My wife grew up in Janesville, so we stopped by with our four-year-old granddaughter, who absolutely loved the playground. Unfortunately, it was drizzling, so we didn't stay too long. read more

For a community park, this beats every other park I've been to thus far. We frequent this park often during the week. Not in the winter, but in the summer we may be here 3 to 4 times a week. Some times we rode our bikes, 5 miles away from our home, to the park traveling on the ice age hiking trail and what a glorious trail that is. Once summer arrives, we eagerly await the opening of the wading pool. The closest thing we have to a beach really. The park is very well kept. The grasses are well maintained and trimmed. Restrooms are clean. There's also the travel center on the grounds, that also acts as the welcome station for Janesville. If you go there and tell them you are newly arrived they will give you a packet which includes several saving coupons that can be used at various stores and eateries. Parking is abundant and can be found at different locations through out the park. There are many picnic tables with fixed grills ready to be used. I bring a grill top just to be safe and clean when using these grills. You can fly kites, have large parties as people often do, and there are even short hikes with trail heads close by. The main attraction is the play ground itself. Designed like a large forest camp with many places to climb, run, explore it truly is heaven for kids as they run around expending energy. There are slides any one can go down. These have rollers so no matter how you are you will go down, and fast too. You really have to watch yourself coming down these type of slides. I have seen many adults land smack flat on their buttock, and I laugh every time watching them remembering my first time too. There's also rings for kids to strengthen their grip and rocking platforms to help control their balance. When the wading pool is open it gets crowded but several life guards are always present to make sure there is no misbehaving by kids as well as adults. The spouting whale slides and umbrella water rain falls are excellent attractions for the kids to take pictures on. The surrounding area also offers kids to begin their exploration of nature. There is lots to see in plants as well as bugs. Many have vibrant colors and are so strange looking that makes them very interesting. We loved coming here. It's a great way to spend family time while your kid unleashes that bottled up energy and get a good work out building his physical abilities with coordination. Many fond memories and pictures are here. Wish there was one close to us now. read more

See all

Amazing! We live in Illinois, not Wisconsin, but we're met with kindness and openness here. The wading pool is a little dated, but serves a great purpose on a hot august day when you don't have access to any other outdoor pools. But it's fun for my son. He is 5 years old and made friends right away while splashing around. The breaks aren't too bad. We showed up during a break and there was an event going on (I think a lot of events go on at Palmer park) where they learned about seeds and growing their own seeds and vegetables and even got to try some colorful vegetables while being read to. Afterwards, the kids planted their own seeds in a cup and got to pick out a book. So sweet. Then-break was over and back to splashing. The bathrooms are....well public pool bathrooms which are always gross. There's vending and shelters. Also, my sons favorite part is the gigantic playground. There's a Little kids section, a toddler section and a bigger kids section. He likes them all. There's also a mechanical swing for someone wheelchair bound to go in-wheelchair and all...and swing!! The floor is bouncy, so less injuries. Plenty of slides, places for parents to sit. Wooden maze under structure. The merry go round(?) needs help. It's stuck on something so that's no fun. There's a mini house and plenty of fun for hours and hours. On days that I want to surprise my son after school I pick him up and bring him there- 30 minutes away. Just a great place to be. I'd love to keep it to ourselves, but it's too good to be hidden. Also, a GREAT little Pokémon Go spot :) read more

See all

[This is part of a set of reviews covering establishments my family and I encountered while taking a road trip to Cincinnati.] If you're ever driving through Wisconsin and need a place to stop for your kids to get out and run around after being strapped into a car for X number of hours, Palmer Park is it. It's one of the coolest parks I've ever seen. They have a wading pool with fountains spraying water 5 feet in the air. They have a cool playground that's in the form of a huge castle with passages going every which way. They have lots of benches at the playground so you parent fuddy duddies that don't like to run around can sit and watch your rugrats do it instead. And they have a pavilion with fixed metal/concrete picnic tables, bathrooms, and vending machines with water for $1.50 a bottle. We had anticipated needing to stop during our long road trip and this park is a welcome oasis between DVDs when the kids are anxious to get out and run around. We thought we would take a little break but ended up staying for over an hour. It was worth it. To get here, take Exit 175A (E Racine St). When going East on I-94/90, you take a follow the exit to the right (not sure going West) and go down the hill. Take a right on the bottom of the hill at the traffic light and the park will be on your left. There's not a LOT of parking, especially on the nice day that we were out there, but if you turn left just past the park, I saw some additional spots that looked legal. read more

Though havent lived in Wisconsin now for years. But being born and raised in janesville, I loved and enjoyed growing up at this park with both family as a young child. As well with friends as a teen. read more

My kids love this place! It's SOOOOOO inexpensive so we can all have a fun day together without it costing an arm and a leg!