Buzz
Do you recall the excitement of running wild at playgrounds as a child, climbing on every structure and racing down the slides? Ah, those carefree moments...
Monkey bars, a towering 3-meter (10 ft) slide, and those shaky rope bridges were enough to tire you out and leave your parents satisfied, knowing you'd fall asleep on the ride home. But playgrounds have evolved, becoming more extravagant and awe-inspiring than ever before. Here are 10 of the most incredible playgrounds around the world.
10. Swarovski Crystal Worlds, Wattens, Austria
When you think of Swarovski, a playground might not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, the Austrian crystal giant is home to one of the most extraordinary playgrounds in the world.
Crystal Worlds, a museum established by the company in 1995 to mark their 100th anniversary, not only showcases stunning crystal art but also features an incredible playground to keep kids entertained while their parents admire the sparkling creations.
Known as the play tower, this four-story, glass-enclosed structure offers a range of fun and challenging activities for children of all ages, making it an exciting attraction.
Whether bouncing on trampolines with a panoramic view of the Alps or exploring crystalline chambers, giant swings, and nets, kids—and even adults—will find plenty to enjoy. By the time they’ve worn themselves out, you'll have the perfect opportunity to pick up that crystal horse figurine you’ve been eyeing. Make sure to visit if you're ever in Austria!
9. Woodland Discovery Playground, Memphis, Tennessee
Located at Shelby Farms Park in Memphis, the Woodland Discovery Playground is one of the largest in this list. Kids are free to roam and discover whatever sparks their curiosity, whether it’s something to swing on, crawl through, or climb in the heart of Tennessee’s wooded landscape.
Shelby Farms Park spans over 4,500 acres and offers numerous attractions for the whole family. However, it’s the sprawling four-acre playground that might just leave you speechless.
Designed to immerse children in the natural world, this playground stretches across four acres of forested land. Along with the typical slides, climbing structures, and nets, it also boasts some truly unique tree houses.
It’s common to see adults joining in the fun alongside their children, because let’s face it—who can resist the temptation to scale a tower and claim the crown as the king (or queen) of the playground?
8. Wallholla, Netherlands
Wallholla in the Netherlands offers a distinctive playground experience, designed to fit into a very small space. Unlike larger parks, like the Woodland Discovery Playground, this one had to make the most of a limited area.
With limited room but an abundance of creativity, the designers opted to build upwards! The play structure is surrounded by a metal frame and features ropes, climbing rocks, slides, and platforms for children to explore.
Adjacent to the main structure is a smaller, more traditional play area with a couple of swings and a slide. But the real adventure takes place within the metal frame. Designed in 2005, the park’s innovative layout has inspired urban playground designs around the globe.
In both the United States and Canada, multiple versions of the Wallholla have been built in different sizes, making it one of the most successful playground designs in the world. As urban spaces around the globe become more crowded, this playground is marketed as a solution for cities lacking space for parks and recreational areas.
If you don’t have a Wallholla in your city yet, you may very well see one pop up soon!
7. City Museum, St. Louis, Missouri
The City Museum in St. Louis is technically a museum, but in reality, it’s an enormous playground for both kids and adults. The 56,000-square-meter (600,000 ft) building was once the headquarters of the International Shoe Company before being purchased and transformed in 1995 by Bob Cassilly, a man known for his creations of tourist attractions.
The museum houses an extensive collection of... well, pretty much anything and everything! They take whatever objects come their way and transform them into interactive art or play structures, providing entertainment and education for children.
Inside and around the museum, you’ll find a 10-story slide, several planes, a 9-meter-high (30 ft) Ferris wheel, a school bus, the world’s largest pencil at 23 meters (76 ft) long, the biggest pair of underpants, and even a pipe organ. Traditional play structures like nets and obstacles are scattered throughout to keep kids engaged.
Visitors can easily lose themselves in the massive ball pit or exhaust themselves climbing all the way up to the plane. This is a must-see stop for anyone in the city, whether you have kids or not.
6. Osteria ai Pioppi, Battaglia, Italy
You know that backyard project you can never seem to finish? We all have one. For Italian restaurateur Bruno Ferrin, it was a massive playground, and he finally completed it... after 40 years!
Ferrin started the project to attract customers to his family’s restaurant. His vision was to create rides and seamlessly blend the playground into the surrounding environment, offering a fun yet eco-friendly experience. He managed to disturb very little of the natural landscape, making the park a serene, shaded oasis.
Throughout the park, Ferrin constructed over 50 rides. This would be a major feat for any professional, but Ferrin is entirely self-taught in welding and park design.
The park has grown into a popular tourist spot in Battaglia, and it’s not uncommon to see adults sliding down the slides or scaling obstacles alongside their kids. As for attracting visitors to his restaurant, Ferrin definitely succeeded.
5. Blackberry Farm Adventure Playground, Aurora, Illinois
Blackberry Farm Adventure Playground combines the fun of a playground with the working atmosphere of a farm, creating a massive space where kids can play and learn. In addition to featuring a train, hay wagon, pedal tractors, paddle boats, a carousel, and ponies, it mimics a real farm to teach children about where their food comes from.
And no, before you ask, there’s no simulated slaughterhouse, which might have been an interesting way for parents to scare their kids into going vegetarian. However, the playground does include a section called the Little Farmer’s Junction, designed to educate kids about farming in a fun, interactive way.
4. Brooklyn’s Playground, Pocatello, Idaho
When designing playgrounds, many focus on climbing features like ropes, bars, nets, and sometimes even rock-climbing walls. While these activities are a blast for most kids, they often leave children with disabilities out of the fun.
To address this gap, places like Brooklyn’s Playground in Pocatello, Idaho, have emerged over time, offering a space for children with special needs. Jonny Fisher created the park for his daughter, Brooklyn, explaining, “You create a place where kids of any ability are going to be playing together. Now, those kids with disabilities are going to be side by side with their peers, who they usually can’t be with.”
Brooklyn’s Playground isn’t just designed for children with special needs; it’s a place packed with fun play structures. From interactive designs to inclusive features, the park offers something for every child.
This large playground is dotted with impressive castle-like structures and swings specially designed for children with disabilities. It’s not just remarkable because it’s fun for kids of all ages, but because it’s a space where every child, regardless of ability, can have a blast.
3. Bounce Below, Wales
For our top pick, we decided to highlight a playground designed primarily for older kids and adults. While it’s true that even the most childish adults can enjoy the playgrounds mentioned earlier, Bounce Below in North Wales is specifically created for those more mature, or perhaps more immature, individuals.
The park’s name says it all: it’s a massive network of trampolines located in a stunningly illuminated underground cave system. So... you bounce... below.
Bounce Below is set in a former slate mine, now home to an enormous cavern filled with trampolines. The cave also boasts slides taller than two double-decker buses and over 400 square meters (4,300 ft) of underground space to explore.
Children are allowed in certain areas, but some zones have age restrictions. These include aboveground zip lines and a forest coaster, offering thrilling activities for the more adventurous visitors.
2. Preston’s H.O.P.E. – Beachwood, Ohio
Preston’s H.O.P.E. Playground in Beachwood, Ohio, is yet another inclusive space designed for children of all abilities to play together. Located at the Mandel Jewish Community Center of Cleveland, this expansive park spans 1.5 acres of land.
Funded privately, this playground has an annual operating cost of over $2 million, but it remains accessible to everyone. One of the standout features is a play village with two-story make-believe playhouses linked by an elevated walkway.
The playground also boasts an amphitheater, a sand-and-water play area, as well as several gazebos, pavilions, and game zones catering to children of all ages. This large-scale playground allows kids to get lost in play for hours. Additionally, there are adjacent basketball and tennis courts for adults seeking a more grown-up experience while their kids have fun.
1. New York Hall of Science Playground – Corona, New York
The New York Hall of Science Playground combines playtime and education for children of all ages. The expansive playground features the typical slides, seesaws, sandpits, and even fog machines. However, these elements are designed to help children grasp scientific concepts like motion, balance, sound, and the workings of simple machines.
If you're one of those parents who believes in sneaking in some learning during playtime—whether your child wants to be a pirate or ninja—this playground is the perfect spot to make that happen.
The playground is impressively large and filled with unique attractions you won't find on most playgrounds. Highlights include a giant Archimedes’ screw, wind pipes, a water play area, a massive climbing net, slides, sandboxes, and metal drums for kids to bang on—much to their parents' dismay.
The massive spiderweb is an ideal feature for kids who enjoy climbing, and its giant slide provides a thrilling experience similar to the stomach-dropping sensation of a roller coaster ride.
