The Best Waco Playgrounds and Parks For Kids
Who knew that finding a great playground for kids could be so challenging? When I’m out and about with my kids in Texas, I love finding amazing local city parks and playgrounds where they can burn some energy and enjoy a picnic lunch. But the park also has to:
- have plenty of shade, or at least a shady pavilion (Texas is hot!)
- have restrooms nearby
- be maintained and fairly clean (I don’t want my kids playing at a playground that has trash and broken playground equipment)
- preferably in a convenient location
Phew! That’s a lot of stuff, which is why this guide is going to be fairly short. Waco is definitely working on investing in their public playgrounds, but there’s still a ways to go…
That being said, there are a few awesome little playgrounds in Waco that I recommend! Here’s my guide to the best Waco playgrounds for kids.
The Best Waco Playgrounds and Parks For Kids
1. Northern Gateway Park
I absolutely adore this Waco playground for my kids! It’s located at the northern tip of Cameron Park (which has several playgrounds in it, btw), and it’s right by Lovers Leap. If you’re not familiar with Lovers Leap in Waco, read this!
Northern Gateway Park is nicely maintained, has a pretty good variety of playground equipment so that everyone from young toddlers to older kids can enjoy it, and (drumroll….) has BATHROOMS! Game changer.
The park itself isn’t super shady, so you might not want to play here on a hot summer afternoon. But there’s a pavilion with picnic tables, so there’s some shade for your lunchtime.
Lots of parking, nearby baseball fields, trails to explore, and you’re just a few steps away from those amazing views at Lovers Leap! A definite win.
WEBSITE | 704 Park Lake Dr, Waco, TX 76708, United States
2. Pecan Bottom Park
Way at the opposite end of Cameron Park is where you’ll find Pecan Bottom Park. I like this Waco playground too, but not quite as much as Northern Gateway Park. Why? Because it’s at the main entrance to Cameron Park, it always seems just a bit more crowded to me.
That being said, Pecan Bottom Park also has a SPLASH PAD which is always a huge hit with my kids! The playground and splash pad are right next to the Brazos River. I love being close to water, so this park gets a few bonus points in my book. You and your kids can enjoy walking/biking along the riverwalk and finding all of the sculptures in the Waco Sculpture Zoo, and then stop to enjoy some play time at Pecan Bottom Park.
The playground is simple but fun. There really isn’t ANY shade on this playground, which means this is a great park for the morning or evening. Like I said…Waco is still working on their public playgrounds but I’m hoping for more shady canopies over the play structures some day!)
WEBSITE | Waco, TX, USA
3. Anniversary Park Playground
This is one of the simplest yet most overlooked playgrounds in Waco…which is why I’m including it! And yes, this is the THIRD playground in Cameron Park that I’m mentioning. I told you there are lots of play spaces at Cameron Park!
Anniversary Park Playground is basically at the top of Jacob’s Ladder, but you can drive here. (No need to climb those 88 steps to the top like I did.)
The park is often empty and it's fairly simple with a few swings and a climbing structure. But it’s a good spot to stop for a few minutes and let kids get their wiggles out. Also, how cool is that giant rock thing? Super fun for kids to climb.
However, it’s so close to Northern Gateway Park, which I mentioned first in this guide, I just recommend driving a little bit further through Cameron Park and going to that park. It’s much better!
WEBSITE | Cameron Park Waco, TX, 76708
4. Doris D Miller Park
Doris D Miller Park is right on the banks of the Brazos River, next to the famous Waco Suspension Bridge. The park is a large, grassy area, with free parking, the gorgeous Doris D Miller Memorial, a shady pavilion, and a playground for kids.
The stunning memorial is my favorite part of this park, but little kids will probably mostly just want to splash in it…which isn’t allowed. (But if your kids are anything like mine, they see an inch of water and assume it’s a splash pad built for them! And no…we’re not going to go splashing a memorial to honor this brave black WWII soldier…)
There’s not a lot more to say about this Waco playground! It’s probably your best option if you need a playground in downtown Waco, but it’s not going to win any “best parks in America” awards or anything like that.
WEBSITE | Doris D Miller Park, 300 N M.L.K. Jr Blvd Waco, Texas United States
5. Kendrick Park
It’s a little bit south of downtown Waco/Magnolia/Baylor, and Kendrick Park has it all! New, modern playground equipment, a shady pavilion, lots of free parking, plus basketball courts, fitness equipment, and a SPLASH PAD!!
There’s a walking path in case you want to get some steps in while the kids play. The playground itself doesn’t have any shade over it (seriously - has anyone found a Waco playground with shade? If so, please share!) but the picnic pavilion is a good place to escape the sun, and the splash pad makes it easy to cool off.
WEBSITE | 4011 Bagby Ave, Waco, TX 76711, United States
6. Mountainview Spray Park
Head out toward Lake Waco and you’ll find Mountainview Spray Park, an awesome little Waco playground and SPLASH PAD that kids absolutely love.
There’s no pavilion here, but there are a few picnic tables in the shade of a nearby tree, so you can cool off and eat your lunch there. Nothing truly groundbreaking, but it’s a clean Waco playground with a splash pad, so that’s a win!
WEBSITE | 2325 Mountainview Dr, Waco, TX 76710, United States
So, to recap…the Waco parks department could definitely make some improvements by adding more shade structures to their playgrounds. It’s pretty much impossible to find a shady playground in Waco!
That being said, a lot of parks have been recently updated, and it’s clear that Waco values public park space (I mean, just look at the magnificent Cameron Park with all of the nature and hiking trails! Clearly this city LOVES public green spaces!)
There are a few more public playgrounds in Waco, but they’re not significantly better than anything I’ve mentioned. Honestly, I recommend going to the top of this list and going to playground #1, unless you’re strict on location. In that case, just use the map to find a Waco playground close to you.
Looking for more kid-friendly things to do in Waco? Here are the best restaurants to dine at with kids in Waco, and a bunch of fun things to do with kids in Waco.
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