Bob Cooke Park

We were delighted to find this newly rennovated park in North-Central Arlington.  The playground structures were large and entertaining, there was plenty of shade (both arboreal and man-made), and the park had lots of 'extras'.  It has two baby swings and two regular swings.  The ground covering is soft wood chips, and there are benches everywhere.  There is not a restroom on the playground, but there are (clean) restrooms on the other side of the park.

Swings!

Shady spots to sit - under a tree or a pergola

The 'baby' playground (1-5 years) is small, but full of low-risk activities.  There were three little slides (one straight, one spiral, and one bumpy).  There are stairs, a tiny (low-slope) climbing wall, and an activity wall.  The entire thing is shaded.

This playground is for little kids

The 'big kid' playground (5-12 years) was enough to keep my 5 year olds busy for over an hour.  It has endless ways to climb up, including three different climbing walls and several climbing bars and ladders.  It has two really big slides and three levels of climbing platforms.  There were also several spinning platforms for some dizzy fun.

Big kids will love this side!

The park has a small pond (but we didn't see any ducks).  The pond has a bridge spanning it, which little kids would love, and is a part of a nice little walking/biking trail.  There also basketball courts, tennis courts, and a big field you could play soccer on.  On the other side of the park, there is a recreation center with an indoor pool and a senior citizens center.

Bob Cooke Park:
2025 Craig Hanking Drive
Arlington, Texas 76010

The closest large streets are New York and Pioneer Parkway.

Cravens Park

Cravens Park is one of our favorites.  It is large, has a restroom, a pond, and an excellent playground.

The play structure for bigger kids (labeled 5-12) is massive.  It has two huge tunnel slides, a double slide, a climbing wall, three levels of play, spinners, monkey bars, and climbing ropes.

Big kids play here!

The play area for little kids (labeled 2-5) is larger than most baby playgrounds, and is probably geared towards older toddlers and preschoolers.  It has two (low) climbing walls, several more difficult climbing areas, three slides, and a cute little pretend car area (with gear shifts and steering wheel)

A playplace for little kids

There are two regular swings, two toddler swings, and a tire swing.  The ground covering is mostly wood chips with small areas of rubber matting.  There are built in sun shades on the playground.

Plenty of stationary extras in this playground.  There is a globe-shaped merry-go-round, a bouncy see-saw, a spinning seat, a bouncy horse, some drums, and a huge sandbox.  It had rained for a few days before our last visit, so the sandbox was a bit of a lake.  Even so, it looked fun, with a couple of backhoe toys and a little sand table.

The baseball fields, basketball courts, and tennis courts are all within easy walking distance of the playground.  Our playgroup has used the baseball fields for some impromptu games.  There is also a large pavilion - great for picnics or parties.  I was struck by the recycling bins - one near every single trash can.  Good job, Arlington!

Cravens Park is located at the juncture of Matlock and Green Oaks, and can be accessed from either road.
400 Cravens Park Dr.
Arlington, Texas 76018

Cliff Nelson Park

This is without a doubt, one of our favorite parks!  It has a massive shaded playground, clean bathrooms (inside Cliff Nelson Rec Center), and an irresistable walking trail.

The playground is all connected, and while there is a small structure for little children, they aren't really separated.  This play structure has tons of climbing activities, bridges, tunnels, more slides than you can count, monkey bars, a pretend store front, lots of spinning apparatus, and four swings (two infant, two regular).

Larger structure

Smaller structure 

Spinning! 

Awesome playground!

A wooded path off of the playground leads you to a pond with fish and turtles.  It makes for a nice shaded walk.

Pond and fountain

Since we generally are only going to a park to play, I won't review all of the 'extras' at this park, but the rec center is just feet away from the playground and has restrooms.  One of our best friends held a birthday there last year, and it is a nice facility.

Cliff Nelson Center

Cliff Nelson Park is located on West Bardin, between Green Oaks and Kelly Elliot.
4600 West Bardin Rd
Arlington, Texas 76017

Mary & Jimmie Hooper Park

Hooper park is kind of a hidden treasure.  It is almost always nearly empty whenever we go.  It is small with a lovely view of a lake.  It has a baseball practice field, a basketball court, and a spectacular playground for small children.

This is one of the few playgrounds in which my children are completely content to stay on the equipment designed for their age-group.  The 'little kid' playground has plenty of slides, climbing apparatuses, tunnels and fun!

Little kid heaven!

The 'big kid' playground is also lots of fun, with a climbing wall, tall slides, and lots of monkey bars and firemen poles.  The ground covering is wood chips.  There are two baby swings and two regular ones.

This one's for the bigger kids

The pavilion can be rented (the sign designating whether it is reserved is directly in front of the pavilion), and is just feet from the water, making it a beautiful place to eat lunch.  There are only two tables underneath, so it would have to be a small gathering.

Hooper has a small baseball diamond and a basketball court.  I didn't' get many pictures, since there were lots of people playing and didn't want to look like the paparazzi.

We also found this sign.  How cool!

Hooper Park is located on Pleasant Ridge, between Bowen and Cooper.  It is tucked away, so you may have driven right past it and not realized what you were missing!
2303 Pleasant Ridge Rd
Arlington, Texas 76015

FJ 'Red' Kane Park

Kane Park is an older park with beautiful views of a fountain and pond.  It, like most Arlington parks, has separate structures for big kids and little ones. 

The 'big kid' playground is pretty awesome.  It has a three story climbing structure (as tall as a 3-story building) with three huge slides.  The top level (accessed only by a rung-ladder) is really high up.  I took my kids to this park when they were still toddlers, and it was too scary to let them play on.  But for 4 and up, it is great.  It also features two rock climbing structures and two big kid swings.

This one is for big kids!

The 'baby' playground is fairly small, and may not hold the attentions of an older toddler for long.  There are two baby swings.  

The little kid friendly side

This park boasts a pond with fountain feature, basket ball court, paved walking trail (around the pond), a  flock of friendly geese and ducks, and bathrooms.   There are several picnic tables (in the shade of large trees) to have lunch or do crafts, and plenty of benches for parents of older children to sit and watch.

Basketball court

Pond, dock, and geese

Picnic area

Kane park is located on Southbound Cooper Street, just past Hardisty Dr.  

6500 S. Cooper St

Arlington, Texas 76001

California Lane Park

California Lane Park is one of the few parks in Arlington with a splash pad or spray ground.  These features are open in the summer (and turn off when AISD school starts).

splash pad / spray ground

The playground is separated into two sections - one for smaller kids and one for larger.  The park can be rented out for parties, and there is a bulletin board near the entrance that tells you whether it has been reserved at all that week.  Be warned - the parking lot is small.  We attended a birthday party at this park once, and had to park  at the school across the (very busy) street.

Both playground structures are fun and fairly safe for all ages.  They are fairly new, and have a shade screen above each.  They have wood chip ground covering.  There are two big kid swings and two baby swings.

For little kids 

For bigger kids

There is a small covered pavilion, containing two picnic tables located near the splash pad and playground.

This park has two basketball courts that have stayed fairly active on our few excursions there.  There is also a soccer field, which we loved practicing on.  It is built in a bit of a bowl, so I would imagine that it gets really muddy after a rain.

Basketball court & soccer field

There is a short walking trail, leading to a pond with a fountain.  We didn't see any ducks, but I would imagine there are some occasionally.

California Lane Park is located between Bowen and Fielder Rd, directly across from Short Elementary.
2001 California Lane
Arlington, Texas 76015