Lew Howard Park has a great playground and is surrounded by nature trails

Call me crazy, but I think the way that playgrounds are situated and their surroundings sometimes influence how long kids will play more than the actual playground itself! The playground at Lew Howard Park is situated in a particular way that kids seem to play at the playground for a really long time. The playground, grassy field, benches, tennis court, basketball court and covered pavilion are all situated at the top of a hill. The playground is in the center and sunk down a bit. There are shaded benches near the playground so parents are close at hand, and restrooms are also located close by. There is a large covered pavilion that would be great for a birthday party or large gathering (check with the city for reservation info).

The playground features a toddler structure that would be great for new walkers, which can sometimes be hard to find. There is a large spider web style climbing structure that provided at least an hour of pretend play during our play date. The playground also has swings, a slide, two spinning seats, a vertical spinning spiral and monkey bars.

Lew Howard Park is located right next to the Hinkle Creek Nature Area and can be accessed by driving down the hill or walking down the Baldwin Dam Road. The entire area is a great location for some nature exploration. Taking a simple walk and just noticing things in nature can be a great activity for even the littlest children!