Playgrounds are an excellent place to go with your child.
They encourage exercise and imaginative play in children, they give parents a break and most are completely free to visit.
Interested in going beyond your local park this spring? These five Frederick playgrounds are must-sees.
Sophie & Madigan’s Playground
632 Contender Way, Frederick, MD 21703
Founded in memory of sisters Sophie and Madigan Lillard, this playground serves as a memorial to them, their personalities and interests. Currently, the playground consists of two areas with a third in development: Fantasy Land, which features fantastical set pieces like Cinderella’s pumpkin carriage and a climbable castle, and Wonder Land, which includes “Alice in Wonderland” -inspired elements like the Mad Hatter’s tea party and a slide between the legs of a giant flamingo.
sophieandmadigansplayground.com
Pinecliff Park
8350 Pinecliff Park Road, Frederick, MD 21704
One of six Frederick County playgrounds designated as a Barrier Free Playground, Pinecliff Park’s playground is built with accessibility in mind and includes adaptive features like rubberized ground and wheelchair ramps. Outside of the playground, the park also features many other spots for fun and games like sports fields, horseshoe toss pits and a pond for ice skating in the winter.
recreater.com/255/Pinecliff-Park
Baker Park
121 N Bentz St., Frederick, MD 21701
Baker Park is best known as a venue for concerts and outdoor events, including Frederick’s Fourth, an annual 4th of July celebration, but it also includes two playgrounds: Bandshell Playground and the Edward P. Thomas Memorial Pool Playground. The park is home to “Mr. Ed” the dinosaur, a climbable T-Rex skeleton.
visitfrederick.org/things-to-do
Me Land Frederick
5115 Pegasus Court, Suite P-R, Frederick, MD 21704
If it’s too rainy to go to an outdoor playground, try the indoor Me Land Frederick, a complex of climbable structures, games and playgrounds for children of all ages. The playground features areas aimed at different age groups, such as a Tot Zone for younger children and a Big Kids Zone for older children and tweens.
$9.99-$12.99 (Monday through Thursday) $13.99-$16.99 (Friday through Sunday)
melandplay.com/frederick-md
Fountain Rock Park & Nature Center
8511 Nature Center Place, Walkersville, MD 21793
Nature-loving children will enjoy spending an afternoon at Fountain Rock Park & Nature Center, Frederick County’s first environmental park. The playground pays tribute to the park’s resident turtle population by featuring several turtle sculptures, though families can buy food for the real turtles at the park with quarters. The park also has a “mud kitchen,” a play kitchen where children can make mud pies. The nature center is open on weekends and houses many live animals, including Madagascar hissing cockroaches, bearded dragons and frogs.
recreater.com/294/Fountain-Rock-Park-Nature-Center
