Right behind the RFL Electronics building at 353 Powerville Road  in Boonton Township you will find beautiful fields, walking paths, a large gazebo and a fun playground. This complex hosts many soccer and football games during the weekends in the fall and spring, but otherwise isn't too busy. It's a great place to bring a kite on a windy day. All that wide open space creates an opportunity for tremendous gusts. The equipment is made of wood and plastics and offers some more challenging climbing for older ones, mirrors and things like a play train for little ones. Once you are done, take a …

Right off of North Beverwyck Road in Lake Hiawatha you will find Volunteers Park, which features a fabulous recreation area that offers something for everyone. A skate park with ramps and jumps galore is perfect for any boarders in your house.  There are also ball fields and lit basketball courts. You will even find a bocce court and horseshoe pits. A large picnic area has grills and can be reserved by stopping in at the recreation department or sending an email. The new playground equipment at this park is amazing. There are two large structures; one meant for kids from ages 2-5 and another …

The Rainbow Lakes Playground is not far off Fox Hill Road. Turn onto Oakdale and then follow the wooden municipal signs to get to this hidden haven.  View a map here. Drive down the short driveway and park on the black top.  You’ll find a baseball field in front of you with the backstop to your left and the playground equipment to your right. Tucked in the woods, this playground is a nice shady retreat or a great place for a autumn leaf hunt or acorn gathering.  There’s a good chance given the humidity of the area that you may find some cool mushrooms too. The playground features several …

If you need a quiet place to play, turn down Crestview Drive or Fieldcrest to get to Crestview Drive Park.  It’s easy to miss, so see the map here.   Follow the brick path into the woods from Crestview to arrive at a small but also very new playground tucked into this quiet residential area. Bring a volleyball or badminton equipment and take advantage of the sand volleyball court. The new equipment features several slides, a little bit of climbing and a few play things like a tunnel and some finger mazes.  It’s right-sized for kids ages 2-5 year olds, but older children will enjoy it too. …

This shady roadside park and playground, only about a 10 minute drive away, is barely into Denville and easily accessible via Route 10 West or Route 53 East. Its proper name is the Francis A. Kwiatkowski Memorial Park of Beacon Hill. Be prepared to drive over the curb to park in front or to the side of this completely fenced playground. You can bring snacks to share on the nearby picnic tables. Also bring along a basketball or remote-control cars for the paved basketball court. There are plenty of opportunities for experiential learning while you play too. Check the box that hangs just inside…

Just off of Parsippany Boulevard, down the street from Intervale Elementary School, you will find Manor Park. The park boasts a baseball field, basketball court and walking path. There’s also a port-a-john, a drinking fountain, picnic tables and benches. Tall trees provide lots of shade and a newly renovated play structure provides lots of options for swinging, climbing and sliding. Three twisty slides top the end of the structure just opposite a funky, curved climbing ladder.  Monkey bars carry you across to a ramp that leads down to a climbing wall, stairs and several other paths to safe …

Just over the Morris Plains border and into Hanover Township, Hanover Park on Malapardis Road is one of the most delightful playgrounds around. As you pull into the parking lot you’ll see a pond straight ahead. At times, a central fountain sprays water into the air, at other times you’ll find people fishing.  You can usually spy a turtle or two swimming along the edges. To the left of the pond, a playground sits along the tree line.  There are toddler swings, a hippo with all its internal organs labeled, a large climbing structure with lots of slides and “mushroom caps” followed by adult-…

Turn onto Arlington Road off of Park Road (yes, the one with all the speed “humps”) and you’ll end up at Park Road Field, home to almost all of Par-Troy Little League West’s softball games. This recreation complex has a great little playground with some challenging climbing equipment, a couple of slides, two sets of swings and the seesaw-replacing arch that you see now at playgrounds. The green arch has seats on either side.  It’s fairly hard to get it moving up and down, so expect to get a workout if your kids are younger. There are paved paths that encircle the playing fields. These paths …

The playground located just past the Jacob Ford Village apartments in the historic Washington Headquarters area of Morristown was renovated just a few years ago. To find it, put Philip Place and Valley View Drive into your GPS or click here for a google map. Jacob Ford Park is protected by just the right amount of lovely shade and is completely fenced in, which is perfect because it’s adjacent to a fairly busy street. There are a couple of picnic tables available if you want to pack a lunch or snack and there’s a water fountain. There is no bathroom, however, so plan ahead. The brightly …

In front of the Mount Tabor Post Office, Tabernacle and Volunteer Fire Department is the perfect little playground and park for toddlers just learning about slides and swings. A right-sized climbing wall, slide and little playhouse accommodate any child just learning to walk.  Your 2-4 year-old will enjoy low-to-the-ground monkey bars, and kids of all ages will enjoy a little digger they can operate on their own. While the children play, you can soak up the interesting architecture that surrounds you.  An adjacent gazebo is reminiscent of the Victorian era in this delightful neighborhood …

Imagination Station at Horseshoe Lake Park can be found by pointing your GPS to 72 Eyland Ave. in Succasunna or click here for the Google map. This playground is well worth the travel time--it’s amazing. The first thing you’ll notice is how colorful it is. Then you’ll see the climbing wall painted to look like an underwater sea adventure and the huge ship named the S.S. Roxbury II.  Next you’ll find the tower painted to look like a rocket ship. In the toddler area, there’s an adorable yellow house complete with flowers and little stepstools leading to its door. There’s also a bright blue …

Loantaka Brook Reservation is located just outside downtown Morristown on your way to Madison. Click here for a map. The park is owned and operated by the Morris County Parks Department and includes more than five miles of paved and unpaved paths for walking, biking, rollerblading, running and even horseback riding.  Seaton Hackney Stables, also a County Parks facility, is right next door. At the South Street entrance to the park, you’ll find a wooden play structure and picnic gazebo, bathrooms, ballfields and fitness equipment for those who want to get in an extra workout. The fields are …

Heading east on Route 46 just after you pass Smith Field, make a right after the Empire Diner onto Grange Road to park next to the tennis courts or playground and picnicking area. There you'll find a magnificent place for kids to play. There are four courts at Smith Field. Right next to them, you will see the coolest tree house ever.  Duck inside the little doorways to find leaf shaped steps that will take you to the top and lead you to the slides. Once you’ve fully explored the delights of the tree house, follow the paths that veer off to the left to a wooded picnicking grove with more …

The Dale Anderson Jaycees Tot Lot is located toward the rear of Emmet Fields, a large sports complex just off Ridgedale Avenue in Florham Park. (Click here for a map.) You will snake past the Florham Park Public Library and platform tennis on your way to the playground. This popular spot for little ones is fully fenced and has beautiful, relatively new equipment. There are bathrooms, picnic tables and shade to be found, making it a convenient spot to spend a few hours.  The equipment includes challenging stand-alone climbing walls and fun “tea cup” spinners.  There are cute games built into …

Just over the Parsippany border into Whippany, in the same park and complex as Bee Meadow Pool, you'll find Bee Meadow Park and a wonderfully equipped and fenced playground named Brickyard Field.  This playground is unique in that it fences in the toddler area, swings and equipment separately from the area meant for kids age five through 12.  In the toddler area the ground cover is rubber matting instead of mulch. Both of these features make this a great destination for little ones still a little wobbly on their feet. On the "big kid" side you'll find a really cool gondola ride.  A covered …

Across from Valleyview Middle School on Diamond Spring Road outside downtown Denville you'll find Muriel Hepner Park. This lovely park is off the beaten path, in a rustic setting with a dirt parking lot largely hidden from the busy road. You'll feel like you're escaping it all for just a minute. The park offers gorgeous sights and solitude. Enjoy a pretty pond with a fountain in the middle. Lily ponds are always lovely and they should be blooming this time of the year.  Locals are often found reading on benches or enjoying a quiet lunch. This playground is the only one in Morris County (or …

Are you a fan of trains? Then you will want to pay a visit to Old Troy Park. This lovely park is owned and maintained by the Morris County Parks Commission. It features sunny and open grassy play areas, a baseball field and a fitness station with recommended exercises and stretches.  There is also a shady grove with several options for picnicking.  Larger parties can enjoy the gazebo right next to a wooden train that little choo-choo fans will ride and climb on for hours. Indoor bathrooms are open during spring and summer, and walking trails are perfect for a lunchtime stroll or weekend …

One of the biggest and best playgrounds in Morris County is just a short ride north from most points in Parsippany. This Memorial Day weekend, take a ride with your little ones to explore  the Montville Community Park and Playground.    This park features an incredibly diverse, clean and well-designed playground with four distinct play areas and something for everyone. You could describe this place as being like an amusement park. It has a farm theme that ties together the play areas together and offers unbelievable variety in the equipment.  Watch or join in the fun as children ascend stairs…

Freedom Park  is located on Millbrook Avenue in Randolph. As you approach the park, you can't miss the playground.  You will have to pass it and drive up the hill to find a spot to park your car. The kids will undoubtedly get excited as you approach.  There’s a great picnic shelter not far from the playground, which means you’re likely to encounter another group or two if you visit during the week. Also, expect crowded conditions on the weekend due to the surrounding sports fields. After you park, head down the hill for the playground. The brightly colored drums and chimes will beckon you. …

The Knoll playground is located next to the parks and recreation offices at 1 Knoll Lane.  This beautiful and big playground was the first play area in a public park in New Jersey to be designed for handicapped children.  They have a recently renovated and reservable picnic shelter and nearby bathrooms. The play equipment will provide hours of entertainment for your little ones.  It has tons of fun slides and playthings featuring the alphabet, rock paper scissors, cartoon characters and more.  It's all nicely spread out and rarely empty so you are sure to make a new friend or two. Besides the…