Martin Park--3900 King's Mill Run, Rocky River

This park is in Rocky River and it's bordered by King's Mill Run and Martin's Way of Center Ridge Road. I couldn't find it again but Bill's cousin Andy and her husband Brian live in the neighborhood. The day we went was rainy, but the kids didn't care.

What's good: Totally enclosed. Parking is close by, but it's set back in a housing development so there's zero traffic. Toddler climber and big climber. Lots of motor planning activities--steps, little stairs, balancers. Good slides. Pavilion for snacks.

What's bad: NO SHADE. In the summer, you'd be roasting by eleven. Other than that, this one is a winner.

Grade: A-

Cumberland Park Playground, Cleveland Heights

I found this seemingly hidden gem just the other day as I took Cumberland Road towards Mayfield. The pool is on Cumberland, and it has tennis courts and basketball as well. But in the park, just after the pool, is this treasure. Wide open, shaded, lots of room. I've lived in the Heights for six years and never knew it was here. Bad me.

How to get there, first of all: There is no parking. You have to either park at the pool and schlep over, or do what we did: Take Superior off Mayfield and turn left on Hampshire. Make a hard left onto Preyer, which is a dead end. If you park on Preyer you can walk in on the city vehicles entrance (third photo from top).

What's good: look at that shade! You'll have shade until about noon. There's a nearby pavilion and a potty (which Bill described as "odious") but any port in a storm. There's also a picnic table at between the swings and the climber. The climber has a rock wall, lots of slides, a bridge, and several types of monkey bars. There's a sandbox pit as well. There are four toddler swings plus big kid swings. Plenty of run room.

What's bad: Parking on Preyer is annoying, but since it's a dead end, you don't have to worry about a lot of cars zooming past you as you haul kids out of the car.

Grade: B+

Kenilworth Park, Corner of Overlook and Kenilworth, Cleve. Hts.

Here's a few things about Kenilworth you need to know right off the bat. It's literally one block away from the famous Turtle Park, so I don't think it gets a lot of play. There are only two toddler swings. There aren't often shared toys left in the sand pit like at Turtle. Even so, I think Kenilworth has benefits.

What's good: there's a couple benches to sit on. There is shade, which is nice. The climber has big and small slides, and a twisty slide (of course). It's fenced in on the street side, and parking is ample and immediately adjacent.

What's not great: two toddler swings only, as previously noted. I mention this twice because I have three kids who like to swing, and taking turns is not often their forte. I haven't noticed a ton of kids there, meaning, we're often there alone. Having your own private playground is okay once in a while, but my kids are social animals. No water fountain. I also don't like that adults use the path nearby as a cut-through to their apartments on Overlook. I realize they have an easement, but it still freaks me out a little.

Grade: B