"Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children, play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood." ~ Mr. Rogers
Following is our list of what we consider to be some of the BEST parks in Douglas County and throughout the Denver Metro region. Several have spraygrounds too, which makes them the perfect destination for summer's hottest days!
Belleview Park (5001 S. Inca, Englewood), located next to Pirates Cove, is famous for the Farm and the Train (both are $1.50 per person and open throughout the summer except for Mondays). It also has two playgrounds with a covered picnic area between them, plenty of room to run around, and a shallow creek filled with wading children. You'll want to have two pairs of shoes for each person when you visit this park - closed-toe shoes for the farm and water shoes for wading.
Bison Park (1390 Clear Sky Way, Castle Rock) has a covered picnic pavilion, a HUGE playground with a variety of structures suitable for kids of all ages, and synthetic turf fields. Bring lots of sunscreen and lots of water as there is very little shade other than the pavilion. Also, the only bathroom is a portable toilet so it can be difficult for kids in the midst of potty-training.
Civic Green Park (9370 Ridgeline Blvd., Highlands Ranch) has TONS of family-friendly events all year-round, from Pajama Storytime to Ballet in the Park to Ice Cream Socials and more. Located next to the James J. LaRue Library (formerly known as Highlands Ranch Library), the park has a wonderful playground, a small man-made creek running next to the playground, fountains for splashing in to stay cool, and a stage.
Clement Park (7306 W. Bowles Ave., Littleton) hosts a variety of events including the Colorado Irish Festival in July and the Summerset Festival in September. This park literally has something for everyone — 3 playgrounds, a skate park, tennis courts, basketball courts, horseshoe pits, trails, and a 60-acre lake with a stroller-friendly walking path all the way around it. And if an afternoon shower comes in, the library is adjacent to the parking lot.
Dinosaur Ridge (16831 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison) is THE place to go if you've got a dino fanatic in the family. Dinosaur Ridge Trail has more than 15 marked fossil sites, including a site with more than 300(!!) dinosaur footprints. Follow it up with a trip to Morrison Natural History Museum, and your kids will think they're in Dino Heaven!
Elk Ridge Park (7005 Mira Vista Ln., Castle Pines) offers 360-degree views of the plains and foothills, an educational scavenger hunt, a large playground with a two-story slide, and a fun sprayground. Even though it's in the midst of the "burbs" the park has a wonderfully natural setting and feel to it.
Hudson Gardens (6115 S. Santa Fe Dr., Littleton) is well-known for its summer concert series. Its regional display gardens — including the Plant Zoo with Porcupine Grass, Ostrich Fern, and other "animals" — showcase plant life that grow well in the Rocky Mountain Region. The miniature Garden Railroad (for viewing, not riding) and the Water Gardens with giant lily pads and scores of tiny frogs are some of our favorite features. Borrow a Family Explorer Pack and wear comfortable walking shoes. BONUS: Hudson Gardens is FREE (donations gratefully accepted).
Hudson Gardens
Marjorie Park (Greenwood Plaza Blvd. and E. Caley Ave., Greenwood Village) isn't very big, doesn't have a playground or a sprayground or even a picnic table. So why is it on our list of favorite parks? Because it has incredible, gorgeous, life-size sculptures of the characters from Alice in Wonderland, including a huge one of the Mad Hatter's Tea Party. Enter from the parking lot and follow the path to see the White Rabbit, the Caterpillar, and others presented in the same order that Alice met them. Make your visit extra special by bringing cupcakes with "Eat Me" labels or use cookie cutters to make bread-and-butterflies. NOTE: Samson Park is on the north side of Fiddler's Green Amphitheater, so check the concert schedule before you go to avoid closed streets and parking issues.
Marjorie Park - Photo courtesy Museum of Outdoor Arts
O'Brien Park (10795 Victorian Dr., Parker), located near downtown Parker, has a playground, a softball field, a basketball court, and H2O'Brien Pool, which is a great family outdoor pool with a sprayground, water slides, and more. Many family-friendly events, including outdoor summer movies and Parker Days Festival, take place at this popular park.
Red Rocks (18300 W. Alameda Pkwy., Morrison) is famous worldwide for the amphitheatre, the only natural geologically formed open-air theater in existence. The beautiful setting, various trails with breathtaking views, and impressive sandstone monoliths make it an extraordinary place to spend the day. The Visitor Center has a variety of educational exhibits and pamphlets on nearly every tourist destination in Colorado.
Redstone Park (3280 Redstone Park Cir., Highlands Ranch) has a skate park (fun for skating or just watching), baseball fields, tennis courts, a small fishing pond, covered picnic tables, and a fun playground with sand and water features. Expect to get dirty and make lots of mud pies at this fabulous park!
Redstone Park Pond - Photo courtesy Highlands Ranch Metro District
Roxborough State Park (4751 N. Roxborough Dr., Littleton), like Red Rocks, is filled with spectacular red-rock formations that are just as beautiful in the winter as in the summer. It has an educational Visitor Center and kid-friendly hiking trails. If you've got a preschooler, check out Kids Hour every Tuesday. Friends of Roxborough sponsor events and programs for all ages, including sunrise and moonlight hikes and summer concerts.
Washington Park (S. Downing St. and E. Louisiana Ave., Denver) is one of the three largest parks in the Denver park system. My favorite feature is the flower garden, which is replanted every Memorial Day weekend so it is "new" each summer. Wash Park also has a great playground, a large field frequently filled with volleyball nets, walking and biking paths, soccer fields, basketball courts, and tennis courts. Smith Lake has a paved walking path around it, or you can rent a kayak, canoe, or pedal boat.
Washington Park Gardens
Westlands Park (5701 S. Quebec St., Greenwood Village) is a hidden gem. It has a HUGE playground area, a two-story treehouse, a giant sculputure of two hands holding a rock (and usually several kids perched atop it), a man-made lake, an inline hockey rink, paved and unpaved walking paths, and a sprayground. The playground area has very little shade but it also had the best-maintained bathrooms of all the parks we visited.
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