Playgrounds On Our Minds: What Makes a Great Playground?

It should come as no surprise that playgrounds and parks play an important role in children’s lives and development. And with Whitehall making decisions as to its own playground, it seems a good time to look at why playgrounds are important and what features set some above the rest.

Playgrounds give kids a chance to let out their energy while at the same time relax and access their playful nature. They tap into children’s imaginations and creative play. A well-designed playground invites different types of play: active, creative, sensory, imaginative, and social, while encouraging movement, balance, and the enhancement of their physical condition.

Good playgrounds are open with enough room for kids to jump, play, toss, slide, swing, climb and run with equipment like chain rails and ladders, and monkey bars that make kids use their upper bodies. New playground technology and attractive innovative design are a plus. As well, playgrounds should be safe, divided into sections with age-appropriate equipment, and accessible to children with disabilities.

Aside from the play structures themselves, the playground park should have enough shade to avoid sunburn and exhaustion, and sheltered areas with places to sit. And last but equally important, they should incorporate nature with a fairly quiet area where kids can enjoy nature play and learn about their environment.

Stodden Park in Butte has many “good playground” features and is an inclusive playground for children of all abilities. Its active and inclusive play honors Butte’s rich mining history. A large playground area combines pour-in-place recycled tires and engineered wood fiber chips. Children can play on a lookout tower that resembles a mining elevator, a big haul truck, and a climbing structure that looks like “The Big M”. There’s a separate toddler swing, various other swings, a zip line, fun climbing structures, and slides. The larger park area includes a water park and carousel housed in a historic building. Rowe Rd., Holmes Ave.

Story Mill Community Park, at 60 acres with three to four miles of trails, is Bozeman’s largest park. Its agrarian-themed playground reflects Bozeman’s flavor and culture, telling a story as a journey through Montana’s landscapes – farms and agriculture, rocky terrain, and wilderness. The northern area has an adventure playground with interactive and diverse play activities, including tree houses, slides, swings, a climbing boulder, and a bison skull. There’s a junior grain elevator for younger kids and, for older kids, a two-level fire tower with an accessible bridge. The playground is situated along a grove of mature willow trees and the southern portion is a natural area with 15 acres of restored wetlands with trails and boardwalks to watch birds and wildlife. There are also picnic pavilions and an enclosed dog park. 698 Bridger Dr., 406-582-2290.

The theme turns to dinosaurs at Bozeman’s Dinosaur Playground with an enclosed large wooden play structure with dinosaur sculptures of those that once roamed Montana. Children can explore stairs, bridges, monkey bars, tunnels, climbing walls, slides, and dig for fossils in the sand pit. A separate toddler area is equipped with swings and small climbers. The dinosaur theme ties in with the nearby Museum of the Rockies’ large dinosaur exhibit and the playground is adjacent to Gallatin County Regional Park’s walking paths, pond, giant climbing rocks, swimming area, skate park, and covered picnic area. One improvement would be more shade for hot Montana summers. Davis Ln, Winter Park St.

Dillon’s Jaycee Community Park is basking in its recent community-driven renovation. There’s a large playground with numerous structures and a separate Splash Pad, both enclosed.

They sit in the middle of a large park with grassy lawns, mature trees, benches, and picnic tables. The generous Splash Pad offers different water pressures, popular slides, dumping water buckets, water hoses, and a rotating overhead sprinkler. The playground features multiple towers with stairs, bridges, slides, a popular xylophone and bongo drums, and a separate area for younger children. 122 E. Sebree St.

Washoe Park in Anaconda has many additional features that balance the smaller playground areas. It’s in a lovely setting with many mature trees, intersected by Warm Springs Creek.

There’s lots of space to explore and visit the duck pond, historic cabin playground, restored Begonia House, and, at the east end of the park, Montana’s oldest fish hatchery, home to the cutthroat trout, Montana’s state fish. The park also features a swimming pool, horseshoe pits, and a walking trail. 816 W. Pennsylvania St., 406-560-7946.