The best playgrounds around Boston
A great playground isn't just more slides: soft surfaces, separate toddler and big-kid areas, restrooms and shade, and ideally a spray area in summer. This list is picked on those terms, and many are within ten minutes of home.
Martin's Park in the Seaport is the best inclusive playground in the area, with a big wooden ship and spray jets, and the Children's Museum next door; the nature playground on Cambridge Common, built of logs, sand and a water pump, sends kids home covered in mud. Danehy Park and Beaver Brook add spray decks in summer, and the Frog Pond on Boston Common becomes a free wading pool. The Esplanade has sailboats to watch, Columbus Park has yachts. Close to home, Newton Centre, Cypress in Brookline and Lexington Center are the weekend-morning defaults.
- 9 places
- 9 free
- 9 stroller-friendly
- closest is 5 min away
9 places
Drive times from Newton
Newton Centre Playground
5.0Newton · 5 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free street parking on Tyler Terrace, or park in the Newton Centre business district and walk over
Cypress Street Playground
5.0Brookline · 10 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Street parking on Cypress St and Franklin St (watch Brookline's time-limit signs)
Danehy Park playground and spray area
5.0Cambridge · 15 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lots at the Sherman St and New St entrances
Cambridge Common nature playground (Alexander W. Kemp Playground)
5.0Cambridge · 15 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Harvard Square parking is hard; take the Red Line to Harvard and walk 3 minutes, or use a Harvard Square garage
Lexington Center playground (Center Recreation Complex)
5.0Lexington · 20 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Free lot off Worthen Rd
Charles River Esplanade and Charlesbank Playground
5.0Boston · 20 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Easiest is the Red Line to Charles/MGH and a 3-minute walk; by car use the MGH garage (expensive) or the temporary Esplanade spaces under Storrow Dr
Boston Common: Tadpole Playground and Frog Pond
5.0Boston · 20 min drive
2 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Green Line to Park St puts you right there; by car use the Boston Common underground garage (from about $20)
Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park
5.0Boston · 25 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Blue Line to Aquarium and a 2-minute walk; by car use the Harbor Garage or Parcel 7 garage (discounted with a Haymarket purchase)
Martin's Park accessible playground (Seaport)
5.0Boston · 25 min drive
1.5 h · stroller-friendly
Free · Parking: Red Line to South Station and a 10-minute walk; by car use the Farnsworth St garage by the Children's Museum or the Stillings St garage
💡 Good to know
- Spray areas generally run mid-June to early September; bring a change of clothes.
- For the downtown playgrounds the T beats driving: Park Street, Charles/MGH, Aquarium and South Station are each within a 5-minute walk.