Preview Post: Central Railyard Park

Central Railyard Park in Ashland has a playground and a skate park.  They also have an ice skating rink in the winter.  It looks like a decent-sized park.  They also have bathrooms.

Central Railyard Park
6th Street & Vaughn Avenue ~ Ashland, WI

Independence Park

Independence Park is Hartford's largest park.

There is a lot of wide open expanse, so this is a great park for outdoor games!  It also has quite a playground.  There are two separate climbers, swings, and a couple of other play items.

It has enough to entertain a crew of kids! 

There is also a very nice picnic shelter with bathrooms.  I don't know if the bathrooms are always open, but there seemed to be some kind of summer camp happening when we went, so they were at the time anyway.

Independence Park
900 South Wilson Avenue ~ Hartford, WI

Ashippun Community Park

After finding the Fireman's Park to be a dud, we were pretty stoked to discover the Ashippun Community Park nearby.

The equipment was in great shape.  A lot of it looked almost new.  I may have even tried some of it out myself...

We enjoyed all of the different climbing activities.  I think the favorite, though, were the old-fashioned bouncing toys.

There are bathrooms, but they were locked when we were there.  I'm thinking they are probably only open for events.

Ashippun Community Park
W2520 Elm Street ~ Ashippun, WI

Ashippun Fireman's Park

When we visited the Ashippun Fireman's Park, we did not even get out of the car.  While it would have been a nice place to practice baseball or play kickball, but that's all there was.  We were disappointed that at a nice big park like that there was no playground.

Ashippun Fireman's Park
W2665 Oak Street ~ Ashippun, WI

Ixonia Fireman's Park

We visited the Ixonia Fireman's Park and enjoyed playing on the playground.  It's not huge, but plenty of fun.

The main playground felt a little bit old-fashioned, but it didn't seem to bother any of the kids that were there.

There is also a small handicapped-accessible addition.  This equipment looked fairly new, and my non-handicapped children enjoyed that too.  We were able to have a nice discussion about how other kids might be able to use the items at that playground too.

We lucked out and found the bookmobile there!  We got to listen to a guest reader at the park!  They set up under a very large covered picnic area.

All in all, we enjoyed the Ixonia Fireman's Park.

 Ixonia Fireman's Park
N8345 Park St ~ Ixonia, WI

Ski Slide Park

Park season is in full swing in this household!  Only a week out of school, and we're onto our third park of the summer.  They are such great free fun.  And with so many in the area, we can visit a different park every time for a brand new experience.

Our latest was Ski Slide Park in Ixonia.  Ski Slide Park seems to be centered on baseball.  There are multiple diamonds, as well as a football field.  However, there was also a playground - presumably to entertain the kids who are not playing in the games!

It was not huge, but it kept the kids' attention for a good half hour.  The climber is a nice, sturdy Little Tykes.  Unfortunately, since the bedding of the playground is all sand, it has taken its toll on a couple of the features.  For example, there is a periscope that looks like it would be really neat, but it is all scratched and clouded with sand.

Our favorite features, the "telephone" system and the plastic dinosaur.

Downfalls to this park:
1. As you can see in the picture, there was a lot of trash.  Again, this is a baseball park.  You can tell many kids are set loose with treats from the concession stands and just dump the wrappers while they play.

2.  You can't get at the bathrooms unless there is an event happening.  We were really lucky because there happened to be a super nice guy there mowing the lawn who let us into the building to use the bathrooms, but for the most part you would be out of luck.

Ski Slide Park is a fine stop to get a little energy out if you are in the area, but we will probably not seek it out again.

Ski Slide Park
N7935 Ski Slide Rd ~ Ixonia, WI

Harnischfeger Park

Harnischfeger is a Dodge County park outside of Ixonia.  This park has a LOT to do, although not much of it was open and available when we were there.  I'm not sure if that was because we were there right at 8:00 when it technically opened or because we were in the middle of the week.  Or if a lot of it just is not offered a lot of the time.

We were pretty excited about the board walk.  But it was closed off.

 The playground was available to use.  There were three small climbers, a rock wall, and swings.  There is also an old-fashioned jungle gym, which was kind of fun.  For the most part, everything seemed to be in pretty good repair.  Although the ground could use a fresh covering.  It is beginning to grow over with weeds.

Harnischfeger park is also home to kayak/canoe rentals, fishing, and mini golf.  There are also nature trails.

There are quite a few shelters available to rent.  They also have sand volleyball and a ball diamond.  It would be a great place for a family reunion!

Onsite camping also means there are bathrooms available.

Harischfeger Park
W3048 Crawfish Rd ~ Ixonia, WI

Lebanon Firemen's Park

Little Lebanon is home to this great Firemen's Park.  It is very large and has something for everyone. 

 

 There are multiple enclosed shelters available to rent, but there is also this large open shelter that is great for picnics.

The playground equipment is well-kept.

 There are two different climbers, one intended for younger kids and one for older, but my kids enjoy both equally.

 A classic favorite is the racing slides:)

There are sand volleyball courts and a ball diamond.  I believe there is also a nature trail, though we haven't explored that yet.

Another plus: the bathrooms are usually open.

Lebanon Firemen's Park
N2050 County Road R ~ Lebanon, WI

Preview Post: Linwood Park

Linwood Park in Appleton has a playground and a picnic shelter.  There are also bathrooms and a ball diamond.

Linwood Park
401 North Douglas Street ~ Appleton, WI

Preview Post: Kiwanis Park

Kiwanis Park in Appleton has what looks like a pretty new playground.  There is a shelter and a restroom.  There is also a ball diamond.

Kiwanis Park
2315 North Nicholas Street ~ Appleton, WI

Preview Post: Jaycee Park

Jaycee Park in Appleton looks like it has a nice playground.  There's a picnic shelter and bathrooms.  It takes up about one full city block.

Jaycee Park
1200 South Jefferson Street ~ Appleton, WI

Preview Post: Hoover Park

The first thing I noticed about Hoover Park in Appleton is that it looks like a very sandy park.  Sand is my least favorite playground item! Haha, but the kids love it.  The playground looks like it is on sand, and there is a ball diamond too.  There's also a picnic shelter with bathrooms.

Hoover Park
600 East Roeland Avenue ~ Appleton, WI

Regner Park

Regner Park is a large park in West Bend.  It looks like they have a LOT to offer, but we went there to swim.

I will start by saying it was a really nice beach and splash pad.  It is a man-made pond with lifeguards.  There began the less desirable qualities.  I am all for safety, but this place seemed little over-the-top.  Kids under....5? 6? (I'm not sure because the prerecorded repeating announcement contradicted itself) are required to be within arm's reach of their guardian.  Seems like a reasonable request, right?  Except the "kiddie" area of this beach is VERY shallow VERY far in.  I do not need to stand in water up to my ankles to keep my child within arm's reach.  I can sit on the beach and watch her safely. Yes, I know kids can drown in 2 inches of water, but in the very slim chance her face went in and didn't pop right back out, I could easily stand up and run to grab her in plenty of time.  And even kids with flotation devices are not allowed to go past their armpits without passing a swim test.  Now HERE is where the arm's reach rule would actually make sense to me.  If she's past her armpits I should be able to reach her.  But no matter because she can't go there anyway.  And flotation devices aren't allowed outside of the very shallow kiddie area, so...? Don't worry, if you even think about doing something that might not be allowed, a lifeguard will start yelling through a megaphone from their chair.  You can't entirely understand them sometimes, and you usually have no idea whether they are yelling at you or someone else, but there is a lot of yelling none-the-less.

Overall, the kids really did enjoy themselves, and it was a nice clean place.  And I will say I'm sure they almost never have any incidents.  I just found it to be a little bit stressful.  I was looking forward to be able to relax a bit knowing there were lifeguards watching, but it felt to me more like I was constantly on edge trying to make sure we weren't getting in trouble.  It would probably also be better if you went there a few times and were more familiar with the expectations.

In the winter, the pond turns into a skating rink, which sounds fun.

Also at the park: playgrounds, trails, a fishing pond, and sport fields.  There is a labrynth garden, too!  I wish I would have known, because I would definitely have dragged my kiddo there to check it out.

Would I go back to explore the park some more?  Absolutely!  Would I take my kids swimming there again?  No.

Regner Park
800 N Main Street ~ West Bend, WI ~ (262)335-5087
Admission: for swimming $4/adult, $3/child, 2&under free

Preview Post: Appleton Memorial Park

Appleton's Memorial Park boasts restrooms and playground equipment.  There is also skating and sledding in the winter.  There is a nice picnic pavilion.

Appleton Memorial Park
1620 East Witzke Boulevard ~ Appleton, WI

Preview Post: Plamann Park

While Plamann Park in Appleton does not have a playground, they offer quite a bit in its place.  One of the park's main features is its trail system.

Another more seasonal attraction is the beach.  There is a small lake with sand beaches open for swimming in the summer.

In the summer, they also house a petting zoo with animals from area farms.

Plamann Park
1375 East Broadway Drive ~ Appleton, WI ~ (920) 832-4790
Admission: Free, fees for beach: free/seniors, $3/Ages 16&up, $2.50/Ages 4-15, free/under 4

Riverside Park

Riverside Park is the main park in Watertown.  The prize feature is the community-built playground.

There are areas designated for different age groups, but really both of my two were very able to enjoy the whole thing.  There are slides, ramps, swings, bridges, stairs, and more!

Aside from this playground, there are paths to walk and ducks to feed.  There is also another smaller playground in a different area of the park.

There are bathrooms as well.

Riverside Park
812 Labaree Street ~ Watertown, WI

Timothy Johnson Park

Timothy Johnson Park is in Watertown.  It is a fairly generic park, but we had fun there.

It was well-visited while we were there.  It definitely wasn't overrun with children, but I get the idea that when you are there playing, chances are you will get to interact with other kids too.

Timothy Johnson has two climbers, one designed for young children, one for older.  There is also a nice covered picnic shelter with bathrooms and a bubbler! 

Timothy Johnson Park
1115 Oak Street ~ Watertown, WI

Imagination Station @ Roosevelt Park

Imagination Station is a "universally accessible" playground.  They have equipment for children with all degrees of abilities, which means they also have some items you may not normally come across in playgrounds.

There is an enormous climbing structure, as well as outlying pieces of equipment.

My toddler's favorite part was the area modeled after a train.  My preschooler had a blast running through the structure and zooming down the slides.

The kiddos loved this playground!  I think they easily could have stayed for hours, though we got rained out:)  There was so much to explore!

There were bathroom facilities.

Imagination Station
110 E Forest St ~ Oconomowoc, WI

Deer Trail Park

Deer Trail Park in Watertown is a neighborhood park in the middle of a subdivision.

 There are two play sets (one larger, one smaller), along with a couple of more unique features, such as this ball maze.

It definitely was entertaining for my little guy, but this park struck me as a lot of fun for older kids.  There were quite a few different climbing apparatuses.

This park also has a very ample lawn area.

If you're lucky enough to be there on the right day, you may even get the bonus entertainment of watching a TRUCK come and pump out the port-a-potty!  Highlight of the trip for my toddler:)

Obviously, there is a port-a-potty onsite.

Deer Trail Park
603 Deer Trail ~ Watertown, WI

Preview Post: Saratoga Park

Saratoga Park in Antigo looks like a pretty nice park.  It seems to be focused on athletic fields, but there is a climber as well.  There is a restroom, but it is only supposed to be opened seasonally.  They have a large picnic shelter as well.

Saratoga Park
1235 Nantasket St ~ Antigo, WI