The summer days can be long and finding a playground to keep your kids occupied and entertained can be similar to locating a unicorn. Kids love playgrounds but some structures only hold their attention for half an hour. When I’m packing up for a day at a park, I want a playground that is going to provide entertainment for 4+ hours. Here are Family Fun Vancouver’s picks for “Playgrounds Worth the Drive in Metro Vancouver”.
Maple Ridge Park
Photo credit: CK Lee for City of Maple Ridge
What Kids Love: Kids love everything about Maple Ridge Park! 2 water parks (one for bigger kids & one for little kids), a HUGE playground nestled in the shade of massive trees (slides, multiple and varied climbing structures, and swings), a sand pit with digging machines, and a HUGE field for running around. Parents will love the washrooms in close proximity to the play area, the numerous picnic tables and covered seating areas, the coolness of the ample shaded areas, and the many parking options.
Where Parents Can Find It: 23200 Fern Crescent, Maple Ridge
Queenston Park
Photo credit: Lindsay Follett
What Kids Love: The entire playground has WOW factor. Though it is a community playground (no washrooms or drinking fountains), Queenston Park’s Playground is a must visit. After climbing up the steep hill countless times, your little ones will come home tuckered.
Where Parents Can Find It: 3415 Queenston Avenue, Coquitlam
Lions Park at Centennial Beach
What Kids Love: This playground is massive! Not only is it an accessible playground, it is also on the beach & full of climbing, swinging fun.
Where Parents Can Find It: 541 Centennial Pkwy, Delta
Confederation Park
Photo credit:City of Burnaby
What Kids Love: The new and improved playground & water park at Confederation Park is fantastic! Our kids LOVE the imaginative play that is cultivated at the water park. Water trickles down ramps, encounters kid-controlled blockages, sprays out of the top of rocks, and comes out of a pump. The kids can work together to move the water, or work independently figuring out a mechanism on their own. The water park is HUGE and can accommodate a vast number of children. The biggest challenge? Keeping track of which kid is yours! The playground encircles the water park. There are a number of play structures scattered around giving ample space for kids to play. Big disc swings, slides, climbing structures, and more keep the kids busy when they are done with the water park. Parents will like the shade provided by the big trees, and the many picnic spots & tables.
Where Parents Can Find It: 250 Willingdon Avenue, Burnaby
Sapperton Park
Photo credit: Lindsay Follett
What Kids Love: Sapperton Park has received a complete renovation in 2017. The amazing nature, adventure play-based playground opened in late May. The sand & water park is scheduled to open at the end of June. This playground encourages hard, physical play. Kids are running everywhere, climbing, swinging, sliding themselves into a sweaty, red-cheeked, smiling state. The parents are able to relax in charming red Adirondack chairs or perch on the low cement walls. Definitely bring a change of clothes and a towel when coming to this park. The kids are going to be covered head to toe in wet sand…but they’ll be exhausted & smiling!
Where Parents Can Find It: 351 E Columbia Street, New Westminster
Rocky Point Park
Photo credit: City of Port Moody
What Kids Love: Rocky Point Park is frequently voted a top playground in Metro Vancouver. Aside from the stunning geographic location (right along Burrard Inlet), the playground and water park have lots to offer kids. The water park is train-themed. There are painted train tracks, a train crossing sign, “tunnels” to chug through, and is backed by a train-station looking building (that’s where you can find the oh-so-important washrooms). Right beside the beloved water park is a boat-themed playground. The massive boat structure invites kids to get creative in how they play. Friendships and alliances are formed surprisingly quickly during endless games of “pirate”. Parents will enjoy the picnic tables with a view of the water, the side-by-side layout of the playground and water park, and the beautiful walks throughout Rocky Point Park. And don’t forget there are some tasty restaurants in the park: Rocky Point Ice Cream, The Boathouse, and Pajo’s Fish & Chips.
Where Parents Can Find It: 2800 Block Murray Street, Port Moody
Steveston Community Park
Photo credit: City of Richmond
What Kids Love: There is so much to do at the 30 acre Steveston Community Park. The water park features numerous spray guns, bubblers, rain towers, and spray/misting structures. The playground has been extensively re-designed and is wheelchair accessible. There are ramps and elevated platforms, a huge climbing structure and a big slide.
Where Parents Can Find It: 4011 Moncton St, Richmond
Creekside Park
Photo credit: Park Board
What Kids Love: The Creekside Playground opened in 2017 and kids in downtown Vancouver can’t get enough! A climbing tower, giant tube slide, swings, play hut with ramp, musical instruments, water & sand play area plus a massive zipline are the reasons this playground is so popular. The playground also includes more than 30 shade trees, seating, lawn, and picnic areas.
Where Parents Can Find It: 1455 Quebec Street (adjacent to Science World), Vancouver
Rochester Park
Photo credit: Mark Follett
What Kids Love: A stand out feature of the Rochester Park playground is the fact it appeals to a wide variety of ages. From the toddler section with climbing structures, slides and a sand pit, to the “bigger” kids climbing wonderland, kids of all ages will be thoroughly entertained here. There is also a skate park with rails and a water / spray park. Parents will also appreciate the covered picnic areas and close-proximity washrooms.
Where Parents Can Find It: 1300 Rochester Avenue, Coquitlam
