Change the usual playground routine with the 10 best playgrounds in Greater Philadelphia. Philly boasts an abundance of amazing play spaces (it’s hard to choose just 10). For nice playgrounds in Philadelphia, start here.

Best Playgrounds in Philadelphia

The top playgrounds in Philadelphia share a common theme: imaginative play. From castle-like play structures to open play spaces and mud kitchens, there is no end to the fun Philly kids can have in the city.

Jenks Playground

8301 Germantown Avenue, Philadelphia

The Children’s Park at Germantown and Southampton Avenues, known as Jenks Playground, sits in the center of Chestnut Hill. This city playground is a top pick among locals due in part to its big and little kid play areas. The fun-filled woodsy playground offers balance beams, swings, and a spacious sandbox. But the real star of this playground is the castle-themed play structures. With towers, platforms, bridges, many styles of ladders, and slides, it’s definitely a unique outdoor space for Philly kids to play.

Jenk’s Playground is named for the elementary school it serves, but it’s open to the public from 3 pm to 9 pm on weekdays and 8 am to 9 pm on weekends. The Tot Lot is open daily from 8 am to 9 pm and is equipped with wheelchair access and an adaptive swing. See why it’s regarded as one of the best playgrounds in Philly.

Markward Playground

400 S. Taney Street, Philadelphia (Pine Street and S. 26th Street)

The whole family (including small or large dogs) can enjoy Markward Playground thanks to the playground and two dog parks. Head to the Filter Square neighborhood and cross the Schuylkill River Parks Connector Bridge. Big kids and little kids have their own play areas.

There is not only a playground, but a community building, two lit tennis courts, basketball courts, a baseball field, and the O’Connor pool. Bring pickleball paddles to this Philly park. Public restrooms are conveniently located near the playground.

Sister Cities Park

18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia

Named for the fountain featuring 11 spouts that represent Philadelphia’s sister cities around the world, Sister Cities Park is perfect for exploration and unstructured play. The Children’s Discovery Garden, modeled after the Wissahickon Valley, includes boulders to climb, a stream to follow, and “peaks” to summit.

During the winter months, Sister Cities Park encourages kids to build their own creations using large foam blocks. On hot days, kids can cool off in the fountains, which jump playfully from the concrete. The park is open daily from 6 am to 1 am.

Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse

3500 Reservoir Drive, Philadelphia

Built in 1899, the 6 1/2 acre Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse has long been considered one of the best playgrounds in Philadelphia with the 10-and-below crowd. The Ann Newman Giant Wooden Slide commands attention. Grab a burlap sack to go down the 12-foot-wide and 60-foot-long wooden slide as children have done since 1905. Don’t miss Nature Explore™, an imaginative space with room to dig and play with the mud kitchen.

With more than 50 different types of playground equipment, a giant climbing web, and a tot lot, the outdoor space is more than enough — but there’s also a free 16,000-square-foot indoor playhouse for kids five and under. The playground closes at dusk during the fall and winter months. The Playhouse closes one hour before the playground. The Playhouse hours vary depending on the month. As of 2025, The Playhouse is open Tuesday through Friday: 10 am – 6 pm and Saturday and Sunday: 10 am – 7 pm.

Three Bears Park

319 Delancey Street, Philadelphia

Charming Three Bears Park sits between 3rd and 4th Streets on Delancey Street (among many of Philly’s historic homes). This clean and tidy Society Hill neighborhood park draws out local families in droves. During the summer months, the shade trees help keep things cool. It’s not the biggest playground on this list, but it is one of the more relaxed and adorable.

Visit from dawn until dusk any time of year. Swing on the swings, enjoy the slides, and climb everything. Be a real hero and, afterwards, take the kids over the Spruce Street Harbor Park (it’s right down the street) from late May to early November.

Greater Philly Playgrounds

Pack the cooler and load up one of these phenomenal family-friendly podcasts before heading out to one of these wonderful playgrounds in Greater Philadelphia. Get ready for a day of making memories full of slides, rope bridges, and sandboxes.

Ashbridge Memorial Park

1301 Montgomery Avenue, Bryn Mawr 

Ashbridge Memorial Park in Bryn Mawr has a giant climbing web that’s usually crawling with kids. There is also a merry-go-round, climbing wall, and several tall slides at this nice playground located west of Philadelphia. Smaller play structures, bouncing equipment and a music station will keep younger children happily occupied. Bring a soccer ball or a frisbee for the large grassy areas and tennis equipment for the two tennis courts.

This Main Line playground has a one-mile paved nature trail and a paved perimeter walking path for easy movement for anyone navigating a wheelchair or pushing a stroller. Open from sunrise to sunset. To get into the playground, enter on Airdale Road.

Freedom Playground and Reserve Trails

Haverford Reserve, 3500 Darby Road, Haverford

There’s nothing quite like Haverford Freedom Playground in Haverford, Pennsylvania. Custom-built and volunteer-maintained, it’s an awesome maze of bridges and slides, plus small spaces for kids to wiggle into. No one can resist the large sandbox. There are baby swings for little kids, just note that the maze-like playground may be tricky for less mobile parents to keep tabs on really little kids on the run.

Big kids flock to the wooden structures made for imaginative play, such as the pirate ship and steering wheels or moving parts puzzles. Musical components add an extra level of fun. It’s a fenced playground with public restrooms and a picnic pavilion. On hot days, cool off with the misters. If you’re up for some exploring, cross the road to Haverford Reserve’s five-mile network of walking trails.

Manderach Memorial Playground

180 Swamp Pike, Neiffer

Expect the unexpected at 70-acre Manderach Memorial Playground in Neiffer (Limerick). Two entrances to the Limerick area playground lead to either the two tennis courts or the four pickleball courts parking lot, while the other leads to the expansive parking lot in front of the playground. The wooden multi-story castle-like play structure offers huge slides. Right next to it sits a slightly smaller (yet also impressive) metal castle-themed play structure and several different types of swings (including baby swings and an accessible swing).

The well-maintained Greater Philly playground is closed on the first Monday of every month for inspections. A paved walking path with occasional gentle hills spans the perimeter of the park, with paved paths intersecting throughout. Three softball fields, two Little League fields, a soccer field, two sand volleyball courts, plus a baseball field and two basketball courts make this a complete park for everyone in the family. Although there is no dog park, dogs are welcome (with conveniently placed dog bags and trash cans along the pathways). Open dawn to dusk.

Parkside Place Park

1 Parkside Place, North Wales

Get your fill of playground fun at Parkside Place Park in North Wales from 8 AM to 8 PM daily. The wooden castle-like play structure is incredible and one of multiple playgrounds scaled in size for different ages. There are swings enough for everyone (including baby swings). Kids can pretend all kinds of things with the play jail and phone booth.

There are public restrooms. Enjoy one of the five tennis courts, four pickleball courts, and two basketball courts. In the summer, the pool complex offers a snack bar. Take a walk on one of two trails, the Woodlands Trail (1/2 mile long) at the back of the area, or the Parkside Trail (1/2 mile) by the basketball and tennis courts.

Where Are Other Great Playgrounds in Philly Neighborhoods?

Anyone on the hunt for the best playgrounds in Philadelphia has plenty of options. The hard part is choosing just one. Let the lists below help narrow things down. Tack on a family-friendly Philly event and make a whole day of it.

• Northwest Philly Playgrounds to Visit
• Philly Indoor Playgrounds
• Philly’s Sprayground Locations

Share favorite playgrounds in Philadelphia and Greater Philly in the comments below. Tag Philly Family on Instagram so everyone can share in the fun.

Article originally conceived by Meg Willcox.