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Community Corner

Swing Across Astroturf at Muriel Hepner Park

Take a ride out Diamond Springs Road to enjoy a scenic playground sans woodchips or mulch

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.

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This playground is the only one in Morris County (or anywhere else nearby!) with artificial grass as ground covering—no wood chips, no recycled rubber, no sand and therefore nothing between your toes. 

The equipment is newly updated and fun with an intercom system that allows children to have a secret conversation with a friend 50 feet away.  Benches provide a spot for adults to rest.

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Another key feature is the wooden fence that surrounds the entire playground, safely enclosing toddlers and curious pre-schoolers.

The slides sit directly in the sun, so be careful if you are visiting later in the day. And make sure you use a restroom before you come.  There are no bathrooms at this location.

After you've had your fill of play, take a walk around the pond and into the woods. You'll cross a cute little bridge and can meander a bit into the woods.

Head back into Denville when you're done to have ice cream at Denville Dairy, Miami Rice Pudding Company or Stewarts

Alternatively, keep driving on Diamond Spring Road and visit the animals at Brookhollow Barnyard.  You can feed them carrots galore, play in their adorable play house and sand box and maybe even take a hay ride.

Amy Lamperti is the publisher of The Playground Guide and co-owner of www.njplaygrounds.com. For more details on playgrounds all over New Jersey, visit the website or follow NJ Playgrounds on Facebook.

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