going on. It has a playground, basketball court, baseball fields, tennis…read morecourts, a pool, a pond, and disc golf. My review is based primarily on the playground. While this isn't the best playground, I find myself here often. Located close to shopping, it's easy to stop here with my toddler when we have to run errands. On nice spring and summer days the playground and the rest of the park can get crowded. Because the basketball court and baseball fields are in such close proximity, parking can be tricky. The playground has 2 main structures, one for kids 2-5 and another for kids 5-12. There are also baby and regular swings, a spring see-saw, and some balance obstacles. My main complaint about BOTH play structures is that they are set too far off the ground. It's like the stairs are missing a step or the bottom of some of the slides are far too high off the ground. The 2-5 play structure is strange. Again, it is set too high off the ground and had steps on the interior that are too high, making them harder to navigate. It's very compact and has steep tunnels. My son rarely plays on it because it's such a strange setup. Though he isn't quite 2 yet, he is as tall (if not taller) than most 2 year olds and has no issue climbing other playscapes labeled for the same age. The 5-12 playscape is better, though it is starting to fall into slight disrepair. Some rails are getting loose, etc. It is in the "boundless" style with ramps and some things down lower to play with. This play structure is actually much easier for a toddler to navigate. There are some openings that a child under 5 could fall from but there's no need to really climb with the child. Standing close by on the ground and watching them at these openings would be sufficient. Nothing is so high that they are totally out of reach. For the older kids, there are some fun climbing obstacles and many different slides. There are always older kids at this playground, all seemingly having fun.

Wallace Barnes Nature Trail is a 1.1 mile, fully accessible trail behind the Barnes Nature Center…read more There were plenty of parking spots when I went. It is a level boardwalk with some crushed stones throughout; people can use wheelchairs, strollers, walkers, etc. It goes through the woods so there were plenty of shade. I love that it has benches and shelters, for a quick rest. Those shelters overlooked a stream and field. There are informational signs throughout giving facts about the area. This trail also connects to 5 other trails; those trails are: Elmer's Way 0.5 mile Blue Trail 0.7 mile Yellow Trail 0.2 mile White Trail 0.3 mile Purple Trail 1.2 mile My children and I thoroughly enjoyed this very easy walking trail. We are a fan of boardwalks so it was enjoyable and pleasant. There were a few others out enjoying the trail also. I look forward to going back and checking out the other trails as well as the nature center. The nature center was closed when I went (Tuesday) but opens Thursday through Saturday 10-4 and Sunday 12-4. I highly recommend it!

Winding elevated walkway through the natural wetland & wooded reserve. Set aside for young, old,…read morein-between, able, and even for those less able. Informational stops and ample spots to pull aside to rest, relax, and take-in the natural surroundings and hopefully observe some wildlife and the seasonal changes within woodland. This is all very recently constructed through thoughtful donations and hard working hands. Please respect the surroundings, leashed pups were welcome when I last visited, and all visitors (fury or not) are requested to stay on the elevated boardwalk.

Such an amazing cool park to take your kids to. It is very serene the background of the hills &…read moretrees & the mountains. A lot to do on the playground for all ages & the big slides Are really cool, they are innovative with alot of things there to do, the swings are across the playground which is a nice set up too. This park is 1 of my favorites to bring my son too

I've reviewed this on the Simbury Farms Recreation page, but I'll add a brief review here also…read more This is a really nice playground located in Simsbury Farms Recreation. It is right next door to the tennis courts. Parking was spacious. The playscape looks new and the playground area was pretty big and fenced in. The large playscape has three levels for the bigger kids. The smaller one is great for toddlers. There is a gazebo with a few picnic tables under it. Down the hill, there are the basketball courts and a smaller, older looking playground. Also, a porta potty is available when nature calls. Overall, one of the best playgrounds I've been to.

Very nice park , there is a nice walking trail around the pond and the playground is very fun for…read morekids.

"In and around the lake" (Roundabout - Jon Anderson and…read moreSteve Howe) While walking roundabout the lake at Stanley Quarter Park I realized a few things. #1 - You can't blame a goose for being a goose. #2 - You can't blame a few hundred geese for doing what a few hundred geese leave behind, basically a lot of #2. #3 - As a result of #2, you can't blame me for docking this post for a fifth star. Pretty much across the street from the University of Central Connecticut College's campus you'll find this gorgeous park with a big lake, a multi-station fitness trail, and a nice and easy 0.6 mile looped walking path around the lake. The path took us over a few stone and wood bridges and gave us a great look at hundreds of geese and what looked like seagulls. The geese were everywhere - in the water, on the grassy hills, frolicking and flapping their wings in the lake, and honking so much they made us laugh. But the problem we encountered was the byproduct of those hundreds of geese and the ensuing mess they leave on the path around the lake. You'd better watch your step very carefully or you'll be walking into globs of goose shit. It was everywhere, and there was a shit ton of it. Now like I said, ya can't blame a goose for doing what a goose does, but I feel like someone at the municipal level has badly dropped the ball by not better maintaining things.

We've been to Fisher Meadows a couple of times, sometimes to enjoy the quiet and calm, other times…read moreto enjoy the golden hour, and once to enjoy a warm cup of masala chai surrounded by nature. It is a great spot to witness the magic of different New England seasons.

This recreation center is on 250.45 acres and is open year-round from dawn to dusk. There is a…read moredecent-sized gravel parking lot with a small playground with swings, picnic tables, and a pullup bar. There are two entrances to the trails by this parking lot and playground. I saw a huge field that is used for soccer. On the lake, you can fish and use non motorized boats; a boat launch is available. This recreation area is suitable for walking, jogging, hiking, cross-country skiing, biking, canoeing, bird watching, picnicing, and camping; for camping, you need to get permission from the Town of Avon. I walked the red trail then got off that trail halfway and walked by the well pump building; this brought me back to the parking lot. That walk was about 2.54 miles because I didn't want to do the bigger loop. On the AllTrails app, there are two trails in the park; Spring Lake and Fisher Meadows Loops. The walk was easy but there were some flooded and muddy areas. I have a feeling it is buggy in the summer but on this fine sunny March day, it was very pleasant except for getting my sneakers wet. Overall, a great space to enjoy the great outdoors.