Ray Ross Park

680 S. Harlan St.

Lakewood, CO

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This is a new, ultra-modern playground that is significantly different from the standard playground design. The slide has no sides and looks a lot like a tongue. Creative climbing options abound.  Q calls this the spider-web playground. The main part of the playground might prove intimidating for smaller children, but another segment provides more traditional options for those who seek them.  A small splash park in the shape of a baseball diamond rounds out this innovative new park.

Amenities Include:

Picnic shelter with BBQ grills

Baseball diamonds

Basketball (1/2 court)

Restrooms (with flush toilets and even a counter for diaper changes), plus two port-o-potties

Water fountains (including 1 freeze-proof)

Splash Park

Green Gables Park/Sanctuary Park

Green Gables Park

1450 S. Garrison St.

Lakewood, CO

website

Sanctuary Park

1401 S. Garrison St.

Lakewood, CO

website

Sanctuary Park is a charming little neighborhood park, with an old-style wooden playground (no slides) and a pretty little lake.  There is ample room for running around, and along the other side of the creek is a pleasant walking path that winds along behind houses and emerges about a block down Garrison from the park (you can continue on if you choose, but I don't know where it leads). The playground has a generous number of swings (six toddler swings, four standard swings). Otherwise, it probably isn't the best playground for younger children.  There are no picnic tables. Sancuary Park, just across Garrison, provides a nice place for a short nature walk.

Amenities Include:

baseball

soccer

port-o-potty

walking paths

Sanctuary Park

Addenbrooke Park

600 S. Kipling Pkwy.

Lakewood, CO

website

This is an "event" park.  It seems to have been designed for large events (there are several soccer fields, baseball diamonds, etc...) and three picnic shelters with several grills, right next to the playground. The playground itself is nothing special, but it is certainly adequate, with slides, a tire swing, plenty of climbing opportunities, and a small separate toddler area.  Q seemed to be enthusiastic about the playground, but we soon wandered off around the lake, and exploring around the trees and rocks proved more engaging than the playground.

Amenities Include:
Several (attached) picnic shelters with grills
Indoor restrooms with running water (no doors on stalls)

Water fountain