22 Best Public Playgrounds Around Denver – Updated!

The Denver metro area is home to more than 700 public playgrounds — some small, some large, some broken-in and some freshly-built. Below are some of our favorites. Chances are you have never heard of these parks, but all are all well worth a visit even if you live a few miles away.

This list was originally compiled by local playground guru Chris Sekirnjak and updated in April 2024 by MHOTC Contributing Writer Rebecca Treon.

Looking for a playground nearest you? Scroll down to the end of the list where you’ll find an interactive map showing each site’s location.

If you come across an amazing playground we have missed, email us the details at Laura@MileHighOnTheCheap.com. Happy exploring!

Central Park 

Central Park revamped it’s play area in 2023, adding in rolling turf hills instead of the previous purple rubber ones, a roller slide, a zipline, a play tower with two slides, and a sand pit with diggers.

The playground has soft surfacing, artificial rocks for climbing, bouncers, swings, and even a tiny race car track for Hotwheels!

There are water pumps and spray misters for Denver’s hot summer days, plus plenty of places for a picnic. There’s a section of the playground built for the smaller set that has numbered steps, musical instruments, and moveable pieces.

The new design kept some of the park’s best elements while adding inclusive elements like chair swings, a roller slide that has an exit bench, and a wheelchair accessible merry-go-round. — R.T.

Location: 8901 M.L.K. Jr. Blvd., Denver

Congress Park

One of Denver’s urban parks that was much in need of an update, Congress Park’s revamped playground made its debut in 2024. The outdated play structures are now ADA-approved and include two playgrounds.

One has a bright green play structure with two slides, a globe-shaped net climber, and accessible swings, while the other has a geometric play structure and swings. Both areas have plenty of picnic table seating.

Though the much-debated pickleball courts aren’t reopening, the pool is getting a facelift, too, making it more of a neighborhood asset than ever. — R.T.

Location: 914 Elizabeth St. Denver

Sanchez Park

Come check out one of Denver’s super playgrounds! The many unique play opportunities include a tall covered climbing tower, rubber hills, a hanging seesaw swing, and a super fast concrete hill slide.

Climb to the top of the tower and slide down on the inside! Countless climbing ribbons, nets, and spirals abound. There are also 8 swings, 9 spring toys, and plenty of spinners. — C.S.

Location: Julian Street & W Howard Place, Denver

James A. Bible Park

This park on the High Line canal trail received a huge upgrade in 2021, catapulting this playground to one of the best in Denver.

Tall climbing towers connected by a tunnel, fancy climbing nets and boulders, and a zero-step merry-go-round are some of the highlights.

There is also a hanging seesaw (super fun!), spinners, and a large astroturf hill. Eight swings are scattered throughout. — C.S.

Location: 6802 E Yale Ave, Denver

 

City Park Denver

In 2021, the aging Dustin Redd Playground in Denver’s largest park was replaced.

The new play area honors the original design with its castle theme and purple steeples, but offers a truly modern play experience.

You’ll find plenty of swings (including a wheelchair swing), unique climbing structures, a zero-step merry-go-round, an assortment of spinners, and a wavy walkway for scooters. — C.S.

Location: York St & 21st Ave, Denver

Sloan’s Lake Park

The 2.6 mile paved sidewalk around Sloan’s Lake is a popular route for families to stroll, scooter, skate, or bike, but the park also boasts two new playgrounds. One playground is on the north side of the park (near 26th Ave.) and the other is on the south side of the park (near 17th Ave.).

Both have nearby places for a picnic and restroom facilities. The south side park has a parking lot right next to it, while the north side parking lot is a little further off, though there is also street parking.

Opened in 2022, the north side playground is pirate ship-themed, where kids and their adults can both get in on the swashbuckling.

There’s a play structure with slides, saucer swings, a teeter totter, and mature trees for climbing and playing on.

The south side playground is outer space-themed. It has two rocket ship play structures–one for littler kids ages 2-5 and another for bigger kids.

The playground has inclusive features and also includes a zip line, pump track for biking on, and shaded sitting area, all with a beautiful view of the lake. — R.T.

Location: North Playground: 4410 W 26th Ave, Denver. South Playground: 4301-4379 W 17th Ave, Denver

Swansea Park

This playground truly offers something for kids of all ages. Little ones will love the area around the playhouse, while older kids will gravitate towards the zip line.

The colors teal and orange dominate the play area, even on the artificial turf hill.

You’ll also find a 2-person swing, a variety of climbing structures, and a vertical log maze. — C.S.

Location: 2650 E Beekman Pl, Denver

Westlands Park

This Greenwood Village park is a metro area gem. The playground area has three climbing structures that offer climbing and fun for kids ages toddler to teenager.

The southernmost playground has swings for younger kids, a sand pit, and a small structure with two slides and playhouses.

The middle playground has a huge jungle gym with slides, bridges, and plenty of things to climb on. The older set will enjoy the rock climbing structure that is two hands holding a rock.

There’s a whole section of musical instruments like drums, organs, and xylophones in a separate area of the park and a pond with a hike/bike trail and a “treehouse” that overlooks the park.

There’s a “Sprayground” that’s open in the summer that has a wading pool, rock structures, and hidden water jets.

The park has plenty of green space for roaming, two pickleball courts, a basketball court, playing fields, and an in-line skating arena. — R.T.

Location: 5701 S Quebec St, Greenwood Village

Denver Premium Outlets

This gigantic play area is a free activity center that offers families a break while shopping at the Denver Premium Outlets mall.

The playground is open to the public, even if you’re not on a shopping trip. Super-tall slides, climbing towers, and large nets dominate the playground.

Bridges, tunnels, and platforms are scattered throughout. Explore the dinosaur area, climbing ribbons, and turf hills. — C.S.

Location: 13801 Grant Street, Thornton

Carpenter Park

This mega playground was constructed in 2013 and truly offers something for everyone. In addition to the 11 swings, 8 slides, and 6 spinners, the play area includes a merry-go-round, a rocking boat, and sliding bars.

The sprayground features spouts and fountains that light up at night. On summer weekends, there are pedal boat rentals on the adjacent lake, as well as a full-sized carousel. — C.S.

Location: Madison St & 112th Ave, Thornton

Ralston-Central Park

Built in 2014, this playground resembles a deep forest. Logs, trees, mushrooms, and boulders are everywhere, and the color dark green dominates.

The huge colorful sprayground makes summer days so much more fun; the park also offers an adjacent creek, a memorial garden, and a spacious picnic area. — C.S.

Location: Garrison St & Ralston Rd, Arvada

Arvada Volunteer Fire Fighters Park

Fire engine red is the only color at this playground, from slides and swings to picnic benches and trash cans.

A super-tall tube slide, spinners, a play fire truck, and lots of climbing ladders round out the fireman theme here. Come and have a firefighting experience! — C.S.

Location: 8990 W 84th Ave, Arvada

Estates Park

Come to this Golden park at 6030 feet elevation and have it all, including some of the tallest slides in town!

You get great views of the foothills and the plains, and a modern playground with a tall tower (5 flights of stairs) and several spinners (including a flywheel that’s fun for adults, too).

Plenty of grassy open space surrounds the play area, ideal for playing frisbee golf or running around. — C.S.

Location: 16169 W Ellsworth Dr, Golden

Fairmount Park

This playground near the foothills was completely rebuilt in 2020 to more than double its previous size.

It shines with happy colors and fun features such as a play house, balance beam, and a net bucket swing.

A unique super-wide slide allows 2 or 3 kids to zoom down simultaneously! — C.S.

Location: 5222 Quaker St, Golden

Quail Crossing Park

Come visit this tall rocket waiting on its launch pad! You can climb to the top level, enter through one of the “shuttle entrances”, and adjust its large mission control panel.

There is an alien-themed teeter-totter, a large suspended blue platform, and a spinning red ring (great for sitting or lying inside). — C.S.

Location: 13402 Kalamath St, Westminster

Westminster Center Park

Built in 2010 and nicknamed “Peter Pan Park” by locals, this play area surprises with a London theme, complete with the River Thames, Tower Bridge, and Big Ben.

Artificial trees, boulders, and log tunnels add climbing challenges, and the many water features in this park are great for cooling down in the summer. — C.S.

Location: W 93rd Ave & Xavier St, Westminster

Centennial Center Park

This is the flagship playground for the South metro area and boasts the largest sprayground in town, a huge climbing net, a stage for events, and a young kid area with slides, swings, sandboxes, and climbing structures. It doesn’t get much better than this! — C.S.

Location: 13050 E Peakview Ave, Centennial

Berry Park

While not exactly large, the play area at Littleton’s Berry Park features a bunch of interesting play equipment.

There’s a four-person seesaw, a horizontal roller slide, and a small cage spinner resembling a Christmas tree.

You will also find some electronic games (mostly memory skills, think “Simon”) and a play house. — C.S.

Location: W Berry Ave & S Knox Ct, Littleton

Robert F. Clement Park 

The Columbine area’s Clement Park main playground was revamped in 2019 to make it more inclusive.

Highlights are its music-themed layout including a trombone net climber, a giant xylophone and drums, a climbing structure modeled after a pipe organ with bridges and rolling slides, a merry-go-round, and inclusive swings.

The playground offers easy access to the other parts of the 200-acre park, including a skate park, splash pad, tennis, baseball, softball, and pickleball courts, open fields with picnic areas, the Columbine Library, and a lake with a 1.4 mile paved path. — R.T.

Location: 7306 W Bowles Ave, Littleton

Red-Tailed Hawk Park

This 8,000-square foot inclusive playground in Aurora has lots of colorful equipment including a wheelchair accessible merry go-round and swings, a zipline, and a musical play area that features digital panels and a xylophone.

A few steps away from the main playground, there’s a bonus woodland-themed playground with corkscrew slides, fake trees, a tall climbing and play structure as well as one for toddlers, and traditional swing sets.

Red-Tailed Hawk Park’s favorite feature is their splash pad. It features a water tunnel, ground fountains that spray, and other spraying features designed to look like plants and animals from the desert.

If that’s not enough to keep you entertained, the park has volleyball, baseball, bocce ball, and even horseshoes. — R.T.

Location: 23701 E Hinsdale Way, Aurora

Lu Bird’s Light Playground

Built by the Lu Bird’s Light Foundation, this inclusive playground at Stanley Marketplace in Aurora offers a variety of accessible features, from a zero-step merry-go-round to a wheelchair swing.

It also features the longest roller slide in town, a mini trampoline, and a wooden play house. — C.S.

Location: 2501 Dallas St., Aurora

Zach Parrish III Memorial Park

The main attraction at this park is the behemoth brightly colored play structure that has three-story slides, crawl through areas, and climbing features.

There are other structures to climb on around the playground, too–one shaped like the game of jacks, one with monkey bars, and one with rubbery netting inside. There are balance beams, swings, sit and spin seats, a merry-go-round, and a zipline.

A smaller play structure designed for tots has a rock-climbing wall, slides, and musical instruments.

There’s also a large multi-use area with synthetic turf where you can play cornhole, horseshoes, pickleball, and bocce ball, but you need to bring your own bean bags, horseshoes/rings, balls, and rackets. — R.T.

Location: 2020 Fiddle Rd., Castle Rock

Find More Playgrounds

If you’re curious to discover more of greater Denver’s spectacular play areas, and read reviews of each, download Chris’ iPhone app. Visit the App Store or get details at the project website, playgroundsdenver.com. Happy exploring!