Horseshoe Lake, Shaker Heights

What: a "natural play zone" within the enclave of Horseshoe Lake in Shaker Heights (http://www.shakeronline.com/dept/planning/HorseshoeLakeMasterPlan.asp)

Where: Off North Park at Lee; go past The Beaumont School and stay to your right

What's good: this is not your average playground. You will not find bright primary color climbers here (swings, yes). This space uses boulders, wood, logs, large stone slabs, and the existing environment for its gross motor/sensory experiences. This is great for pretend play, tap dancing on "bricks" (as Emma calls it), running, exploring. There is a snack pavilion as well as a lavatory. Parking is adjacent but not obtrusive. My kids did not want to leave.

What's bad: I think you would need to prep some kids that there are no "climbers" or "slides." This park is by no means a disappointment...it's just not what some kids would expect. My kids did great making up their own games, but other children may need a prompt or two.

Grade: A

VanRaalte Farm, 24th St., Holland, MI

These are the Stairs of Death. Do not let your children try to egress them if they are wet. Dupas will get hurt.


Small but mighty.

What: VanRaalte Farm park, 24th St., Holland, MI

How to get there: I have no idea, just Google it

What's good: again, it has its own port-a-loo (I have a photo to prove it), nice slides, a pavilion. The problem is we went when it was raining and the Stairs of Death took out two of my kids.

What's bad: nothing. It's a cute playground. Just don't go in the rain.

Grade: B+

Smallenberg Park, Fairbanks @ 14th St., Holland MI

Where: Holland, MI, on the beautiful shores of Lake Macatawa

What's good: this is a great park. Like everything else in Holland, it is super clean, has its own port-a-loo (we didn't investigate), and is ADA accessible. Love the rock climbing wall, the swings, the slides, Parking is adjacent. Note the snack pavilion. There is also a petite climber, which my kids weren't very interested in but was well organized.

What's bad: probably the only homeless woman in Holland was there and kind of creeped me out. However, she fell asleep on a table halfway through our visit so I figure she was harmless enough.

Grade: A

Forest Hills Park, Cleveland Heights, Ohio

These little steppy steps are excellent for motor planning.

A nice twist on the rock wall. Sensory + gross motor + bilateralism.

The slides at this park are superior to a lot of slides I've seen. Lots of twists and turns, climbing options to get there. The height factor on the big twisty slide is a little intimidating for toddlers tho.

Longview. Rock wall visible.

What and Where: Forest Hills Park playground, entrance off of Lee Road.

What's good: super climber--there is something for every child of every ability. Excellent slides. Good rock walls and climbing opportunities. Wood chips were fresh the day we were there. Nice trees. There is a pavilion for snacking and plenty of grass for running, kite flying, etc. Parking is ample and close by.

What's not good: I heard from a parent friend at Ellie's school that in the evenings adolescents come into the park, often from East Cleveland, to smoke, fool around, use bad language, etc. I can't confirm this but he doesn't take his little girl there after supper anymore. He did note that he has seen far more CHPD patrols in that neighborhood recently and that the fracas seems to have died down.

Grade: A- (in case there is truth to the riff raff)

Boulevard School, Cleveland Heights

This climber faces Lee Road. It's smaller, but still good for motor planning.

This climber has an excellent apparatus for "mountain climbing." I caution you that the two swings alongside are wobbly, and two are even missing.

Nice balancers here.

This climber is handicapped accessible--see the ramp Emma is on? It leads to a nice sensory play area. This climber is also appropriate for smaller children in that the proportions are accomodating.

WHAT: Boulevard Elementary School Playground, Lee Road, Cleveland Heights. This playground has been recently rehabbed by fundraising done by committed parents and community.

WHAT'S GOOD: There are a variety of large muscle and sensory areas on all the climbers. The handicapped accessible climber is not one I've seen at a lot of parks and it's a relief to know that many children of all abilities could take advantage of the fun this area has to offer. There is also a wonderful open space between the parking lot and the playground that could be used for impromptu soccer or just RUNNING, which as we all know kids love. The Boulevard community clearly thought about what would work for their neighborhood and took this job seriously.

WHAT'S BAD: Well, as one can expect in a public space, there is some graffiti on some of the climbers, and strangely enough, it all has to do with penises. There, I've said it.

GRADE: A- (I don't want to have to explain pictures of male genitalia to my children).

Noble School Update

FYI--Noble School in Cleveland Heights is moving forward with their playground renovation. They are in the fundraising/design stages. I gave the playground a poor rating initially because of some very serious safety issues, but am extremely positive and supportive of the school's effort to provide their children and the surrounding neighborhood with a safe, exciting place for children to grow and develop their bodies. Go Noble School!

Fairfax Elementary School, Cleveland Heights

Check out the awesome, huge painted hopscotch.

Preschool climber.

Primary grades climber.

Where: Fairfax Elementary School on Lee Road, across from Church of the Savior, Cleveland Heights

What: Two play centers: a kindergarten/preschool sized climber and a newfangled climber, an open play area, and foursquare/hopscotch area

What's good: The newer climber is nice, with several slides, a rock wall, and some sensory areas. I love the wide open play space, which has the painted diagrams, and the fact that a kid can just RUN, or ride a trike, or whatever. Parking is great.

What's not good: The older climber in the kinder area is not great. There are some odd design things with the wooden climber, such as a bizarre slide that ends with a seat-like thing that makes a kid look like he's straddling a bidet. No toddler swings on the swingset, which means a small child or a kid with sensory issues can't swing.

Overall grade: B