Anson B. Nixon Park has everything to complete an awesome family adventure!

Anson B. Nixon Park is a perfect spot for the whole family to enjoy.  Located not far from the charming Historic Downtown Kennet Square it's a nature wonderland for all ages.  Comprised of 106 acres, the Park was carved out of the historic woodlands of the late 18th through early 20th century Chambers estate. This natural setting includes not only two ponds, meandering streams,  and 3 miles of paved and dirt walking trails, but it also has a large amphitheater overlooking the water,  5 pavilions available to rent out for parties,  picnic tables with grills, basketball and tennis courts, 4 square, volleyball net, 18 hole disc golf course, and three different playground areas.    With all of these amenities, there was no shortage of activities to occupy our 5 kids and 2 nephews for the whole day.    

Having three playground areas the kids won't get bored with plenty of options to climb, swing, spin, and slide. This is also great because if one is more crowded you can check out another.   All three playgrounds have new, well-maintained play structures.  Although they aren't enclosed they are surrounded by lots of grass and set back from the parking areas.   The main playground is where we spent most of our time.  It's the biggest, closest to the main parking lot and the bathroom building, and also has the most shade and benches.   This is the only one with separate big kid and toddler playsets as well as swings for all ages and abilities.   The second playground is just across the entrance road and down the hill.  There are only big kid swings here and not as big of a playground, but the kids loved playing hide and seek through the little tunnels in the playset.  This is also right near the basketball courts and volleyball net so there is plenty for older kids that are too big for the playgrounds.  My young teens were really excited to see the 4 Square courts painted next to the basketball court.  I wished I had brought a ball with us, but it will definitely be in the car for the next visit.    The third playground is a smaller one near the soccer fields.  This would be a nice stop while walking on the trail for you to rest and have the kids play.   There are only two baby swings here and it is geared toward younger kids.   An added bonus is there is a shaded pavilion, a porta-potty and this playground also has its own parking lot so this could be its own destination for a little playtime.

The Park has two ponds, both stocked annually during the Trout Rodeo held the first Saturday in May. A fishing dock with wheelchair access is located at the edge of the pond. A Pennsylvania Fishing License is required for ages 16 and over.

The Park has approximately three miles of stroller-friendly walking trails.   Trails aren't fully shaded so you will want to bring sunscreen and hats.   Bug spray would also be good to have since you are walking by streams.   A map of the trails can be found in the kiosks located in the parking lot or by clicking here.  

 The scenery surrounding the pond is stunning which makes it so relaxing whether you are there for the playground, hiking, fishing or anything else.   We did a little exploring on the trails and found cute wooden bridges crossing the stream.  We pretended they were "Troll Bridges" and had so much fun letting our imaginations soar looking for signs of the trolls.

Back near the main playground is an adorable little library box that immediately caught the attention of the kids with its brightly painted children's book theme.  We found a few great books that we read under a shady tree and my nephews can't wait to bring a few of their extra books to share on the next visit.  (We later noticed a few more of these in other parks and around town.  This has now become like a treasure hunt as we're out and about to see what we can find and also share in the library boxes!!)

There is an added bonus for dog owners with a dog park for your furry friends to play too.  It's nearly 2 acres and boasts separate sections for small and large dogs. There is a staging section before entering either of the spaces.  The park also provides offers a human and pet water fountain drinking system, multiple benches, and dog clean-up stations.  Dogs are welcome in all areas of the park but must be kept on a leash. 

We were pleasantly surprised to find so much to enjoy at this park, and are already planning a full day outing where we will set up a home base at a shady picnic table,  bring fishing rods to explore the ponds and food to grill up for a nice barbeque.

After spending a few hours at the park it was so nice that we were just a few minutes away from all of the great food and shopping offered downtown.   We stumbled upon La Michoacana Homemade Ice Cream Shop that was the perfect unique treat for all of us.