Hooker-Sorrento Playground, in North
Brighton, is a very nice, large playground with some unique
features. The fully enclosed toddler area includes, in addition to a climbing
structure and swings, a mini-track circling the area. The older-kids’ climbing
structure is a very good one, and next to the swings, there’s a swervy mini
balance beam. There’s also a sprinkler, various riding toys scattered around,
and a large grassy area shaded by trees.
Fulmore Park is all about wood
and sand. There are two wooden climbing structures, both appropriate for
toddlers, and baby swings. But the main attraction is definitely the large
oval-shaped sandbox, which is filled with an extensive collection of large wood
building blocks. I was there in the autumn, but it looks like there’s also a
set-up for water-play in the summer, which could lead to lots of muddy fun...
On the Cambridge side of the Cambridge Street Bridge – and across the street
from a truly enormous Whole Foods – Riverside Press Park includes a playground with swings
and an extensive climbing structure, tennis and basketball courts, and the
below rock structure whose purpose I could not quite determine (anyone more
knowledgeable, please weigh in!)
Alberico Park is a small, pretty playground that follows a path winding between
Putnam Avenue
and Pleasant St.
It features a flat white area, a fun
wooden ship-like climbing structure (a bit too difficult for my 2-year-old), two swings, and – the main attractions for
all the toddlers on the morning I was there – a slide and rock staircase set
into a hill.
The main attraction at Dana Park is unquestionably its in-ground
sprinklers, which automatically vary in height & direction once they're turned on. At their highest, the water shoots well above adult height - next time we come here on a hot summer day, I
intend to wear more water-friendly clothes and run through it myself.
I know, I know; it’s in CAMBRIDGE! Across a RIVER! Living in Brookline, I fully understand
the mental hurdle. But this awesome playground, which is just a short jaunt
over the BU Bridge, is well worth overcoming it. The climbing structure is made
of a combination of black bouncy material and rope webbing, there’s a metal
slidey-ish thing going down a hill, plus a variety of newfangled sorts of
swings. Different and fun. The only downside is that the combination of little
shade plus everything being black can make it hot to the touch, which made
things a little difficult for my kids at noon on a mid-80s day, but was not
insurmountable. There was also what seemed to be a sprinkler area (not working the day we were there), plus a basketball court and some stone ping pong tables.
Monmouth Street Park is a tiny playground right next door to the Brookline Arts Center. It consists of a single fire truck-themed play structure, a grassy area,
and a low stone wall for walking on (probably not its official purpose).
Despite its small size, the fire truck structure was a huge hit with all my
kids, from the 6-year-old to the 2-year-old – but after less than half an hour, they were done. Best to bring chalk, jump rope, balls, etc. if you're planning a long visit.