The Midwest United States has some of the best playgrounds – board games and fairytales brought to life, medieval castles, and huge imaginative play structures abound. Seriously amazing stuff! Children’s jaws will drop when they see these awesome playgrounds. In fact, your children might even start to drool a little.
Did you know that some of THE BEST playgrounds can be found right here in the American Midwest? It’s true!
A really good playground will encourage children to explore, pretend and play. It will ignite a child’s imagination and maybe even spark a sense of whimsy. And, all of the play areas in this list definitely do those things!
WARNING!! A visit to any of these playgrounds may result in sore and tired muscles, physical exhaustion from a day of play, big smiles and lots of laughter… even the most stoic adults may be tempted to run, play and explore!
Boo Rochman Memorial Park in Carbondale, Illinois
Boo Rochman Park (often referred to as the Castle Park or the Dungeons and Dragons Park) is an amazing playground located in Carbondale, Illinois on the corner of Giant City Road and No Name Road.
Jeremy “Boo” Rochman, the park’s namesake, was a local young man killed tragically in a car accident. He was an avid fan of the role-playing game of Dungeons and Dragons. As a tribute to their son, Jeremy’s parents created (and still maintains) this private park.
SPECIAL NOTE: If you stop by, please consider donating a little money toward the upkeep of this wonderful privately-owned park. There is a donation lockbox located in the center of the park.
A visit to this park of castles, dragons and wizards is a beguiling experience. Everywhere you look, there are small details and wonderful surprises that will delight children and adults alike.
The giant castle play structure features hidden passageways, flying dragons, imprisoned captives, a throne room, wizards, guardsmen, and more.
Be sure to also look around the grounds outside of the castle play structure while you are there. In various corners of the park, you will find a Pegasus, a unicorn, a large dragon to climb on, and a variety of other enchanting sculptures. Also, don’t forget to look up! The imaginative scenes are not just restricted to the ground level. You will discover an archer ready to protect (or attack?) the castle within the branches of one tree. Another tree reminds me of an Edgar Allen Poe poem because it features a pair of ravens amidst its dead branches.
Heritage Park in Sapulpa, Oklahoma
Our family stopped at this park for a picnic lunch and some playtime during our big cross-country family road trip a few years ago. Even though we saw the Grand Canyon, Sequoia Trees, the Petrified Forest and many other awe-inspiring things on this trip, our children tell people that the best part of our trip was our quick stop at Heritage Park.
Heritage Park consists of a massive play structure that reflects all aspects of the local area’s history including its Native American and Route 66 heritages. There’s a volcano, a canoe-shaped sandbox, cowboy corrals, an oil derrick, a teepee and much more.
While adults appreciate all the small tributes to heritage, bygone eras and current area influences, children love it just because it is SO MUCH FUN!
Heritage Park is located at 23 N. Poplar Street in Sapulpa, Oklahoma.
City Museum in St Louis, Missouri
Don’t let the name fool you! City Museum is more of a giant playground than a museum.
This place has been on my destination wish list for a long time. When my children are a little older, I fully intend to stop there and play to my heart’s content. That’s right! I (an adult) plan to play there. This crazy, imaginative play space is intended for adults as much as (or possibly more than) it is for children.
Founded in 1997 by local artist/entrepreneur Bob Cassilly, the City Museum was created out of mostly salvaged materials. And, it is a wonderland for the imagination. Experience the vibrant colors, the cold metal, the nature themes, the industrial themes, and the ferris wheel. Climb, crawl and slide your way in and out of planes, domes, whales, ball pits, a giant praying mantis, castles, caves, a bus dangling from the roof… and the list goes on!
FUN FACT: According to a St Louis Magazine article, the building was sometimes jokingly referred to as “The Museum of Things That Could Kill You” by the founder and his friends.
This play experience is not for the faint of heart. Play at your own risk as injuries can and have occurred. Knee pads and closed toe shoes are recommended. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Some outdoor portions of the exhibits may be closed at times due to weather.
The City Museum is located at 750 North 16th Street in Saint Louis.
Whiting Forest Playground in Midland, Michigan
Children and adults will marvel at the Whiting Forest Playground at Dow Gardens. This nature-themed playground in Midland, Michigan is so much fun! Check out these unique play features:
- a giant bird’s nest to play mama bird in
- a large wooden pod to climb in and out of
- fallen logs to walk across
- water play features to float toys in
- stepping stones for crossing over water
- a trail of tree stumps that children can follow through the various play areas
- a cargo net to scramble across
- PLUS the more typical climbing walls, slides and swings.
The playground is ADA accessible, and it is free for children under the age of five. There is a very small admission charge for adults and older children. (Admission grants you access to ALL areas of Dow Gardens and Whiting Forest.)
The Whiting Forest Playground is located at 2203 Eastman Avenue in Midland, Michigan. You will find the playground behind the Whiting Forest Café.
While you are there, be sure to check out the longest canopy walk in the United States and the Children’s Garden!
Chutes and Ladders Playground in Houghton, Michigan
Everything is built on slanted hilly surfaces in Houghton, Michigan – the roads, the homes, the quaint downtown businesses, and even, a super fun playground. A hillside beside the river is the perfect location for Houghton’s Chutes and Ladders playground.
Just like in the beloved children’s board game, this play structure features multiple levels. There are ladders, stairs and other climbing configurations for children to move between the various levels. And, of course, there are slides of all shapes and sizes throughout the giant play structure. Some slides will simply deposit a child down one or two levels. At the very top of the play structure, there are a couple of big slides to transport children all the way back down to the ground level. Wheeee!
As one reviewer on Yelp states, “I’ve been to many playgrounds with my kids, but this one is the ULTIMATE.”
Houghton’s Chutes and Ladders playground is a fantastic place for your children to wear off a little energy during your next family vacation in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. You can find this ultimate playground in Ray Kestner Waterfront Park (located just off Lakeshore Drive about a half-mile west of the lift bridge).
Deer Tracks Junction near Grand Rapids, Michigan
A friend had suggested visiting Deer Tracks Junction in Cedar Springs, Michigan. She described it as “a fun petting zoo.”
As it turns out, this is NOT just a petting zoo. More than just adorable animals, it is also a wonderland of a play space. Plus, there is ice cream!
We highly recommend this fun stop for anyone with children. You can find this hands-on farm with amazing play areas in Cedar Springs on the corner of 14 Mile Road and Berrigan Ave (about a 20-minute drive from the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan).
Deer Tracks Junction is a hands-on farm where you can pet and feed deer, goats, pigs, and several other animals. Additionally, it features several small playhouse-type structures and two large themed play areas that are sure to intrigue your children.
The thing kids love best about Deer Tracks Junction play structures is its system of hidden tunnels running underneath and throughout the play areas. A child might hop into a play water well, scramble through an underground tunnel, and pop up (much like a prairie dog) somewhere else. You never know where a child will pop out – under the covered wagon, inside the giant play structure, in a wooden faux crate, from a play water well… So much fun, right?!?
A wild west-themed playground is located just outside the front doors. It features a train, a fort, a covered wagon, and of course, secret tunnels.
A second large play area can be found within the hands-on farm. It is a multi-level structure that provides lots of opportunities to climb and slide. It also has secret tunnels.
There is a minimal admission cost at Deer Tracks Junction. Purchase some animal feed, treat yourself to an ice cream cone, and consider going on an evening safari tour while you are there.
Maggie Daley Park in Chicago, Illinois
Submitted by Francesca from TheWorkingMomsTravels.com – You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Chicago’s Maggie Daley Park is the most recent addition to the city’s recreational areas along the lakefront. Named after Chicago’s former first lady, the late Maggie Daley, the park officially opened in 2015. Don’t let the word “park” fool you into thinking it’s just an open green space or a run-of-the-mill playground, because it isn’t. Maggie Daley Park, in one word, is spectacular.
Spanning 25 acres along the Lake Michigan waterfront, Maggie Daley Park is connected to another famous Chicago space, Millennium Park, via the snaky, metallic BP Bridge. Children see Maggie Daley Park as the ultimate playground, a place where their feet and their imaginations can run free. Adults see it as an architectural wonder. The park was designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates and one of their main principals was to “choreograph a complex landscape that offers experiential range”. Any visitor to Maggie Daley Park will see that the designers certainly succeeded.
Admission to Maggie Daley Park is free, though there are costs associated with some activities within the park. Free areas consist of the 3-acre Play Garden, which is divided into separate areas with different themes, some with age restrictions. The Play Garden’s play features and garden areas are purposely different from usual park settings, with the intention of igniting imaginations and providing diverse opportunities for adventure and learning. Snaking around the park is the Skating Ribbon. In the winter, visitors can ice skate; the rest of the year, the ribbon is available for roller blading and scooters. Hockey skates, figure skates, roller blades, and scooters are all available for rent inside the park’s fieldhouse. Thrill seekers can try out the climbing wall (additional cost) while more the more leisurely visitors can play a few rounds of mini golf (also additional cost). For added convenience, lockers are available for rent in the fieldhouse. Families can opt to pack their own snacks and lunches or purchase food and drink from the dining kiosk and other vendors throughout the park. Lastly, Maggie Daley Park is easily accessible via public transportation, but if driving, the Millennium Lakeside Garage is just steps from the park.
Morton Arboretum Children’s Garden in Lisle, Illinois
Morton Arboretum (located near Chicago) is a great place to encourage children to love and appreciate nature through play.
For a small admission fee, you gain access to the grounds which includes the Children’s Garden and Maze Garden. Additionally, Morton Arboretum offers hiking trails and fun programs for the entire family. For instance, we went troll hunting during our last visit there.
The Children’s Garden are broken into two main sections – the Backyard Discovery Gardens and the Adventure Woods.
Backyard Discovery Gardens offers nature-themed play structures like giant walk-thru acorns or slides that resemble oversized tree roots. It also has some water features and educational games. My children enjoyed a leaf hop scotch game they discovered along one of the walkways.
Within the Backyard Discovery Gardens, we also enjoyed gazing at colorful flowers through a kaleidoscope, pumping water from an old-fashioned hand pump, and wandering amidst giant flowers. My curious little explorers really enjoyed discovering flip-up signs as we roved through the grounds; the kids would read the questions on the fronts, and then, flip up the signs to learn the answer. Interactive, educational and fun!
The Adventure Woods is a fun nature space featuring boardwalk paths, climbing structures and a pond. If you visit at the right time of the year, the pond is filled with tadpoles! This is hugely popular with children.
Don’t forget to explore the Maze Gardens while you are at Morton Arboretum. It is located close to the Children’s Garden. There are actually two mazes – a very small hedge maze designed for toddlers and small children and the giant garden maze. The larger maze encircles a viewing platform built around a large tree, and it is a really fun experience for families and adults.
Storybook Land/Wylie Park in Aberdeen, South Dakota
Submitted by Jody from FamilyRambling.com – You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
Step into your favorite nursery rhyme at Storybook Land in Aberdeen, South Dakota! From Jack & Jill’s hill, the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe, and the Three Little Pigs to The Wizard of Oz, this park lets you be a part of your favorite childhood tales.
Every turn of the pathways leads to a new adventure- twisting mazes, funhouse mirrors, kid-sized buildings to climb up and slide down. Be sure to follow the Yellow Brick Road from Dorothy’s house through Oz and the haunted forest before the balloon ride returns you to Aberdeen.
The best feature of the park, for parents, is that Storybook Land is free to enter. With only three attractions that require a paid ticket (completely optional) – the Storybook Land Express (train), carousel, and Land of Oz Wizard’s Balloon- you can have a fun ‘theme park’ experience without spending a dime!
Highfield Discovery Garden in Cincinnati, Ohio
Submitted by Nedra of AdventureMomBlog.com – You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
The Cincinnati, Ohio Metro has lots of wonderful parks through the Great Parks of Hamilton County.
If you are looking for a park that is a little more unique, you will want to add the Highfield Discovery Garden at Glenwood Gardens to your list.
The setting feels like something out of a children’s storybook with a 25 foot Discovery Tree, giant mushrooms, a miniature train, and themed gardens designed to connect kids with nature.
Stolley Park in Grand Island, Nebraska
Submitted by Gretchen from OdysseyThroughNebraska.com – You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
When I travel with my kids, I always try to find a place to learn and a place to play at each new location. Stolley Park in Grand Island, Nebraska, provides both. Not only does the park contain a kids’ kingdom playground, but they also have an operational mini railroad that operates during the summer along with a historical house that offers tours and events.
What Other Midwest Playgrounds Should Be On This List?
Do you know of an awesome playground that should be on this list? Please tell me about it in the comments section below.
These all look so fun! I am really looking at another trip to St. Louis now that the Arch museum is finished. I haven’t been to the City Museum, and I’ve always wanted to go. My daughter may still be too chicken to go down the big slide, though!
The new Arch Museum looks really cool! We would love to go to St Louis again someday. There is so much great stuff to see and do there… including the new Arch Museum. And, I really REALLY want to check out the City Museum!
St. Louis is an awesome town for kids. There’s Turtle park, free zoo and science center, if you go a little west out into the county there’s Grant Farm, The Magic House, Suson Farm, and several municipal pools that are mini water parks at a fraction of the price.
Oh, I had forgotten about Turtle Park! My kids loved playing on the giant turtles there. We almost couldn’t drag them away from there for the zoo. Great suggestions, Tom!
what a cool collab! We love a good playground!
Thanks, Harmony! A good playground during a family vacation can be a real tripsaver.
If you do a list like this for the South Woodland Discovery Playground in Cordova, TN just outside of Memphis TN. Is awesome. It has like 4 or 5 play areas in a nice complex. My son and I had a ball here. Another fun attraction in Memphis is the Bass Pro store. I know they are big stores all across the country but in Memphis, they occupy the Pyramid. The Pyramid is a full city block big. Bass Pro has turned it into a swamp. You can look at boats by walking on them on water inside the Pyramid with fish underneath you. It is amazing.
I have never been to Memphis in Tennessee. Both the South Woodland Discovery Playground and the Bass Pro Pyramid sound amazing!
These all look so fun! Even though my kids are getting older, I think they would still enjoy some of these places, as would my husband and I!
I’m not going to lie. I explored and “played” in a few of these playgrounds myself during our family visits. So fun!
These all look AMAZING! I’d love to design a playground – how much fun would that be??
A playground designer!?! That job would be a dream come true.
These playgrounds are fabulous! We definitely make a point when we’re traveling to find some cool play spots to let the kiddo run around in between all our exploring. He’s such a good traveler it’s only fair to do some stops that are just for him 🙂
Aren’t these playgrounds great? We do the same thing – look for cool play spots during our travels. It is an affordable way to experience new locales, and the kids love it!
Wow. That first playground in Michigan and the one in Chicago look amazing! I wish I would have seen these when we went 2 years ago…oh well, next time!
I’m thinking the Storybook Land playground in South Dakota might rival Disney’s version! Thanks so much for sharing. Will have to keep some of these destinations on our list the next time we visit the Midwest.
Smothers Park in Owensboro, KY is super fun. Admission is free. There is a large building for restrooms and concessions. Turns into a community destination 1x for Fridays after Five with live music.
Do you know if Dow Gardens is open right now? Would you recommend it in the fall? You had me at “ADA accessible.” 😉
Dow Gardens is open but, due to the pandemic, you need to schedule an appointment beforehand. You can schedule your appointment through their website. And, yes, it is a great place to visit in the fall! All of the pictures in this blog post is from a fall visit.