Where are the playgrounds in Columbia? We ended up at the mall playground because all we found were lakes. We wants swings and slides and things to climb. Please help us find this simple pleasure. Thanks!
There is an awesome playground at 29 and 100. You take the first exit off 100 (St. JOhn's I think) and the playground is right there. Sorry I can't be more specific, i know how to get there, just not the street names.
Welcome to Columbia!There are lots of playgrounds around here, there is a nice one at Centennial Park off of 108, there is on at Cedar Lane park... also off of 108. There is another nice one off of St. John's lane (rt. 103) behind Target. There are always some by schools, there is another one off of Cedar lane, in front of the hospital. Also we have a 2 year old playgroup if you are interested in joining. Please email me ____@____.com if you are interested.
Good morning! There are so many playgrounds in Columbia, but you do need to know where to look. Both Lakes have playgrounds, they are just set back a bit from the water. Lake Elkhorn Park off Broken Land Parkway has a great playground, it faces Cradlerock Road, across from the McDonalds. Centennial Park off 108 has a huge playground, if you enter the park off 108, turn left through the parking lots and the playground is at the top of the hill. Most of the pool/school complexes have big playgrounds as well, like Stevens Forest Pool off Stevens Forest road, and there's one on Cedar Lane as well.
There are little playgrounds dispersed through all the walking trails in Columbia. I live in Long Reach and there is a play ground right off Phelps Luck Drive and one behind Blade Green Lane and one at Jackson Pond. Check the Columbia Association building, across from the mall and they have maps and things and can tell you exactly where they all are. But if you also just walk the trails your bound to hit one of them. Good luck and welcome to Columbia.
The Howard County Parks page is at http://www.co.ho.md.us/RAP/RAP_HowardCountyParks.htm and lists the bigger parks. I know Cedar Lane, Schooley Mill and Savage have swings; Centennial does not. It also says there are 18 community parks but only lists a few. Hammond and High Ridge do not have swings but Dickinson Park and Holiday Hills Parks do.
Here's a good one for you, go to http://gis.howardcountymd.gov/PublicGISOnline/MyNeighbor.... and enter your street address. Look in the middle of the list of questions and you'll see one for "Where are the parks & playgrounds?" That will give you the ones closest to your house. Pretty cool, wish I'd known about that page a couple of years ago :-)
Columbia has an extensive system of walking/jogging/biking paths throughout the wooded areas around the neighborhoods. If you find the nearest one to your house and start walking, you should find a small playground with at least swings and a slide within a mile. Some are larger and have bouncy animals, carousels, sandboxes, and others. For more serious playtime, there's the big playground at Centennial Park on route 108 west of route 29 just before Centennial Lane or the big park (forget what it's called)off route 100 near the Long Gate shopping center. Just take the Long Gate exit off route 100 and turn left, away from the Target, and you'll be headed straight for it. Another option is to hit your local elementary school playground during off school hours.
Have fun!
Columbia has a wealth of resources for families. Centennial Park is right on 108 and very near Clark's Farm, a wonderful place with children's activities although there is a paid admission. There is also an indoor place called PlayWiseVillage that's alot of fun for the younger set. My homeschool group has a free trip coming up there is you'd like to join us. Just contact me for info - ____@____.com. I do lots of trips and activities for young kids with my group and deep discounts or free and we'd be happy to have you join us. You don't need to homeschool. It would help you get out and about some and maybe make a few new friends for you and your child. C.
There are some wonderful playgrounds in and near Columbia!
You can check out the website for Howard County Parks and Rec for the parks they run and they will tell you where the playground is at each park.
Off of 175, near Columbia Mall is a wonderful little toddler park with a great sandbox. It is off of Vantage House Rd... you'll see it on the right just past the Vantage House Retirement Center. There are swings and a slide there as well. Just off of 100, in Ellicott City is another great playground. You take 100W to Long Gate Pkwy and turn left. The playground is at the end of the road next to a park and ride. That playground is very big and a lot of fun for kids of all ages.
We're in Laurel but depending on where you live in Columbia you might also enjoy High Ridge Park or Hammond Park, both off of 216. High Ridge is a bit further for you but great for younger children. There are directions to both on the Howard Co. Parks and Rec site.
I hope you find something that will be fun for you and your family!
The mall can get really packed and scary pretty fast! They are all over, but usually hidden by trees (like everything else in Columbia) ! There is another good one at Centennial Park (enter of 108 near Clark's Elioak Farm & head towards the left). We sometimes got to non-fenced schools on the weekends (there is one next door to the East Columbia library branch on Cradlerock.......btw lake elkhorn playground at the other end of Cradlerock has a nice lake view). If you want a rainy day place, Great Kids Village/Playwise Kids is an indoor playplace on Oakland Mills Rd.
Have Fun!
Hi Imogen,
There is a great park off of Rte. 108 and Centennial
lane. I don't remember too much about swings, but there's
great climbing. Also, check your nearest Tot Lot for the
swings.
Angie B.
