You might think that non-walking babies don’t really need much in a playground - and you’re not wrong. But having been at many playgrounds while my three kids were babies, I can tell you that some playgrounds are much better than others. The playgrounds on this list are great for babies, but they are also playgrounds that older siblings and friends will love.
These playgrounds have great features for babies like shade, baby swings, saucer swings, Apollo spinners, things at ground level, ramps, and small slides. Also, most of the playgrounds on this list don’t have any pea gravel, so you don’t have to worry about your little one eating it and it is easier for them to crawl around.
1. Renfrew Park Preschool Playground. This isn’t the shadiest playground, but you can find some shady spots to hang out. The playground flooring is outdoor carpet making it one of the best for crawling babies to move around on. The playground has many ground level features as well as a ramp system that doesn’t get too high. There’s a small slide that you can hold your baby while they slide down as well as baby swings. Location: 811 Radford Road NE (beside the Renfrew Community Association, not the athletic park).
2. Currie Barracks Airport Playground. This playground is surprisingly great for babies. It is easy to find shade, they have little airplane bouncers, baby swings, saucer swings, and pour-in-place recycled tire flooring through most of the play area. Babies will also enjoy pulling up on the airplane bars and gently spinning on the two big spinners. Location: Currie Barracks - 2953 Battleford Avenue SW.
3. Riley Park Playground. This playground has large shady trees, a playhouse on the ground floor, accessible flooring, a ramp, a small slide, a saucer swing and a baby swing. Riley Park also has a great wading pool. Location: 800, 12 Street NW (south of SAIT).
4. Forest Lawn Ramp Playground. Not only is there some good shade next to this playground, it also has small slides, accessible flooring, ramps, ground level activities, a saucer swing, and a car bouncer. Crawlers will also enjoy being able to go under the ramps. Location: 52 Street SW between 8 Avenue and 14 Avenue.
5. Cambrian Heights Park Playground. Cambrian Heights playground has great shade from a huge tree next to the playground. It also has tons of great features for babies including accessible flooring, an Apollo spinner, saucer swings, and ramps. You can also sit with your baby and bounce on the wobbly balance beam or spin around on the ring spinner. Location: 240 Cardiff Drive NW (just east of Northmount Drive).
6. Nellie Breen Park Playground. The shade at this park is fantastic and the flooring is an outdoor carpet, which is nicer for crawling babies. The playground also features a big spinner, a saucer swing, and Adirondack chairs that could be useful for nursing. It has a ring spinner and bouncer that you can use while sitting with your baby. Babies will also enjoy pulling themselves up and cruising along the benches inside the gazebo. Location: 14 Street and St. Monica Avenue SE.
7. Elboya Park Playground. At this playground, you will find shade, Adirondack chairs that could be useful for nursing, a small slide, ground level activities, baby swings and accessible flooring. Location: 46 Avenue and 4a Street SW.
8. Rosedale School Playground. This playground near Rosedale School has some lovely large shade trees on the west side. It also offers ground level activities, a large Apollo spinner, saucer swings, bowl spinner, small double slide, and accessible flooring throughout. Location: 9 Street and 11 Avenue NW.
9. Killarney Accessible Playground. This accessible playground has large, mature trees nearby, a little ramp, a small double slide and a little bouncy car. Location: 29 Street SW and 19 Avenue SW.
10. Haysboro Natural Playground. As long as your little one is not overly interested in eating rocks, you and your baby will enjoy this playground. There is plenty of shade to be found, a little slide, a big slide you can go down with your baby, baby swings, and lots of hills, logs, and stumps to practice moving around on for more mobile babies. Location: 1204, 89 Avenue SW.
11. Simons Valley School Playground. Not only does this playground offer great shade, it also has an Apollo spinner, ground level musical features, saucer swings, and accessible flooring throughout. Location: Sandarac Drive and Sandalwood Gate NW.
12. Visa Heights Jungle Playground. This playground has some large trees nearby for shade, a great ramp system that doesn’t get super high, ground level musical features, a bowl spinner, a baby swing and space to crawl underneath the climber, too. Location: 1820 Valleyview Road NE.
13. Prince’s Island Park Playground. One of Calgary’s most beautiful parks offers lots of large shade trees, baby swings, a ground level activity gazebo, small double slides, and partially-accessible flooring. Location: Prince’s Island Park (just north of downtown).
14. Mayfair Playground. This lovely neighborhood playground has nearby shade, a ramp, a small slide, a baby swing, a saucer swing, a bowl spinner, and accessible flooring throughout. Location: Malibou Road and Medford Place SW.
15. Utah Park Playground. Utah Park is split up into two sections. The pea gravel area is set up primarily for bigger kids, but the area with accessible flooring is great for little ones. The shade is excellent with a baby swing and ramp and an Apollo and bowl spinners on the far side. Location: 3420, 16 Avenue NW.
Dana is the creator of Calgary Playground Review, calgaryplaygroundreview.com. She searches out the best places to play, eat, and learn with kids in Calgary, across Alberta, and beyond. Her three kids also contribute their unfiltered opinions to her reviews.
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