Laurel Hill Playground

Took my little one to this playgroup. I didn’t like it too much. Too much sand and woodchips on the ground. Plus it was hilly to go up/​down the road to get here.
The playsets were wooden which I prefer not to have my little one climb on it in case he gets a splinter on his finger.

My 1^st Unilocal review of a playground! I love this place! It’s a hidden treasure. Whenever we come here it’s usually dead, only a few families playing here, usually with kids 5 and under, which is great. I have a 2 year old and I hate when the playground is overrun by older kids and he can’t safely play.
Some days, there seems to be a daycare or pre-​school program (not sure which) with kids around 3 – 4 yrs old. The women that run it are very friendly and seem to take great care of the kids. I have observed this by sitting on a swing for an hour with my 2 year old in my lap gleefully swinging with me.
There is a large field/​baseball diamond (there seems to be some flooding issues when it rains though) and a tennis court and basketball court as well.
The only downside is it’s uphill in every direction to get there. You know that place your parents used to walk to as kids? This is it!

Don’t tell anyone — but I let my dog run out on the athletic field.
I understand the policy against it, and I have seen my share of bad owners. In my case though, I take my pup to his standard bathroom place first (and of course pick up after her) so she doesn’t go when she is at the park here.
She loves to come here because the kids always want to pet her and she loves kids and loves the attention.
Great little park/​playground as long as we keep it clean.

I was always hoping that Laurel Hill Playground would never get reviewed because I love it so much!
While it’s not the largest or most modern of the playgrounds in the City it’s definitely the most charming. I love the City College course for parents and kids and my (almost) 2 year old asks to come to Laurel Hill daily. While my daughter has made friends there I have as well and the community of parents and caretakers is amazing.

Of all the activities I have done with my toddler so far, this is the best one. And it’s free!
It is not like every other playground. Even though it hasn’t been renovated, it has a program from 9am till noon every week day hosted by City College.
It starts at 15-​month old. Inside they set up various different stations every day (painting, play doh, puzzles…). Outside they put out sand toys, riding toys, cars and carts. They do circle time. My two-​year old knows all the songs by heart and performs for us several times a day. It is adorable.
We had his birthday party there when he turned two last month. It was perfect and in my opinion much better than it would have been at Alta Plaza or Julius Khan because you can set up camp inside of the playground.