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.

 

Harry Myers - Rockwall, Texas

 Section One

 Section Two

Section Two Play Area

Name: Harry Myers Park

Location: 815 East Washington Street Rockwall, TX 75087-3832
Link to Map
Link to City Website

Posted by: Kristi Nix

1. How big is the park? And what are the amenities?
This park is HUGE!!  We didn't cover it all in one day.  I plan to go back with bikes and wagons and head off to do the trails.  Bring a camera, there are a lot of different places for great photo opportunities.  There are 3 different sections, each section has a covered pavilion and amazingly clean restrooms within 20 feet of the play areas.  

Section 1 is the enclosed public pool, enclosed skate park (converted basketball courts), a gazebo, an enclosed HUGE wooden playground (no gate, but there is a wall around the whole structure) including: slides, swings, baby swings, sand pits (2), balance beams, monkey bars and so much more!.  Also, included in section one is a COMING SOON dog park!

Section 2 (my husband says the oldest section and where we spent most of our time there) is 2 baseball fields (with a box full of bases to use), a lot of shaded picnic tables, a covered pavilion (available for rent), a gazebo, 2 old houses for photo ops, and a smaller fenced play area.  Again, no gate, but there is a fence around the entire play area.  Included in the play area are swings (2 normals swings and 2 baby swings), a tall slide, an old (but still fun) merry-go-round, and a "teeter-totter" style structure.  We spent most of our time here, because it wasn't as busy as the other play area.  

Section 3 (which we did not visit) is a spray park (it came on around 11), a big lake, a big metal bridge to walk over the lake, a covered pavilion, a lot of big trees for shade, and big open fields for kite flying.  Section 3 is mainly made up of the spray park, but still loads of fun

Also available is frisbee golf, off road trails, and ducks!  

2. Is it enclosed or covered?

See above description!  3 covered pavilions and 2 gazebos

3. What ages?
This park is FUN for ALL ages, including the parents! 

4. How safe is it?
I'd say the park is pretty safe! It is HUGE! As always, as long as the parent/care taker keeps an eye on the children there shouldn't be an issue.  There is no water (other than the pool) around section 1, but the other areas, there are several small lakes, so it is hard to just let the smaller kids go without supervision.  

5. Pros:

So many pros about this park!  It is a must visit any day of the week!  Go early to enjoy the most of this park and plan to stay all day! A picnic is a MUST!  

6. Cons:

Not any cons except that the equipments tends to get hot as the day goes on.  

Schell Park - Plano, Texas

Notice the construction cones, there was a lot of construction around the park, but not in the way.

 This thing was pretty cool. You could either walk on it like a balance beam and it sort of wiggled, or you could sit on the two middle pieces and bounce up and down while riding it.

 There are two play structures. This one was the first one we saw when we entered the park. You can then walk or drive over a bridge to another play structure.

 Restrooms with graffiti on them. Restrooms on this side of the park said they were closed December through March.

 Two baby swings and two belt swings.

 My 3 year olds had fun and I think even a two year old would be able to do alot at this park.

 My girls found this fun to climb.

 Spiderman climber

Covered Pavilion with a grill.

The play structure across the bridge.

 The girls liked the ride on toys.

 A couple of baseball diamonds at the park.

Another view of the park.

Name: Schell Park

Location: 2305 Laurel Lane Plano, Texas 75074

Link to City Website

Link to Map

Posted by: Amanda Dittlinger

1. How big is the park? And what are the amenities?
Schell Park is a nice large park. It has two large play structures, baseball diamonds, a covered pavilion with picnic tables. There is a grill, lots of benches, restrooms, parking lot and grassy areas to run in.

2. Is it enclosed or covered?

The play equipment was not enclosed or covered, but the pavilion was covered.

3. What ages?
Two and up. Although it was listed as 5-12.

4. How safe is it?
This park is safe, far enough away from the parking lot.

5. Pros: I really liked that there were two play structures. We played at one for awhile and then walked over to the second one for more adventure.

6. Cons: The construction around the park was loud, but that will be a temporary problem. Also there was graffiti on the bathroom wall.

Olde City Park - Wylie, Texas

view of most of the park

Play equipment perfect for the just barely walker. It's very low to the ground.

Other side of toddler play area.

The older playset.

Older playset

Tall straight slide that my three year olds loved.

Perfect playset for the older climber.

Four swings (two belt swings and two bucket swings.)

Covered Pavilion with grill.

Large gazebo.

Horseshoe area and neat wall mural. We played I Spy with the mural.

Restrooms

Siren.

Name: Olde City Park

Location: 112 S. Ballard Avenue Wylie, Texas

Map Link

City Website Link

Posted by: Amanda Dittlinger

1. How big is the park? And what are the amenities?
This is a medium size park in the middle of the Downtown Wylie area. It has a very city feel, with a busy street very close. There is a toddler playground, a regular playground and a jungle gym for older kids. There is a horsehoe pit (bring your own horseshoes,) a gazebo, a covered pavillion with lots of tables and a grill. There are lots of picnic tables and benches scattered around. Restrooms are also on site next to the parking lot.

2. Is it enclosed or covered?
The playground is not enclosed or covered, although there is a covered pavillion.

3. What ages?
This park is geared for kids of all ages.

4. How safe is it?
I was wary of going to this park when my kids were younger because there is a street about 20 feet away from the playground. It is a side street that isn't very busy, but it still gave me cause for concern. There is also a very busy street on the other side of the park but it is buffered by a hill, landscaping and a huge lawn from the playground area.

5. Pros: Lots of different things to slide on and climb, with areas to walk around and explore too. It's easy to get to when you are out running errands and just want the kids to play for a bit.

6. Cons: The street noise doesn't make for a nice "day at the park" feeling. If your children doesn't like loud noises you may want to stay away on the first Wednesday of the month at 1pm. That's when they test the sirens, and one is located right in the middle of the park!