Playground

About

The big playground at Stanley Park, the one with the zip line. Parents love it because the kids burn through energy while you sit under a shelter. Free, and it's right next to the bike park and the dog park.

This is the playground inside the Stanley Park sports complex, run by the Estes Valley Recreation and Park District. It has slides, swings, a zip line, climbing structures, rope walls, and forts, so it works for toddlers and for the kid who thinks they're too old for it. Two picnic shelters, Bluebird and Osprey, sit nearby. The playground connects to the mountain bike park and the dog park, so a mixed family can split up and still keep an eye on each other.

Shade is thin out there. Bring a hat and sunscreen, and water too, because it's a sunny, open spot. I'd come in the morning or late afternoon.

It's also a good place to wear kids out before a long drive into the Park, or after one. If you want something quieter, try Scott Ponds. If you want the river and the shops, the Riverwalk playground is closer to town. This one is for the kids who need room to run.