Billy Ward Playground

The newly-renovated William Billy Ward Playground is divided into two levels, both with new and cool equipment. The upper level is for toddlers, with a large sand-lot, train structure, wooden climbing structure, and large area with some pretty amazing (and high-reaching!) in-ground sprinklers. The lower level, which can be accessed via a ramp, stairs, or spiral slide (!), features a web-style climbing structure, swings, and a rock-climbing wall.

The toddler section has some tree cover, but the lower section has very little shade.

Joyce Playground (a/k/a Priscilla Playground)

Joyce Playground, also known as Priscilla Playground to locals (or so I'm told), is a bright, colorful playground that includes some fun twists on the typical equipment - especially for older kids - that I haven't seen at any other playground so far. The main playground section is fully enclosed, and outside there is a water play area with inground sprinklers, basketball courts, and some additional swings. It was decently shaded at 10 a.m., though I'm guessing it's the opposite in the afternoon.

I walked, so I can’t say for sure, but the parking situation seemed pretty grim – there are some patches of 2-hour parking on Prsicilla Street about half a block from the playground, but not much. If I read the signs on Union Street correctly, that street is resident-only parking on weekdays only, so your best bet might be to drive over on a Sunday. If anyone has any alternative suggestions, please let me know in the comments!

(Tip from a reader: “It might be possible to park on the other side of Chestnut Hill -- some of those streets are only resident-only during BC football games, and the rest are available anytime.”)

Shubow Park

Rabbi Joseph Shalom Shubow Park features a newly-renovated playground, set next to a grassy oasis of calm near the intersection of Comm Ave and Chestnut Hill Avenue. Set on three levels with gentle slopes between them, the playground features an older-kid section on the lowest level, swings on the middle level, and toddler equipment plus a sprinklers on the top. The ground is all soft foam, and there are several extremely comfortable built-in lounge chairs for adults (which also double as climbing equipment, of course).