Blackstrap Road, West Cumberland, Maine
I have been coming to this playground ground since my 4y could walk. She loves it. I love it. We love it. This playground could be hard to find if you aren’t looking. It’s tucked in the back of two different building so just pull in and drive to the back, you’ll see it. Parking is plentiful and a stones toss to the playground.
There is a picnic table immediately entering the wood post fence. There is a swing set with two regular swings and GIANT GIANT fields. Seriously you can let your kid run and run and not have to worry. There are some porta pottys next to the parking lot.
There are a few ways up to the top. The easiest is the stairs. Parents can easily follow their toddlers up. A tall flat rock wall is another way up- when I say flat I mean both, vertical and the rocks are those flat kind of ones where you really use finger and tip toe strength. Another way up is another rock wall except this one looks like a Boulder and there are bigger holds and steps and there’s a chain rope attached for added help. It’s kind of difficult for kids or toddlers to transition from the front on this to the back which requires another transfer up and over to the top of the playground. There is a fire pole opening near the stairs and the flat rock wall. There are also two more smallish openings at the bigger rock wall. The top of the playground sports one hilly slide and one twisty slide. I have giant hips and I can fit down both. Another opening near the stairs leads to this piece of equipment where kids alternate their hands and feet and sides on this almost climb through set of bars. It takes some practice and a watchful eye if you have a curious toddler. My 18m tried it for the first time today and after a few tries and a little help he eventually got the concept. He still wasn’t able to do it alone by the end but when I walked beside him to give support I wasn’t holding much of his weight, I more so guided him on what to do. I’ll post the video to my Instagram if you’re interested in seeing an example. Their are two sets of monkey bars at the end of the previous contraption. One set is the normal horizontal bars and the other are circular or some odd shape that literally go in a circle leading you back to the platform. Smaller kids may need help getting down if they don’t go back up the alternating climbing thing.
While writing this I realize the playground is on the smaller size so I’m not sure what captures my kids attention so much but we easily can spend 2 hours here, we did it today. They play on the playground for a while, then run in the huge field, sometimes with a ball most times just running free. My kids also like to play underneath the playground I assume because it’s mostly shaded under there so they take a break under there playing with woodchips, then the return to playing on the playground, repeat. I’ve been here more times than I can count and never have I seen more than one or two other families here. The bathrooms and the one partially shaded picnic table adds bonus points. This place is only 10m from me, so that’s the real plus for me. I recommend this playground for ages up to 6 or so, unless you’ve got older ones who would love the field. It’s not quite one year old friendly but definitely and toddler who has mastered walking.
little Movers Maine 