When you have children of any age, one important list you need in your head is where the best local playgrounds are. Playgrounds are a staple for any parent because they give you a chance to get outside and of course, tire out your kids.
We live in Clayton Park in Halifax. There are numerous little playgrounds within walking distance to our house. They are ideal because they are usually empty which gives our boys free run of the place.
But a few swings and a slide just don’t cut it all the time.
So, when we have access to the car, we do our best to venture out into the city to go to some of the biggest and best playgrounds in Halifax and surrounding areas. We also like to go on adventures and find new playgrounds to enjoy.
Of course, having a parenting blog that focuses on Halifax, I decided it was time to start unloading the big list in my head and share it with the other parents who may not know about such wonderful places to play.
Before I list of these playgrounds, I want to add, that these are our 10 favourites. So if I leave one off the list, that is only because we have either not been there yet, or our kids did not like it when we went.
This is also a chance for those living in HRM to help compile a master list in the comments. The goal here is to make the best resource possible for parents to access when looking for a playground.
So here goes.
The 10 Best Playgrounds Halifax Has To Offer
1. DeWolf Park
DeWolk Park is in Bedford but not that far a drive for us. It features a huge playground with a lot of room for kids and parents to hang out. It is a good thing there is a lot of room because on a Saturday or Sunday morning, the place can be packed.
Map.
What we like:
- It has a padded floor around it for falls.
- A lot of variety in slides and things to climb on and through.
- The view is great.
- There is a great path to walk on to see the water.
- Many benches to sit on.
What our kids like:
- The tunnel slide.
- Easy to see boats.
- A lot of grass space to run around.
- The moving foot ladder.
Downsides:
- It can be too busy.
- Parents who insist on being on the playground.
- Lack of close parking if it is busy.
- A lot of parents who are there to drink coffee, socialize and not watch their kids.
2. DJ Butler
I also make some DJ reference when we go to this park. Something to do with the place is really spinning etc. This has always been one of our favourites as it is close to our house and offers everything you need to entertain your kids. It seems to be a pretty popular one and if even featured in a local commercial for getting kids to play. This park for us is the perfect week day park as it is not that busy and everyone seems to be on the same schedule. Meaning the place turns to a ghost town just before lunch.
Map.
What we like:
- Pretty close to our house.
- Has a wide range of swings and slides. Both for little and older kids.
- Has open space for other games like tag or kicking a ball.
- Picnic tables if you want to have a picnic.
What our kids like:
- The bouncy bee.
- A bus goes by every 15 minutes or so.
- The padded ground around the one section.
- There is a circle path around the one section for walking.
- Great area for climbing.
Downsides:
- Can get pretty busy.
- Parking can be tricky as you have to park on side streets.
- Traffic is busy out front.
3. Waterfront
The submarine down on the Halifax waterfront is always a treat for our boys. It is a great spot and opens up the imagination to the ocean. We were recently down there and they were doing some maintenance to make it even better. I personally enjoy this one as I love being down on one of the most beautiful waterfronts I have ever seen. The smell of the air, the boats and the smell of fried food does it for me. Oh wait, the kids like it too.
Map.
What we like:
- The surroundings.
- Plenty of places to sit and watch.
- The creativity of the playground.
- Quick access to many other adventures.
What our kids like:
- Being on a sub.
- The giant wave that is just next to it.
Downsides:
- Super busy most of the time.
- A lot of parents not really paying attention to their kids.
- Kind of out of the way and parking is usually paid only.
4. Central Commons
This one is another treat for us as we used to live within walking distance. If you have kids, you must go on the Common. The space, the atmosphere and the fun that is being had. It is one of the best spots to be on a sunny Halifax day. It is also the perfect meet up place for a bunch of parents with it being so central. You have open space, the skateboard park and a wide variety of playground equipment to play on.
Map.
What we like:
- To us, being down there is just so “Halifax” to us.
- So much space and choices for playing.
- Close to food and other options on Quinpool.
What our kids like:
- Watching the skateboarders.
- The water area.
- So many slides.
- Wide diversity of kids to play with.
Downsides:
- Parking. We have gotten a ticket before.
- Can be very busy depending on what else is going on.
- Not a great deal of shade.
5. Isleville Park
We found this one as it is close to friends of ours who live in the North end. What a great park. The numerous playgrounds, the water play areas and the wide open space. This park is another classic Halifax destination for you and your kids. Our boys are not big fans of the sprinklers but they are certainly one of the perks of this spot, especially on a hot day.
What we like:
- It is old Halifax. So many trees and shady spots.
- The water areas for cooling off.
- Large areas to meet up with friends and have a BBQ or picnic.
- The indoor room for parties (ideal if it rains).
- Close to some of our favourite take out places (ie. Caribbean Twist)
What our kids like:
- The sandbox with the toys that seem to always be there.
- So many slides.
- Open space to run and kick a ball.
- Watching the sprinklers go up and down.
Downsides:
- None really. Parking maybe but that is a stretch.
6. Oxford Street Public School
Again this park has sentimental value to us. We used to live across the road long before we had kids. I used to shoot hoops there and play fetch with my dog. It is small but it is very good for playing. The area is totally fenced and has some quality options for play. It would be more of a local spot for those in the area instead of those driving around looking for a place to play.
Map.
What we like:
- Fenced area.
- Walking distance to many other things.
- School yard feel.
What our kids like:
- Watching kids play basketball or road hockey.
- So many cars go by to see.
- Plenty of shade.
Downsides:
- Parking.
- Small compared to many other playgrounds.
7. Park West School
This space is perfect for us as it is close and offers different levels of fun depending on what mood our kids are in. There is the typical playground with slides and climbing. Or there is the more abstract play area with pieces of art that you climb and swing on. The school is next to a big walking trail which makes it a perfect stop a long the way.
What we like:
- Close to home.
- Two different types of play.
- Walking trails and open field behind school
What our kids like:
- The balance platforms.
- Teeter totter.
Downsides:
- No shade.
- Lots of pavement.
- With it being a school, it can be a place for kids to hang out.
8. Fort Needham Park
We recently found this park when we were walking in the Hydrostone area after hitting the local butcher. The playground is pretty basic with slide and swings but the surrounding area made up for it. It was great to walk through there and feel the history of the city. The tower and the view of the water were the highlights. It is a quiet and relaxing park to walk through and visit.
Map.
What we like:
- Quiet and wide open.
- Close to Hydrostone (ie. getting tasty meats at Highland Drive)
What our kids like:
- Many slides.
- Climbing walls.
- Seeing the tower.
Downsides:
- That it took us several years living here to even know it was there.
9. Kearney Lake
Again, we took several years living here to find this quaint little play area. Again the actual playground is not great. There are swings and slides but it is all about the beach for this trip. There is a small beach and swimming area that is perfect for smaller kids. There is a life guard on duty and the water is pretty warm. So you get a swim and a playground out of this trip.
What we like:
- It can be a full day. Beach, lunch, playground and a lot of fun.
- Nice and relaxed beach area with not a lot of people.
- Every time we have been there, a lot of ducks come to visit.
- A lot of shade.
What our kids like:
- Going in the water.
- Playing on the slides after with their wet shorts.
Downsides:
- Not really close to anything else but that is not a bad thing I guess.
- More picnic tables would be good.
10. Dingle Park
I really like going down to Dingle park. Always a great place to walk and look at the water. The playground there is great too. It is fitting that there is the little tower for kids to climb with the real tower overlooking the playground. You can sit and watch the boats in the water all day here.
Map.
What we like:
- Giant play area.
- Benches to sit and watch the water.
- Small beach area.
- Kids love to go and see Dingle Tower and the lions.
What our kids like:
- Uh, those lions of course.
- The mini Dingle Tower.
- Going on the beach to look for shells.
Downsides:
- A bit out of the way.
- Play area can get pretty crowded.
- We have been there when the Lions have been covered up. That was a bummer.
Others
What other Halifax bloggers are saying when it comes to playgrounds they like:
Christopher D. Drew of Modern Man of the Cloth – DeWolf Park in Bedford or Sackville Heights Elementary school and the castle playground.
Krista Lynne Montelpare of Halitrax – The park on Isleville with the splash pads seems pretty fun.
Amy Wheaton of Rainy Saturday – There’s a pretty sweet playground on Edward Arab Avenue not far from the Halifax Shopping Centre. I think it’s called Westmount.
Laura O’Rourke of Mommy Miracles – We love the one by lake banook and also the one at the elementary school on hawthorn st.
Finally I could not do a post on playgrounds in the HRM without mentioning Alex Smith. The guy has an amazing resource for playgrounds and the importance of kids playing called Halifax Plays.
This blog has details and links to every playground you could think of. I have heard him on the radio talking about the importance of quality playgrounds and why kids need to be using them. My post is only the tip of the ice berg for playgrounds in HRM. Halifax Plays is like the Wikipedia. Thanks for doing all that hard work Alex.
Here is a full list of every playground in the HRM.
These are the best playgrounds Halifax has to offer according to our kids. What about you? What are your favourite playground in HRM? We want to hear from you in the comments.
