Mercer School, Shaker Heights, Ohio

Where: playground of Mercer School, intersections of Hardwick and Green Roads, Shaker Heights

What's good: Everything. Three climber sizes--petite, medium and large. The large has some cool large muscle activities--log roll, hanging balance beam, much bigger climbing and sliding. The medium climber, which got the most use from us, has some nice sensory things on it (the rolling pin slide is a fave). Nice slide variation--twisty, wavy, tubular. Good wood chips. Parking lot is immediately adjacent.

What's annoying: a sign that says that the playground is restricted to Shaker school district residents only, along with the standard no dogs, no bicycles rah-rah. Well, there was a guy who walked there with his dog and his son on a bike. So I was afoul of the sign, but this fellow was too. How would they enforce something like that? Does the Shaker 5-0 have that kind of time on their hands?

Grade: A

Quarry North, corner of Belvoir and Monticello, South Euclid, OH

We found this by accident. With the leaves falling, we were able to see beyond the the Dog Park in the front of the property. What a find!

What's good: a fenced in toddler climber, lots of fresh wood chips, a snack pavilion, a bigger-kid old school style climber series (it's treated lumber instead of a plastic), excellent parking, toilets, and it's right next to this excellent looking "wader pool with sprinklers" thing that I am totally checking out next summer. The green twisty slide in the toddler area has just enough go to make kids feel like they're on an adventure--as you can see by Ellie's boot in the air, she had some torque going.

What's bad: the toilets are not open in the winter. Bummer if you're like me and drink a lot of coffee. The big kid climber is a little daunting, and the yellow slide on it has some serious zip to it and is a little high off the ground--Ellie fell off at the end.

Overall grade: A- (a little kid could really get a bruise off that yellow slide)

Parma Heights "Greenbriar" Community Center, Ohio

Where: Pearl Road, Parma Heights. Within the enclave of Greenbriar Commons, Parma Heights' community center (and my old stomping grounds).

What: When I was growing up, this was the pool-putt putt-generic play area for the city. The putt putt course was awesome, and the play area was hard core--this incredibly lumpy, hot metal slide, these weird cement tubes that you could climb in and crawl through (my uncle got arrested in one smoking pot)...and of course, the ubiquitous merry go round, which would whip you off and break your arm without thinking twice. No more.

What's good: Now there's soft chips and a massive climbing structure. Swings are excellent. Lots of opportunity to climb, slide, wiggle, and run--safely. Fairly contained--the tennis courts, swimming pool and old ice rink frame the area.

What's bad: I sort of miss the ruggedness, the 70's-ness of the old playground. This new one is sure modern. There's still not a speck of shade anywhere--what is with bald sun playgrounds?

Grade: B+ (would be an A, but I'm feeling nostalgic for the old one).

Mayfield Village, Parkview Pool and grounds

What: The Mayfield Village community pool and playgrounds, just past Highland Road on SOM Center Road (91).

http://www.mayfieldvillage.com/pool_web_2008/pool_2008.html

What's good: Great climbers, including a large one with lots of tunnels and a pint-size one. Excellent swings with a nice view of the diving pool for cheap entertainment. Sand pit. Covered pavilions for snacks. Bathrooms! That you can use! Free, close parking. Soft surface.

What's bad: When the pool calls rest period, the big kids come out and aren't always aware of their surroundings...little kids can get mashed pretty easily if you aren't diligent. But in the morning before the pool opens, it's practically a private playground.

Grade: A

Denison Park, Cleveland Heights, OH

WHAT: Denison Park, 1015 Quarry Road (accessible from Monticello Blvd. to the north)

What's good: Fresh wood chips. Huge climber with lots of "to do's" on it--slides, bridges, a little rock wall. Good swings. Fenced. Parking is ample and shaded...good for hiding that quick diaper change, plus the car isn't boiling when you load the kids back in.

What's bad: Again, not a tree in sight. Bring the sunscreen. Also, you have to go around the whole fenced area to negotiate the gate, which, when you've got a buggy and a toddler, can be tricky if your three year old pulls a Ghandi and moves towards passive resistance.

Grade: B+

Gearity Elementary School, University Heights, OH

I'm a little biased about Gearity because it's Ellie's preschool. However, the playground is fair game for rating.

WHAT: Gearity Professional Development School, Wrenford Road, University Heights (it's in the cul-de-sac that ends Wrenford).

What's good: Fenced. Picnic tables. Cushioned surface. Shade. Ample equipment, including climbers, hand-eye/fine motor activities, swings, bouncers, lots of slides, and playhouses. Everything on the preschool side is pint-sized.

What's bad: The only bummer is that during the day, even in summer, the preschool trumps the neighborhood for use. Since Gearity has activities most of the year, when the schoolchildren come out for recess, visitors have to vamoose. For safety reasons, this is totally reasonable. Just call ahead or go on a weekend when you won't have to pack up and skedaddle because you went at a bad time.

Grade: A

Noble Elementary School, Cleveland Heights, OH

WHAT: The playground for Noble Elementary School, 1293 Ardoon St., Cleveland Heights.

What's good: Ample parking. Some updated equipment (the blue slide is good). Fresh wood chips.

What's bad: Most of the climber equipment is old lumber and is starting to splinter or feels rough. The layout of the playground is awkward--there's a couple of "centers" on either side of the school building, which means you have to decide which side of the building you're going to be on and kind of park there for a while. No shade to speak of--when the sun is full out, you're sweating. Only one toddler swing--understandable, tho, since Noble doesn't have a preschool.

I heard there's a grassroots effort to update the playground. I hope it happens and would support it, even if my children don't attend Noble. The neighborhood needs a safe clean space for families and the children at Noble deserve state of the art. The whole layout of the playround needs to be reexamined--how best to use the space available to the school without compromising student safety. I would also recommend equipment that really emphasizes motor planning and large muscle skills.

Grade: C-

Turtle Park, Cleveland Heights, OH

WHAT: The quintessential Cleveland Heights playground, also sometimes referred to as the "Tot Lot," corner of Hampshire and Euclid Heights Blvd., about 2 blocks west of Coventry.

What's good: What's NOT good? Good parking. Fenced. Everything is downsized for about the average height of a 5 year old. Fresh wood chips regularly. Good swings. Water fountain (not filthy either). Picnic tables. The side closest to Euclid Heights is shaded. Big sand pit with donated community-shared toys. The eponymous turtle, which is both a climbing structure and a hide-under fun thing. It's also apparently made out of something recycled, I have no idea what. Plenty of kids around, which is both good and bad--you need to watch for the climber getting overcrowded. But overall, this playground is first rate.

GRADE: A.

Fort Liberty Playland, Liberty Township, Ohio

http://www.liberty-township.com/fw/main/Ft_Liberty_Playland-1430.html

WHERE: This playground is located at 6869 Van Gorden Road in Liberty Township, Ohio, which is north of Cincinnati.

WHAT: It is a newer playground in a fort-like set up with swings, a sandpit, slides, and lots of climbers. There are also bathrooms and a snack pavilion.

GOOD: Lots of different activities for kids of all sizes. The fortress is cool because it has a labyrinthian feel. There's a lot of opportunity for pretend play on a grand scale. The slides didn't flatten out too much at the end, so kids slide all the way to the bottom. The sand pit has common toys for digging. The toddler swings are more like baskets, so kids are comfortable. The fort is beautifully built and solid as a rock.

BAD: No shade except for the pavilion. It was 90 degrees at 9:30 in the morning and not a tree in sight near the fort. There's also a steep grade behind the bathrooms, so if your child is a wanderer you might find her at the edge of an incline covered with wildflowers and precariously close to toppling in. Parking is gravel lot only. If you have to keep track of more than one child, the set up of the fort can be daunting--lots of blind spots. And, worst of all, some lousy sponsor was a Steelers fan.

Overall grade: B+