We are fortunate to have a lot of fun parks for our children to explore. They can work out a lot of mischief-creating energy dangling from monkey bars and digging in the sand! 
My favorite happens to be Founder's Park in Wylie: it's a big pirate ship with lots of sprawling sections. There are age-appropriate areas for all of our kids, and even a little stage (which my young diva has graced more than a few times with her own princess-themed productions). There are so many sets of monkey bars that my oldest child used to make an obstacle course out of them (tough enough to make every dad out there drop their chins in the wood chips!). He rounded out his finale with the last set, too high and too far to reach, which required a propelled leap forward and a firm grip. Darn if he didn't "stick it" after about ten tries (my own palms were blistering in sympathy).
I love Celebration Park is special in its own right, since it has both a super-cool spray area AND the sprawling playset in age-appropriate levels (even color-coordinated). I highly recommend that parents wear clothes they don't mind getting wet, because you will want to join in the spray-fun in these hot TX summers! There is not a lot of shade to relieve you here, so your best option is lots of sunscreen and running through the spray with the kids!
Not to be missed is Plano's Arbor Hills Nature Preserve. This park has lose-yourself winding nature trails and creeks, a biofilter (my children love climbing the huge rocks and pretending they're in some prehistoric crater), plenty of pavilions, nice restrooms, and an amazing playstructure. One of my favorite kids' birthday parties (I didn't host it, but was thoroughly entertained by the kind family who did) was held there on a rainy day, actually. There was plenty of cover for the adults (and food), and the kids didn't mind the sprinkles. Parting party favors were little flower pots which the kids were able to decorate and fill with soil and rooted trimmings of a vine which the birthday child's parents had in over-supply in their yard. How exciting!
What is your favorite? There are so many to choose from. I have to put Founder's Park first on my list because I personally would rather have sand in the car (vacuum-able) than water (mold-able) at the end of the day. Also, it's a bit harder for the ice cream man to circle close to Founder's Park! Arbor Hills doesn't leave my kids drenched or sandy, but (since we live in Wylie) the drive can be long for us. Proximity wins for us!
Not to be missed is Plano's Arbor Hills Nature Preserve. This park has lose-yourself winding nature trails and creeks, a biofilter (my children love climbing the huge rocks and pretending they're in some prehistoric crater), plenty of pavilions, nice restrooms, and an amazing playstructure. One of my favorite kids' birthday parties (I didn't host it, but was thoroughly entertained by the kind family who did) was held there on a rainy day, actually. There was plenty of cover for the adults (and food), and the kids didn't mind the sprinkles. Parting party favors were little flower pots which the kids were able to decorate and fill with soil and rooted trimmings of a vine which the birthday child's parents had in over-supply in their yard. How exciting!
0 comments • Angie Stephens - Collin County TX Specialist • December 17 2009 01:57PM
