My little queens were tired of the same playgrounds. My bro's yelp review and pix impressed us all…read more We parked right in front and my kids (ages 3 and 5) ran to the castle-themed jungle gyms and had fun and freedom for the next 2 hours. There were so many structures that all the children had plenty of personal space. Special features included a roller-based slide, a zip-line, and a rope climb. It's an excellent playground I can add to the rotation. Come out and play! NOTES/TIPS: **Picnic tables, plenty of benches, and 2 porta-potties on-site. **If the main parking lot is full, additional parking is 200 ft. away. **The playground is next to a basketball court, baseball field, and soccer field.

Drove in around 12 noon on a Friday, noticed right away that although there was plenty of parking,…read morethe playground was packed. Benches for eating are at the entrance located close enough to watch your kids playing basketball or on the playground. This playground is neat... truly a castle inspired theme. Great for playing peekaboo with your toddlers with many mazes to get lost in and still be sure your child is safe and can't fall out the sides (too easily). There's also a slide that can be climbed which my son was very intrigued with, once he got to the top he'd jump on the big boy slide and come out the other end, he's 14 months so there's really so much for him to explore. There's also bigger slides for older kids, different monkey bars to climb, kiddie and big kid swings, little castles with benches and tables to picnic in, and plenty of benches surrounding the playground for parents to hang out in. We lived up to our mantra: PLAY HARD NAP HARD! Baby was knocked out as soon as we got in the car so I must say it was a good day. My name is Francis and I approve of this playground. YSA (yelp service announcement) When you come here punch into your GPS this address: 651 Shunkpike Rd. Chatham NJ otherwise you will get lost.

This is THE destination for families with young children in Scotch Plains. At first blush, that…read moreseems crazy, as the park is situated directly off of the busy Westfield Road. But, as one of the only fully fenced parks in the neighborhood, it has a fantastic setup to control the chaos that is the toddler phase. The park features a couple sets of swings, a few small areas with interactive pieces for smaller children, and a red merry-go-round that survived the 2023 park renovation. While I wouldn't recommend this park for older kids or those in the upper grades of elementary school, it's a perfect way to kill an afternoon with littler gremlins.

Great park for 2-5 year old. Bathrooms are on site. Benches and grass area for picnicsread more

Central Park of Morris County is located on what was once Greystone Mental Health Facility. After…read moreit was demolished in the early 2000's, it was reconstructed in 2008 as a county park. Today the park is a large athletic complex featuring 2 inline hockey rinks, a 2.5K cross country course. 2 sand vollyball courts, 1 artificial turf softball field, an 18 Hole Disc Golf Course, 4 artificial soccer fields. walking paths through meadows & wooded areas, a kickball field, a playground area designed for 5-12 year olds. The playground area has a lot of different apparatus, rubber ground cover and benches. Fully equiped reatrooms can be found in lot 4. Lastly, the park has a dog park. The dog park has a section for small dogs, 2 sections for large dogs, and short wooded area with a path. The dog park is completely fenced in, well maintained, clean and spacious. There are obstacle courses, as well. The drawback is the grass and dirt areas after wet weather. Additionally, there are no trash containers in the fenced in areas. Bring water for your dog

This review is for the playground only. Fairly large with lots of options and plenty of equipment…read more Swings, slides, ramps, mechanical spinning toys, tables and benches, climbing apparatus, musical instruments, etc. The ground is nice and soft rubber, and there is ample space for parents and siblings including covered benches to protect from the sun. Add a parent I really appreciated that it wasn't too crowded on a Sunday morning and all of the children there were patient and well behaved. Since it's a bit further away we won't be there daily but will certainly make the 20 minute trip again!

This is a somewhat unique rating for me, because I'm giving it 5 stars based on its objective…read moreexcellence. For me, personally? Not my favorite of the 3 parks that are in the immediate vicinity of where I live. That's a purely subjective evaluation. There's Mountain Park in Basking Ridge, heading in the direction of Martinsville. I've reviewed that 1. There's Harry Dunham Park in Basking Ridge, near Liberty Corner. I've reviewed that 1 too. I walk/run in both of these parks on a fairly regular basis. Pleasant Valley? Not so much. Pleasant Valley has a playground, 4 multipurpose fields, a softball field, a baseball field, 2 "youth" baseball fields, 6 tennis courts, 6 pickleball courts (I've asked this before, but I'll ask it again-- when did pickleball become a "thing?"), 4 "lighted platform" tennis courts, a basketball court, a sand volleyball court, a pond for fishing, an amphitheater, picnic shelters, indoor rooms available for rental, walking trails, and restrooms. Why would I subjectively give this less than 5 stars? Because the walking trails aren't my favorite, and walking trails are what I utilize these parks for. Anyone who has ever read anything I've ever written knows sports are, and always have been, anathema to me, but I do like doing exercises that hopefully will allow me to live a bit longer than I might without the exercise (funny story-- my oldest friend went to a high school reunion, and the others there said enviously, "You've aged very well!" My friend laughs when he tells me this and says, "Like it just happened! I work hard at it! I didn't just age well! I worked my ass off exercising and eating right, and they didn't. That's the difference. It's that simple."). I lift weights, and I walk/run, and walking/running the wooded trails has made me feel better physically (although it doesn't melt the fat off as easily as it once did) as well as put me in closer proximity, at least in my own mind, to the inchoate and unknowable nature of whatever "God" might be or the source of all creation and nature. It's in the sunlight filtering through the trees, it's in the cloud-filled or cloudless sky that I get glimpses of through the trees as I walk, it's in the sounds of birds and insects, the deer and other small animals crashing through the brush (not long ago, there was a bear sighting not too far away, and that would just be my bad luck-- all this exercise only to get mangled to death by a bear!), it's in the fragrant flowers sprouting up from the soil, the invigorating fresh air itself. There's a stretch of woods in the Dunham Park that's lovely. It's not a long walk, but it passes beneath the towering trees, and alongside a gurgling brook. If it's not the pristine beauty of the northwest CT countryside, it's pretty close. Mountain Park also has magnificent trails. At 1 point, I followed 1 down a hill to a river, but didn't go further, as I didn't know where it was leading to and I wasn't prepared for an extended hike through unknown wilderness. But you can walk the trails for a considerable distance and actually imagine you're far from any last vestiges of civilization (which might not be a positive, depending on your mood or disposition or anxiety level). All alone with nature! I found it exhilarating and spiritually restorative. Pleasant Valley? I occasionally ran the trails at Pleasant Valley with a running/drinking buddy of mine. At that time, we partied a lot (with a group of friends), but we exercised a lot too (just her and me); she ultimately married and moved to the Virgin Islands, and we sort of lost touch. But...hope she's doing well and... keep up the running, old friend! A few weeks ago, I returned to Pleasant Valley, to take a walk. The trails wind upward and certainly serve their purpose, but I prefer the trails of the other 2 parks. With them, at least you get the illusion that you're in the middle of nowhere, enjoying the mystery and majesty of God's green earth. With the Pleasant Valley trails, there's a uniform sameness to them, and when I deviated off the main trail onto a side offshoot, I ended up in a housing development. Again, maybe that's just my own personal quirk and won't mean anything to somebody else of a more "social" disposition. Me? I prefer to pretend I'm the pioneering hermit, the isolated "Stranger in a Strange Land," the searcher for solitude and tranquility, at least for an hour or so. So... objectively...this is a great park, with a lot of amenities and activities. Parking seems plentiful enough (although I have to agree with 1 previous reviewer who said that if the park gets crowded, parking could potentially prove a problem). I can't say I won't return on occasion to walk the trails. But...subjectively...it's not my 1st choice. Or 2nd.

I grew up near this amazing park and it's always been a special place for me. I played on the…read moreswingsets here as a kid, worked at the Summer Camp here as a teen, and continue to enjoy walking here as an adult. This park has everything--brand new playground equipment for 2022, tennis courts, soccer fields, baseball fields, body-weight fitness equipment like parallel bars and a horizontal ladder, paved walking trails through the woods, a pond, and more! The free public bathrooms are inside a building so there's hot and cold running water, flush toilets, light and heat. There are also several water fountains with drinking water. In summer the local theater group offers Plays in the Park at the amphitheater. Most of the park is flat, accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, and easy to walk around. There are benches near the pond and a pavilion area with picnic tables. Lots of people bring their dogs here.

An amazing park we stumbled across when trying to find a playground for our child…read more This playground has 2 adjacent gated playgrounds, a gazebo, a drinking fountain, shaded seating, and a Porta Potty to serve small and big kids alike. The 2-5 year olds Toddler playground has rubber mats on the ground to protect your little ones from little falls. 1 play structure, 5 Rocking features, and 2 Toddler swings are available. The Motorcycle rocking feature with the side car, the giraffe bench, and the shaded bench in the play structure are pretty awesome and adorabeezle. The 5-12 year olds playground has wood chip ground cover. It is a combination of older plastic, rope, and wood structures that should keep your kids climbing and sliding in very original ways. They are even very fun for those who are kids at heart. 1 large play structure, 1 climbing wall, 1 see saw table, 2 standard swings, and a tire swing are available. A few of the really original structures in the 5-12 year olds playground are the gondola at the back and the yellow sliding "rings" in the front of the play structure. The gondola can be moved between two platforms by turning the crank. The yellow sliding "rings" can be used by holding onto 1 yellow "ring" on each of 2 tracks that are next to each other. Then you need to alternate balancing your weight on one "ring" while sliding the other one forward. (Imagine trying to peddle with your hands in the air.) It's tons of fun and probably a pretty good upper body and core workout. The drinking fountain is located near the entrance of the 5-12 year olds playground. A Porta Potty is located to the left side of the playgrounds for your convenience. The Bee Meadow Pool and football field are just across the parking lot which has lots of parking.

Lewis Morris Park located on the outskirts of Morristown, NJ is a 2,196 acre park, named after the…read morefirst Governor of New Jersy, Lewis Morris. It is adjacent to Jockey Hollow National Park where you can find a museum, visitor center, and encampment reconstruction of the baracks the Revolutionary War fighters used in the winter of 1780. Lewis Morris Park has a dog park which Oatie loves, baseball and softball diamonds, picnic and BBQ pits, a newly constructed children's playground area, a mountain bike trail and 22.1 miles of hiking trails. Additionally there are fishing and equestrian opportunities. After hours of hiking you can take a dip in Sunrise Lake. Download a trail map online. Admission to the park is free. Sunrise Lake is closed Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday-Friday it is open 12pm-4:30. Admission is $9 adults and children & seniors $7. On the weekends the hours are 11am-6pm. Admission is $13 adults and $11 for children & seniors. Discounts can be found online. The small lake has a Wibit (inflatable obstacle) and a Zoom Floom (water slide) and paddle boats which can keep the kids entertained.

Reviewing Sunrise Lake in this park…read more A gorgeous little piece of paradise to go to that is close to where I live. Cost the same price as some beaches so it's affordable. Came across it when I was googling swimming in parsippany area. Found so many expensive member only places but then this one sealed the deal. They sand, paddle boats, kayaks, slides, and a little obstacle course for kids in the middle of the lake. Life guards on duty, beach volleyball court, barbecue grills, tent, picnic tables, and life jackets. A lot of things and you only pay $7 on weekends. I've came twice both times were on a Sunday. Not over packed were you feel there are people laying right on top of you. More kids and families come after 1pm. So if you are looking for some relaxation come early. The earlier you come the better. Beach is clean, sand is a bit tough because it has rocks mixed in, water is so refreshing. The bottom of the water has seaweed. Food and drinks are allowed and I'm sure no alcohol. Nice place for a party. Definitely going to be my spot for the summer.

We were in the area so decided to try a hike here on a not too cold Winter day…read more The trails are wide and not difficult at all (no real inclines), so this is a great option with kids. It was fairly empty because of Winter. There's not too many interesting landmarks on the way, although you do pass rivers from time to time. The kids were entertained for the most part fortunately (we only hiked for an hour due to the temps, so I'm not sure how long the hike is). Dog friendly + they provide bags to dispose of the waste, which is really nice. Look forward to returning when the weather warms up.

Was there for a short time, but the park is big, green and clean, with playground and sport…read moreactivities to boost.

A Place for Baseball Games Off West Main…read more Stumbled onto this place after dropping of some donations at Goodwill in Rockaway. My son wanted to try to get in some playground time before the rain started so I headed towards some green spaces just up the road that might have had something to offer. We lucked out when we found Donatoni Community Park. This park is tucked away off of the street and you would only notice it by the single road sign or the play structure next to the parking lot. The parking lot is flanked by 2 baseball fields and a playground. The playground is small but pretty awesome. It is designed for 5-12 year olds and offers slides, climbing structures, and crawling structures. All the "active" spaces at this park are in full sun. There is a concession stand area with a covered picnic table area next to the playground. I assume the stand is only open during large gaming events. I wasn't able to find any bathrooms during our short stay as the rain came shortly after we arrived. This must be a quite place when there aren't any baseball games going on as kids were biking in the parking lot while their parents hung out. I definitely would come back to this place especially after hitting up some awesome Thai food at Thai Nam Phet just down the road.

A small newly updated playground (Spring 2016) with plenty of shade. Consider this a go to…read morelocation on hot and sunny days. The smaller size and limited parking usually keeps the number of kids playing here at any time pretty small. The .9 mile hike starting in the parking lot has been traveled by our 3 year old, but be aware that there are lots of rocks that could be an issue for kids still working on their balance. At this age hand holding would be advised. A gazebo, basketball court, and sand volleyball court are also next to this playground. Would rank this a 5 star playground for kids if there were a fountain and a bathroom at this location. So bring plenty of drinks and take care of potty needs before you arrive.

Small playground with 1 tennis court and 1 basketball court. There is a nice walking trail in the…read morewoods there which it the best upside of the park .

Visited here for their event, Mickey and Minnie Sweetheart party, and had the sweetest time!…read more The place was organized and reaaally clean! including the toilets! lol there were lots of play areas for the kids to choose and it didnt feel crowded. One of our son's favorite spot was the "Market" lol anyway, we had fun taking pictures with Mickey and Minnie and loved the surprise Balloon drop. Bonus was the spacious parking lot across and babytown area for kids 2 and under. They can host private parties, and even have books and toys for sale. Now if only there was food and coffee for purchase! lol Either way, loved Neverland fun and their wonderful staff! Thank you! Will keep an eye out for other events!

Highly recommended for open play toddler fun!…read more This place is brand new (opened late in 2024) and everything inside looks it. It's much bigger than you'd think, and the different play areas/stations were nicely done. The owners and staff are all extremely nice, friendly and helpful. The location seems to be popular for kids birthday parties ages 1-4. There's even a "baby" section for the younger siblings. Go out and support this local business (not a franchise)