Stonebriar Mall Playarea - Frisco, Texas

I have heard this play are is closed for remodeling. I'll update when I get new info! (July 2012)

Overview of play area.

 42" and under can play in here

 There are three of these animals for the kids to play on. A horse, cow and bison.

My three year olds love that they can climb on this house and slide off of it. When they were two they loved crawling under it.

 This stationary train is a favorite for all the kids.

The back of the train is a bit steep for the younger kids. 

Big murals on the walls and also fun puzzle games mounted to the walls.

This bridge is fun to climb. The tracks stick out just enough for good toe-holds. It's also a tunnel. I also love the scenery on the floor, which is almost bouncy.

Another favorite element. It is hard for the little kids to climb, but the 3-4 year olds love scaling it and sliding down the waterfall.

There are shoe cubbies and hand soap. The entrance is wide open, but at least it is easy to see from almost the entire play area.

A little house.

Also in Stonebriar, near the food court is this pretty spectacular Merry Go Round. It is $2 for a ride.

Name: Stonebriar Mall
Location: 2601 Preston Road Frisco, TX 75034 Playarea is outside of Sears on lower level.
Link to Map
Link to Mall webpage

Posted by: Amanda Dittlinger of Ditt & Dott.

1. How big is the park? What are the amenities? 

This is a small play area inside a mall. The structures are all made of foam and the floor is a bouncy sort of foam too. It looks new and clean every time I go. There is a wall around the entire play area except for the entrance. It has plenty of shoe cubbies and seating for the parents. I like that the restrooms aren't too far away from the play area, but they could be a bit closer.

2. Is it enclose or covered?  

It is enclosed, except for 5 or so feet at the entrance, that has no gate. It is covered since it is an indoor mall.

3. What ages? 

Babies - 4 or 5 yrs old. It's a great place for little babies because there is so much movement of the older kids that keeps their attention. It's perfect for crawlers since everything is so soft. Just come at a time that won't be busy if you have crawlers. The older kids tend to jump off the structures, and a 4 yr old isn't thinking of the baby he's about to squish.

4. How safe is it?  

I love that it is mostly enclosed, but it would be great it if had a zig-zag entrance or a gate. Everything is padded. Older kids can sometimes be too much for the littlest players. 

5. Pros:  

Great indoor place to go if the weather is bad. But of course it is usually more crowded those days.

6: Cons:  

Needs a gate or zig zag entrance.

Founders Plaza - Grapevine, Texas

This park does not have play equipment, it is an the airplane observation park next to DFW.

 Free binoculars.

 Statues of kids playing "airplane"

 Look over to the right, an airplane taking off. We didn't stay long because it was so cloudy you could hardly see the planes, not to mention it was windy and drizzly too!

 Airplane on the runway.

Name: Founders Plaza
Location: 1700 N Airfield Dr DFW Airport, TX 75261 (Grapevine, Texas)
Link to Map
Link to Official Webpage

Posted by: Amanda Dittlinger of Ditt & Dott

1. How big is the park? What are the amenities? 

This is a small park with a very specific purpose. It is a safe observation area to watch planes coming and going into DFW Airport. There are several shaded picnic tables and some plaques and statues. There is a nice field for kids to run in. One cool feature is that you can hear the air traffic controllers over loud speakers. There are also a few free binoculars. There is good parking. There are no restrooms. There is no play equipment.

2. Is it enclose or covered?  

There is covered patio tables.

3. What ages? 

All ages

 

4. How safe is it?  

The picnic tables are close to the parking lot, so as you are watching planes you need to watch your toddlers too!

5. Pros:  

Fun experience, especially if your kids (whatever their ages!) are into planes.

6: Cons:  

No restrooms.

 

Celebration Park - Allen, Texas

 Spray Park is under maintenance getting ready for summer!

 Covered picnic area

Name: Celebration Park

Location: 701 Angel Parkway Allen, TX 75002
Link to Map
Link to City Website

Post Provided by : Melanie Davis

1. How big is the park? What are the amenities? 

The park is fairly big providing a small splash park, covered picnic table area, 2 sets of swings, 12 small see-saw toys, large 6 piece color-connected play area and a duck pond.

2. Is it enclose or covered?  

There is covered patio tables, however the rest is open.

3. What ages? 

All ages

4. How safe is it?  

Pretty safe.  There is a soft blue mat bottom in part of the playground providing a nice place to keep feet from getting burned in the sun.

5. Pros:  

Covered patio tables, soft mat bottom, splash park area and lots to do.

6: Cons:  

It's not enclosed. Also the large playground area provided playground equipment for young to older children. So, you will need to watch your children to prevent younger kids from getting onto the older kids play area because there are areas that have open holes which would require careful watching of your younger children.

Any additional notes: 

This is a great park to bring a picnic lunch providing a good amount of equipment to play on.  Also, you can bring some old bread to feed to the ducks which is always fun.

Spray Ground Hours of Operation:

The spray ground at Celebration Park (701 Angel Parkway) will open for the 2011 season on May 1 and operate from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. except Wednesdays. The spray ground is closed for weekly maintenance every Wednesday. It will remain open until September 30.

Rules of Spray Ground:

• No pets allowed on spray ground or playground
• Children wearing diapers must wear a "swim diaper" if using the spray ground
• Only rubber soled shoes allowed on spray ground rubber deck
• For your safety, please do not climb on spray apparatus, railings or barriers
• No skateboards, bicycles or roller skates are allowed on playground or spray ground
• Play at your own risk

Liberty Park - Plano, Texas

Name: Liberty Park

Location: 1200 Mill Valley Road Plano, Texas 75075
Link to Map
Link to City Website
Link to Park Diagram

Posted by: Kristie Nix

1. How big is the park? And what are the amenities?

The park was an good size.  2 different play structures, 2 different swing sets and an old U.S. Army tank. Also, had a nice covered pavilion.  Several benches around the play area.  A walking track close by and 2 practice fields.  Also, close and was the Liberty Park Recreation Center.  Sports practice fields are first come, first serve.

2. Is it enclosed or covered?

It is not enclose nor covered, but there is about a 2 foot brick wall that goes around the play area.  

3. What ages?
We had a five year old with us and he seemed to have fun!  I wouldn't recommend it for any age older than 8 or so.  

4. How safe is it?
The park seems pretty safe.  Parking was right on the street, but the actual play area was about 50-100 yards away from the street.  As we deciding whether to leave or not, a class from the near by high school came out and started playing in the play area.  We grabbed our stuff and left rather quickly.  

5. Pros:

Several slides, a couple of baby swings, 5 regular swings and a therapeutic swing.  The play structure seemed to be made of rubber and pretty safe.  

6. Cons:

No restrooms!  We had to use the restroom in the near by rec center.  Also, bummed that our time was cut short due to the high school class, but we were there over 2 hours!  

Note about the tank: The tank found in the park is a M41-A3 Walker Bulldog, weighs 23.5 Tons, is 26.9 feet long and 8.9 feet wide. It has a 76mm gun and could travel at 45mph. These tanks were produced in the 1950's by the Cadillac Plant at Cleveland, Ohio. This model of tank was provided by the US to the South Vietnamese and used very successfully against the North Vietnamese T54/55 tanks in the Republic of Viet Nam during the 1950's and 1960's.