When it comes to outdoor fun and adventure, Southern Dutchess County boasts some of the best playgrounds and parks that will keep kids entertained for hours. From swings and slides to climbing walls and water features, our parks and playgrounds keep my kids active, provide great opportunities to meet old friends and make new ones, and best of all, they're FREE!
I often get asked about our favorite playgrounds, so I thought I'd share my family's favorite playgrounds and parks with you... all 15 of them!!
🛝 Beekman Recreation Center
49 Recreation Center Road, Beekman
What we love about the Beekman Rec:
Playground, mini golf, and a lake with beach area are some of our favorite things about this community park!
Amenities at the Beekman Rec:
- Basketball and handball courts
- Community center
- Beach with lake swimming
- Sand volleyball
- Ball fields
- Pavillion rental
🛝 Bowdoin Park
85 Sheafe Rd, Wappingers Falls
What we love about Bowdoin Park:
Bowdoin Park has over 300 acres of hiking trails, picnic areas, and more! No matter the season, Bowdoin Park in Wappingers is one of our favs! In the summer, we love the free splash pad, Fall is the perfect time of year to play on the accessible playground. In the winter, Bowdoin Park is the go-to for local sledding, and in the Spring the parks hosts some really fun events and activities like maple syrup fest and archery!
Amenities at Bowdoin Park:
- Picnic tables
- Playground
- Splash pad
- Sports fields
- Hiking trails
- Sledding hill
- Wetland observation area
- Pavilion rentals
🛝 Doug Phillips Park
Route 52 (just past route 82 intersection on the left), Fishkill
What we love about Doug Phillips Park:
In 2023, a new sensory-friendly playground opened where the existing run-down courts used to be. We love that the playground is fenced in too!
Amenities at Doug Phillips Park:
- Nature trails
- Softball fields
- Sensory-friendly playground
- Tennis, basketball, and pickleball courts
- Dog park
Click Here to check out more dog-friendly parks in Southern Dutchess, here!
🛝 Geering Park
Geering Way, Fishkill
What we love about Geering Park:
Beautiful open fields and pavilion rental. The sports courts have recently been redone. Two playground areas (one for smaller children) are great with swings!
Amenities at Doug Phillips Park:
- Playground
- Pavilion
- Picnic area
- Sports courts
🛝 Green Street Park
25 Green St, Beacon
What we love about Green Street Park:
A cute playground, only a couple of years old with big covered slides and pretty view of the mountain.
Amenities at Green Street Park:
- Playground
- Views
🛝 Hopewell Recreation Center
392 Route 376
What we love about Hopewell Rec:
As the main rec center in Hopewell, the park is often the hub for many community events and activities. We love the playground and sand pit for younger kids, the skate park, and the walking path for big kids. There is also a fishing pond nearby and multiple sports courts and fields!
Amenities at Hopewell Rec:
- Playground
- Rolley hockey rink
- Softball and baseball fields
- Tennis courts
- Skateboard park
- Pond
- Pavilion
- Gazebo
- Creek
- Walking trail
- Gaga pit
🛝 Julie's Jungle
5 Old Lime Kiln Rd, Hopewell Junction
What we love about Julie's Jungle:
"Julie's Jungle is a playground built for all children of all abilities." This playground is fully accessible for kids of all abilities. It is fenced-in with unique climbing features for bigger and smaller kids, plus plenty of swings, slides, and picnic tables making it the perfect place for an afternoon playdate and picnic!
Amenities at Julie's Jungle:
- Accessible serenity garden with a butterfly garden, music, and water features, and plenty of benches
- Buddy bench
- Picnic tables
- Accessible swings
- Kindness Rock Garden
- Walking track
- Ball Fields
🛝 Lakeside Park
2 Lakeside Dr, Pawling
What we love about Lakeside Park:
Beautiful park on the lake hosts community events usually in the warmer months. We love the playground and the views. There are sports courts, picnic areas, and it's dog-friendly too! (Check out more dog-friendly parks here!)
Amenities at Lakeside Park:
- Tennis and basketball courts
- Playground
- Boating
- Beach
- Dog park
- Trails
Click Here for more places to Swim in Southern Dutchess, NY!
🛝 Little Woods Nature Play Trail at Freedom Park
212 Skidmore Rd, Pleasant Valley
What we love about Freedom Park:
The fairies! Seriously, my fairy-loving daughter is in awe of the magical wonders along the nature trail. You'll also find a beautiful butterly garden, teepees, nature-made musical instruments, and other magical surprises along the way. It's an easy-hike and the playground is nearby for before/after to enjoy!
Amenities at Freedom Park:
- Freedom Lake
- Swimming beach
- Volleyball nets
- 2 pavilions
- Nature building
- Picnic tables and grills
- Band shell
- Sports Fields,
- Basketball court
- Playground
- Hiking trails
- Restrooms
🛝 Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park
5 Old Lime Kiln Rd, Hopewell Junction
What we love about Riverfront Park:
One of the most beautiful spots in Southern Dutchess County, this park boasts amazing views, a playground, and plenty of places for picnics and various events throughout the year.
Amenities at Riverfront Park:
- Playground
- River views
- Gazebo
- Basketball court
- River Pool in summer months
- Picnic areas and BBQs
🛝 Red Wing Park
11 Old Farm Rd, Hopewell
What we love about Red Wing Park:
The lake is the main feature here with a spacious beach, swimming, and fishing. We also love the playground, picnic area and concessions!
Amenities at Red Wing Park:
- Beach
- Bathhouse
- Concession stand
- Picnic area
- Pavilions
- Basketball and volleyball courts
- Swim lessons
- Fishing
- Playground
🛝 Sarah Taylor Park
7 Old Main St, Fishkill
What we love about Sarah Taylor Park:
Fantastic place to walk, or learn to ride a bike. Playground area, picnic area, and large open fields make Sarah Taylor Park a great place to play. There is also a little creek to explore!
Amenities at Sarah Taylor Park:
- Playground
- Walking/ jogging path
- Creek
- Soccer fields
🛝 Scenic Hudson's Long Dock Park
23 Long Dock Rd, Beacon
What we love about Long Dock Park:
A beautiful place to play catch, walk along the river, and have a picnic.
Amenities at Long Dock Park:
- Picnic areas
- Fishing
- Kayak rentals
- Trails
- Community events such as yoga, and drumming circle
🛝 Stringham Park
120 Stringham Rd, Lagrangeville
What we love about Stringham Park:
This awesome playground is fenced in and features so many wonderful sensory activities such as a glider, musical instruments, and sensory panels! We also love the location right next to the soccer fields where we spend so much time - and an adorable little pond you can walk around and often see birds, turtles, and other wildlife.
Amenities at Stringham Park:
- Playground
- Basketball courts
- Baseball/softball fields
- Soccer and Lacrosse fields
- Pavilion
- Picnic tables
- Pond
- Walking trails
- Restrooms
🛝 Town Center Park
11 Town Center Blvd, Hopewell Junction
What we love about Town Center Park:
This wonderful town park offers numerous ball fields, a playground, public restrooms, and a large pavilion.
Amenities at Town Center Park:
- Playground
- Pavilion
- Ball fields
- Tennis and pickleball courts
- Soccer fields
- Walking path
Pickleball Craze: Check out more local spots to play!
🛝 Turtle Walk Playground at James Baird State Park
55-282 Club House Rd, Pleasant Valley, NY 12569
What we love about James Baird State Park:
Adorable little playground with unique climbing structures and hammocks. The turtle theme is filled with educational facts about local turtles too! We also love the basketball and tennis courts as well as paved walking path for the big kids!
Amenities at Town Center Park:
- Playground
- Picnic tables
- Pavilions
- Hiking trails
- Restaurant
- Sports complex with basketball and tennis
- 18-hole golf course
🛝 Veterans Memorial Park
North Mesier Ave, Wappingers
What we love about Veterans Memorial Park:
Small park within a short walk to Wappingers Lake. The park is quiet with space to throw a ball and play on the playground.
Amenities at Veterans Memorial Park:
- Playground
- Basketball court
🛝 Wee Play Tots Park*
198 Robert Cahill Dr, Beacon
What we love about Wee Play Tots:
We love the nature-based playground in the wooded area, the large collection of toddler toys, and the vibrant murals! The cooling misters are a great addition in the warmer months, as is the ice cream shop across the street
Amenities at Wee Play Tots Park:
- Playground
- Toddler toys including kitchens, ride-on toys, walkers, and slides
- Sandpit
- Grassy fields
- Picnic area
- Baseball field
*Last we checked, this park was closed for renovations - please check before you go.
We hope this list of playgrounds and parks in Southern Dutchess helps you find — or rediscover! — some fun places for your family to explore. Now get those kids out to play!
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