There’s nothing better than finding a new (and newly renovated) playground that offers FREE fun and outdoor play for your kids. Here are some of our favorite parks and playgrounds in Metro Detroit, perfect for your kids to run, jump, slide, swing and even zip-line!

Country Farm Park (Ann Arbor)

2230 Platt Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

The former farm features a farm themed play structure including a butterfly and windmill that are great for a photo. Community farms are located next to the playground for kids to see how things grow, there are miles of nature trails and public restrooms.

Booth Park (Birmingham)

210 Harmon St; Birmingham, MI 48009

Booth Park has a scenic walking trail that follows the Rouge River, and a labyrinth and tunnel with beautiful landscaping. The play features include a massive castle-like structure with a water spray feature perfect for hot summer days. There’s a separate toddler area with a large trolley, sandbox, and swings along with a shaded table area with a Little Free Library. The most unqiue feature is the artificial turf hill that kids love sliding down with cardboard boxes!

Scarlet’s Smile Playground (Commerce)

180 Commerce Rd, Commerce Charter Twp, MI 48382

Located in Dodge Park #5 the 18,000 sqaure foot barrier free playground was designed to accurate wheelchairs and is fun for kids of all ages and abilities.

Belle Isle (Detroit)

Kids Row – 7000 Inselruhe Ave, Detroit, MI 48207

Playground on Oakway Road – 176 Lakeside Drive, Detroit, MI 48207

Not only does Belle Isle offer great views of the city and fun (and FREE) museums, it has epic playgrounds too! The new Playground on Oakway Road is located next to the Belle Isle Nature Center and has zip line swings and a tall tree fort slide. Kids Row has multiple play structures with space and areas for kids of all ages.

Heritage Park (Farmington Hills)

24915 Farmington Rd., Farmington Hills, MI 48336

Heritage Park has everything you’re looking for. A massive playground (and splash pad in the summer). A Nature Discovery Trail for kids leading to an outdoor play space and Nature Center. There’s lots for the entire family to discover along the 4.5 miles of trails.

Huroc Park (Flat Rock)

28700 Arsenal Rd, Flat Rock, MI 48134

Located in downtown Flat Rock and along the Huron River, Huroc has a nice playground and water access for kayaking and duck watching. There are bridges and boardwalks to play on and if you want a lot of bridges and boardwalks, take a quick drive to Crosswinds Marsh in neighboring New Boston. And when you’re in Flat Rock grab a bite from Atwater Street Tacos.

Rotary Park (Livonia)

Six Mile Rd & Hubbard St, Livonia, MI 48152

Rotary Park is one of Livonia’s largest parks and features a new universally-accessible playscape, horseshoe pits, baseball diamonds, volleyball and tennis courts, picnic pavilions and a walking trail.

Maybury State  Park (Northville)

20145 Beck Rd, Northville, MI 48167

The new playground at Maybury State Park is a must visit. The modern structure has zip line chairs, ropes course, fast slides and a firetruck. Not only that but it’s located right outside the entrance to Maybury Farm, close to gorgeous walking trails and bathrooms. 

Lakeshore Park (Novi)

601 S. Lake Drive Novi, MI 48375

Lakeshore Park has beach access, bike trails, two play structures, pavilions and several washrooms and open play fields.  The trails are for either one main walking and hiking trail, or several mountain bike trails.  They just added some small little trails in the open areas for kids to practice their biking skills.  In the winter it has a really good sledding hill.

David H. Shepard Park (Oak Park)

24198 Church St, Oak Park, MI 48237

All aboard! Shepard Park has an out of this world massive wooden train set (and truck) for kids to climb on. There’s also a traditional playstructure, tennis and basketball courts, an ice arena, sledding hill, walking trail, and outdoor pool in the summer.

McClumpha Park (Plymouth)

46640 W Ann Arbor Trl, Plymouth, MI 48170

McClumpha Park has two large play structures a traditional wooden castle structure the kids will love to get lost in and a newer ADA playground with large slides, bridges and rocking seat. There’s a children’s train next to picnic shelter and paved walking path. In the summer months kids can run around on the open-access splash pad.

Mae Stecker Park (Shelby Township)

8600 Twenty Four Mile Road, Shelby Township, MI 48316

Mae Stecker Park features three play structures that are great for kids of all ages. After the kids wear themselves out at the playground take a stroll around the lake and through Heritage Gardens to find fairy gardens.

Bauervic Woods Park (Southfield)

 26000 Evergreen Rd, Southfield, MI 48076

Bauervic Woods Park playground has a big playlot and nature trail with a hidden wooden hut. It’s also only a 10 minute drive from Carpenter Lake Nature Preserve – and you definitely want to check out this ‘rock park’.

Hess-Hathaway Park (Waterford)

825 S Williams Lake Road, Waterford, MI 48327

Hess-Hathaway has a large playground for kids and even better it has a historical farm house and real farm animal!

Waldenburg Park (Macomb)

19225 21 Mile Rd, Macomb, MI 48044

Play at the playground, there’s a large structure for bigger kids and a smaller one on the side for toddlers. Then take a stroll along the Middle Branch Clinton River.

Photo credit: Washtenaw County Parks