Haggard Park - Plano, Texas

Panaramic of both plagyrounds and bathroom in far right.

The "big" kid play area.

Sign says 5-12, but my 3 year olds were all over it!

 

Year round water fountain, with picnic tables in background.

  

My girls LOVED these "funny rainbow" stairs as they called them.

 

Restrooms

Ont the large play structure, there is a hole in the center.

Big slide!

Cool climbing tower.

My girls really liked this net.

More fun things to climb.

This slide was cool, because they started together at the top and both went different directions.

Bottom of the "split" slide.

 Small kids area says ages 2-5.

This is the small play area.

They loved the bouncy dolphin and seahorse.

Big Gazebo to run around in. 

We saw this big bird at the waters edge!

There is an old train and a train museum that is on the park property. They have story times and tours of the stationary train on certain days. The train was under repairs today when we were there.

Park rules.

For some reason this park does get a lot of field trips. I guess it is the museum they come to see, then they have a picnic and play. When the school age kids descend on the park all the moms of toddlers pack up and leave. There were easily 50 kids that all arrived at once.

Name: Haggard Park

Location: 901 E. 15th Street  Plano TX, 75074

Link to Map

Link to city page

Link to the Interurban Railway Museum 

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

This is a very large park with lots of amenities. There are two playgrounds, restrooms, parking lot, running space, shade trees, picnic tables, gazebo, water feature with bridge, right next to DART train for those who have kids that like watching and hearing trains. There is water fountains, dog clean up stations, lots of benches. There is a railway museum at the park with tours of an old train on some days. 

2. Is it enclosed? Covered?

No, the park is not enclosed or covered. It does have lots of shade trees. The big park is fairly close to the parking lot, but not too bad.

3. What ages would enjoy this park?

The signs say 2-12, but I brought my girls here at 18 months a few summers ago.

4. How safe is it for little ones?

I like that there is plenty of grass for crawlers, and the small playground has features for the tiny tots. The only problem is when the field trips from local schools show up. Then you pretty much have to leave because the big kids over take the park. Also, I have seen a homeless man sleeping on a slide when I arrived really early one morning last summer. He woke up when he heard us and wandered off. I think we scared him just as much as he scared us.

5. Pros:

Lots to do, lots to play and see. The girls loved stopping every time a DART train stopped by.

6. Cons:  The big kid field trips and the fact that it is a city park, with all kinds of people walking by. You need to stay alert.

Bluebonnet Spot! Hwy 78 & Country Club - Wylie, Texas

 Please ignore the grumpy toddlers who did not want to play in the bluebonnets today. We'll have to come back another day. But this field is very thick with bluebonnets as of April 2, 2011.

Name: Bluebonnet Field at Country Club & Hwy 78 in Wylie, Texas
Location: 7460 Country Club Wylie, Texas 75098
Link to Map

Posted by: Amanda Dittlinger of Ditt & Dott.

This is a very large field at the entrance of a large subdivision. There is street parking on Country Club. The bluebonnets are very thick. We visited this same spot last year towards the end of the bluebonnet season and there were lots of Indian Paintbrushes at that time too. Today I didn't see any of the Indian Paintbrushes, but the bluebonnets were VERY thick! (4/2/11)

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.

 

Collin Creek Mall Playarea - Plano, Texas

Aerial view of the playarea

 The kids love pretending to drive.

 All the structures are made of foam.

 This is a favorite, little steps to a slide.

 Kids can crawl/walk through this.

 The puzzle on the wall held one of my girls' attention for a long while.

 This bridge is so fun for the kids. One side is stairs, the other side is a slide. They can also crawl under it. I love how there is foam around it too, so if they do fall (it's about 4' up) they bounce.

 Plenty of seating for the parents. Plus shoe cubbies.

 Fun graphics on the floor, but they are showing their age considerably.

 There is quiet a bit of duct tape around the play area.

 Good to know it gets cleaned once a day. Plus there is hand sanitizer on the way out.

 The rules and height restrictions. Although I will say during the summer when older kids are out of school they come in this area making it hard for the toddlers.

The exit is a wrap around, but I wish there was a gate. This little slide is perfect for the almost walkers.

Name: Tiny Town Childrens Play Area in Collin Creek Mall

Location: 811 North Central Expressway Plano, Texas - In the mall near Dillards, lower level

Link to Map

Link to Mall

Posted by: Amanda Dittlinger

1. How big is the park? And what are the amenities?
This is an indoor mall play area. It is smaller than some of the mall play areas that I've been too, but I still really like the equipment they have. My kids have always liked playing here. I love that everything in the play area is made of foam, so it is very soft for the youngest kids.

2. Is it enclosed or covered?

The play area is enclosed, but it does not have a gate. Even so, there is a good viewing area of the exit so it is easy to see if your kid tries to escape. It obviously is covered, as it is inside the mall.

3. What ages?
The sign says 10 and younger, 42" and under. I can not see a ten year old having fun in this area, maybe up to five or six. The great thing is it is perfect for crawlers, unless there are bigger kids running around.

4. How safe is it?
Very safe, mostly enclosed, foam, nothing too tall.

5. Pros: It's nice to have a fun play area that is indoor for days that are rainy, too hot, too cold or for today that was too windy!

6. Cons: The play area is definitely showing it's age. There is a lot of duct tape, rips and tears. And while it is good for crawlers, either bring your own hand sanitizer or make sure to use theirs. Even though it is cleaned daily the floor is not pristine.

Note: There is also a very small train that is in this mall. It's good for the toddler ages, and any kid that loves trains. The cost is $2 per ride and in my opinion needs a lot of imagination for it to be "cool."