Located where Lake and Belle Avenues meet, at the northern end of the city, Lakewood Park is our biggest park. Purchased in 1918 from the Rhodes Estate, the park contains Olympic-sized Foster Pool, with a new zero-entry Baby Pool; tennis, volleyball and bocce courts; softball diamonds; the Lakewood Kiwanis Picnic Pavilion; and the Lakewood Women's Club Pavilion (open year-round, with electricity and running water). A bandshell on the open grassy field is The Spot to Be during summers, where the city offers family-friendly Friday Night Flicks and other entertainment. In addition, this park features the biggest playground in town! 

This is the home of KidsCove, the result of a volunteer committee's efforts to build a state-of-the-art playground. Different parts of the playground are designated for certain age and playing levels, starting with the toddlers, on up to the big kids. From a myriad of slides to jugle gyms, from fortresses and race cars to tire obstacle courses and swings, this playground has it all. And it's all made from a material called TREX, a wood-substitute that avoids splinters and other problems associated with wood. KidsCove is handicapped accessible, with indoor heated restrooms close to the playground for those potty-training emergencies. Benches are also conveniently located throughout. On a scale of 1 to 5, this playground deserves 5 slides.

KidsCove at Lakewood Park

Where Grace Avenue meets Madison, you'll find Madison Park in the southeastern section of the city. Madison Pool was recently refurbished and features a water slide in the main pool, a separate diving pool, and the best kiddie pool I've ever seen. Admission for children under 6 is free, and a family pass for the season for two adults plus the children in the same household is only $40.00, and it's good at the Lakewood Park Foster Pool as well.

The park features a newer playstation across from the pools, behind the Madison Branch of Lakewood Public Library. Stretching further south, the park includes several sets of swings, slides, climbing equipment, and 'rocking' animals -- all safety-matted -- plus sandboxes. For your older kids and other family athletes, there are tennis courts, volleyball courts, large soccer fields, basketball courts and the George J. Usher Memorial Softball Field, complete with lights and stands. In addition, the park has a covered picnic pavilion and indoor restroom facilities separate from the pool building. For the wide variety of outdoor entertainment, this park earns 5 slides.

North of the railroad tracks off Cove Avenue and behind the City Hall complex, Cove Park has a very nice selection of older and newer playground equipment featuring swings and slides. A softball field is nearby. Unlike many of the other small neighborhood parks, there is off-street parking here.

Across Detroit Avenue from the Lakewood YMCA at the corner of Edwards Avenue, Edwards Park is the designated T-Ball field in Lakewood. Small climbing and sliding equipment and stands of regular and baby swings have been added to entertain the younger siblings of T-Ball players. Indoor restroom facilities are a thoughtful convenience. While most likely not a destination in itself, it is nonetheless a handy and well-equipped small park.

Behind the Mars Shopping Plaza on Detroit Avenue, Kauffmann Park runs south of the railroad tracks between Andrews and Lakeland Avenues.  It boasts Lakewood Little Links, a municipally owned and operated miniature golf course, beautifully landscaped and actually challenging. The major feature is the large baseball diamond, Jimmie Foxx Field, which hosts both hardball and softball teams. We're told it's the best infield in the city. Again, as in many of the other parks, a large modern playstation has been installed, and there are a few banks of swings and two tennis courts. It's quite near the main branch of the Lakewood Public Library, making it a convenient stop on a kid-friendly outing. During the summers, the Farmers Market is located on the short stretch of Arthur Avenue north of Detroit on Wednesday afternoons.

Surprisingly enough, this mini-park is located at the intersection of Merl Avenue and Bunts Road, diagonally across the tracks from the Tops Supermarket parking lot.  New, modern equipment features climbing and sliding fun for little ones, with a great springy safety mat. The park includes two swings (could use more), strategically placed benches, and a water fountain next to the tennis court. Special Note: the gap from the spiral ladder to the platform is too big for climbers under three or so. The wonderful expanse of grassy field that stretches from the play area to Bunts Road offers plenty of room for excitable runners and spinners to frolic upon.

Yes, Lakewood continues south of  Interstate 90, particularly in the western end of town. Niagara Park is just south of South Marginal Road, between Lakewood Heights Boulevard and Naragansett Avenue on Niagara Drive. The tiny space features a compact modern playstation and a few benches for weary parents. It's a nice use of an irregular strip of land.

Another nice new neighborhood mini-park, Park Row Park is nestled just north of Detroit Avenue on Park Row Avenue, past West Clifton Boulevard. The modern playstation is a nice diversion for families in the neighborhood.

Located between Rosewood and Orchard Grove Avenues, at the point where Hilliard and Madison intersect, Wagar Park is a somewhat larger neighborhood park featuring a compact modern playstation and larger older swings, slides and sandboxes, as well as a whole row of tennis courts.  (Lakewood really has a lot of tennis courts, doesn't it?) 

Similar to Merl-Bunts Park in location, Webb Park is adjacent to the railroad tracks off Webb Road, which runs north from the Beck Center for the Cultural Arts off Detroit Avenue.  The equipment is a modern assembly with slides and stairs. Swings are nearby; although there are only two. Tennis courts are across the field.