As kids grow, so do their ideas of fun. The playground that once kept them happily occupied for hours may no longer hold the same appeal. If your older kids are outgrowing the neighborhood park, don't give up on outdoor adventures just yet.
Mahogany Giant Rocks Playground
Mahogany Boulevard and Marquis Heights SE
Kids (and adults) who love a climbing challenge will love testing their skills at this very different style of playground.
Applewood Rotary Greenway Playground
Located along a bike path along the Calgary Greenway, this playground offers a different kind of experience from your typical playground. Bigger kids will love playing keep off the ground and trying to jump from one thing to another.
East Calgary Greenway – Saddlebrook Playground
Near Saddlebrook along the Eastern portion of the Greenway just South of Stoney Trail.
Similar to the Applewood Greenway playground above, this playground features artificial logs, rocks, and ropes to climb on.
Laycock Park Playground
750 Blackthorn Road NE
This playground is more challenging than most, making it great for older kids.
Elboya Park Playground
46 Avenue & 4a Street SW
This playground lets kids get up higher than most and has climbing equipment that will challenge older kids.
12 Mile Coulee School Playground
65 Tuscany Hills Road NW
The equipment at this park is set up in a circuit-like pattern. It was designed to be challenging and support the middle school’s physical education and fitness programs.
Carrington Park Playground
140 Avenue & 14 Street NW
This playground features accessible flooring, challenging equipment, a roller slide, and a zipline.
Valleyview Hill Playground
28 Street and 30 Avenue SE
The playgrounds are fantastic, and the park area is beautiful with lots of places to sit. Located just up the hill from the spray park and toddler playground.
Forest Lawn Natural Playground
43 Street and 10 Avenue SE
This style of playground provides a different kind of experience from more typical metal and plastic playgrounds. Older kids manage to find all kinds of ways to interact with the equipment.
West Springs School Playground
West Springs – 8999 Wentworth Avenue SW
This school playground features a big rope spinner and a varied rope climber.
*Note: This is a school playground. You may be asked to leave during school hours.
Nose Creek Middle School Playground
Coventry – Coventry Hills Way NE near Covenmeadow Road NE
This school playground is set back from the school and is designed for middle schoolers resulting in a more challenging playground than most.
*Note: This is a school playground. You may be asked to leave during school hours.
Applestone Park Playground
Applestone Park – Applewood Drive SE & Applestone Park SE
This playground is huge and has lots of overhead features, catwalks, and bridges.
Valley Pointe Estates Playground
Valley Pointe Estates – approximately 12114 Valley Ridge Drive NW
This style of playground really lends itself for different kinds of movements for older kids. Younger kids usually find these playgrounds a bit too difficult.
Taralake Link Playground
Taradale – Taralake Heath NE
Similar to the Valley Pointe Estates Playground above, older kids will love testing their skills out on this playground and going down the saddle slide.
Panatella Hill Pond Playground
Panorama – 134 Panatella Hill NW
This playground is in the same style as the two above, however this playground also has a set of equipment for younger kids as well.
Colonel Walker School Playground
Inglewood – 1921 9 Avenue SE
Unlike any other playground in Calgary, kids will love the freaky feeling of walking across this high rope ladder.
*Note: This is a school playground. You may be asked to leave during school hours.
Balmoral School Playground
Balmoral – 16th Avenue and 1 Street NW
Designed for middle schoolers, this playground is more difficult to navigate than your average playground.
Note: This is a school playground. You may be asked to leave during school hours.
Brentwood School Playground
Brentwood – Northmount Drive and Brantford Drive NW
This school playground is huge and features a wide variety of challenging equipment.
Note: This is a school playground. You may be asked to leave during school hours.
Ralph Klein Park Playground
12350 84 Street SE (near Stoney Trail and 114 Street SE)
This playground features a zipline and a great log-and-rope feature. An excellent stop if you are biking by the area.
Dana searches out the best places to play, eat, and learn with her kids in Calgary, across Alberta, and beyond. Her three kids also contribute their unfiltered opinions to her reviews. To explore more, visit calgaryplaygroundreview.com.
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