After decades of kids trying to play on hot swings and slides or just avoiding playgrounds in the summer, many parks departments finally realized that shade is a must. Most playgrounds now have canopies to keep things a little cooler in the summer heat. Playground designers have been inventing new and interesting designs to attract children, including playgrounds with castles, trains, pirate ships, zip lines, and more.
A few parks include equipment for children with special needs. Here’s a look at some of the area’s best playgrounds.
Cambier Park
One of the county’s oldest playgrounds, Cambier Park was established in the 1940s and updated in the 1990s. Children love the castle-like structures with places to climb, run, and hide, as well as separate sections for big and small kids. Plans are underway to update the entire area and create new structures that blend into the environment with green shade shelters and rock walls.
755 8th Ave S, Naples
www.naplesgov.com/parksrec/page/cambier-park
Big Corkscrew Island Regional Park
This park’s huge playground has swings and slides, cable bridges, zip lines, climbing stations, ramps, and therapeutic swings. A castle structure stands as a centerpiece. Adults can relax in the shade by the solar-powered charging stations.
810 39th Ave NE, Naples
www.collierparks.com/collier_park/big-corkscrew-island-regional-park
Fleischmann Park
New larger canopies offer more shade as children play on the red twisty slide, blue rock wall, tunnels, and traditional slides. The entire playground is covered, keeping everything cooler. It is the only playground in Collier County that is considered inclusive. The surface, equipment, layout, and ramps leading up to certain pieces make it easier for children with special needs.
1600 Fleischmann Blvd, Naples
www.naplesgov.com/parksrec/page/fleischmann-park
North Collier Regional Park – Can You Dig It Park
Can You Dig It Park has all the apparatus of a modern playground with slides, swings, climbing structures, squishy poles, and boulders, but what makes it different is the dino dig. Kids can pretend to be archaeologists as they dig for fossils in a giant covered sand pit.
15000 Livingston Road, Naples
www.collierparks.com/collier_park/north-collier-regional-park
Lions Pride Park
Located across from Riverside Park, this hidden gem offers shaded fun under a canopy of trees, complete with restrooms. It features logs for balance, slides, and large rocks for climbing. Ideal for tiny tots to explore and even roll down a hill, a novelty in our flat Southwest Florida!
10450 Reynolds St, Bonita Springs.
www.bonitaspringsparks.org/parks___trails/depot_park
Baker Park
Under a massive canopy in the shade is a playground with some unusual apparatus. There is a wide slide that multiple kids can use at once, a gigantic rope climb structure, and a splash pad.
100 Riverside Circle, Naples
www.naplesgov.com/parksrec/page/baker-park
Lakes Park
This place has it all. There is a humongous playground with bridges to cross, climbing ropes, swings, and ladders to cling to. Slides shoot out from a train that children can climb aboard. The park also has a sprinkler park and train ride.
7330 Gladiolus Dr, Fort Myers
www.leegov.com/parks/parks/lakespark
Karl Drews Park
This ADA-inclusive playground has poured in place material that provides a solid pathway to many attractions. The main structure has a ramp for easy navigation. There is a Quiet Grove structure that provides a calming escape area. The playground also features a series of climbing structures, slides, bridges and swings.
18412 Lee Road, Fort Myers
www.leegov.com/parks/centers/karldrews
Matlacha Park
Pretend you are a pirate as you climb aboard a pirate ship in this Lee County playground. Slides shoot out from the sides, and portholes, a pretend cannon, and a rope climb are embedded in the structure.
4577 Pine Island Road, Matlacha