Family Friendly

Philly’s playgrounds might save your sanity

Last week we talked about where to take your dog in Philadelphia when he’s getting rambunctious and needs to get owwwwwwwt! Oops, I may have sorta, kinda, forgotten that some of you might need to get yourselves and the kids out of the house too.

Some place nice, safe, with lots of cool playground stuff type things to do. A place where you can let the little tykes off the leash as well.

During a lengthy, clandestine interview process, in which we queried mothers and fathers in the ‘know’, it became apparent that there are a few kid playgrounds around town that stand out above the rest.

Let’s take a look…

Jenks Playground (Germantown and Southhampton Avenues, 215.248.6604)
Located at the John Story Jenks Elementary School, this community-built playground has something for kids of all ages. The toddler section has a sand box with plenty of shovels, buckets, and dump trucks. It also has wooden structures to climb on, swings, slides, and giant bells. There are different levels of wood structures for older kids, with kid-friendly slides, tunnels, swings, and ropes. Jenks has benches for weary parents to park it and is fenced for safety. Lots of food options nearby.

Allen’s Lane Playground (Allen’s Lane and McCallum Street, 215.248.0546)
Allen’s Lane is part of the Allen’s Lane Art Center. The playground is newly refurbished, as well as nearby tennis and basketball courts, an open field, and plenty of free parking.

Smith Playground (33rd and Oxford Street, 215.765.4325)
The Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse provides safe, creative and fun recreational activities free of charge to Philadelphia area children.

If you don’t happen to live near any of these three, check out the city’s directory of neighborhood parks.

A unique place to take the kids would also be one of the area spraygrounds. You guessed it – this is where water sprays out from mounted structures and geysers. If there’s one thing I know, kids like to run through water.

Find the sprayground nearest you:

1. Waterview Recreation Center – Rittenhouse and McMahon Streets
2. Smith Playground – 2100 S. 24th Street
3. Ferko Playground, J and Cayuga; 48th and Woodland

Make a kid’s day. Get them wet!

Find more Philadelphia kids events on our calendar.

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