Grandparent Guide
TOP 5 PLAYGROUNDS IN OKC FOR GRANDPARENTS + GRANDKIDS ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY DEBBI MARSHALL
Seeking some fun outdoor activities you and your grandchildren can experience together? Public playgrounds are often a forgotten gift. We are all naturally drawn to the newest big things — the glitzy, hightech adventures. But outdoor parks offer fresh air, physical exercise and unstructured creative play. When I presented the idea of exploring our local parks to my grandchildren (ages 10, 8 and 6), they were eager to re-visit old favorites and explore some of the Oklahoma City metro’s unique and diverse playgrounds. Most of us have a neighborhood park near our homes and we’ve been there countless times; however, the metro offers dozens of options if we look beyond the familiar. Over the summer months, my three grandchildren and I set a goal of visiting 25 different playgrounds. With that challenge in mind, we felt a sense of excitement and urgency. We typically visited two parks each “park day,” which kept curiosity levels high.
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Lions Children’s Playground, Lake Hefner Park: Clean, clean, clean! This park’s cushioned surface is accessible for wheelchair users, and a variety of colorful play structures entertain all ages.
We focused on those within 20 to 30 minutes from home and arrived as early in the day as possible. Sunscreen, insect repellent, hand sanitizer, snacks and water were essential. I saw my grandchildren’s confidence grow as they conquered new play structures. My granddaughter kept a list of the parks’ names to provide a tangible reminder of our accomplishments. Traveling from one park to another, we discussed how some parks are actually in a suburb of Oklahoma City, like Bethany, Edmond, Yukon or The Village. I seized the opportunity for some civic education when the children noticed police and fire trucks bearing the names of the suburb we were visiting
Naturally, we discussed which parks were their favorites and why. Here are the kids’ top 5.
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Bumpass Park, The Village: The slides and climbing options are the stars of the show. Shady benches for grandparents are another win.
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