Maggie Daley Park

A $60M downtown playground — parents plan 45 minutes and stay three hours.

Why you'll go

The Play Garden's 'Watering Hole' is a 1,200 sq ft animal-themed splash zone for ages 2–5, with sit-on animal figures and a shaded parent platform. Free, and it pairs with the Bean + Crown Fountain.

What they'll love

The two zones built for the youngest kids sit right next to each other: the Watering Hole, a 1,200-sq-ft animal-themed spot with spray features (ages 2-5), and the Harbor, a 2,000-sq-ft boardwalk-and-marina area with a movable play boat to climb in and out of (ages 2-5). The all-ages Enchanted Forest adds toddler-scale delights like a circular tea-party table and the Kaleidoscope mirrored maze, while the gently rolling Wave Lawn is easy for new walkers to toddle across.

Real talk

Park 6am–9pm; water features run Memorial Day–Labor Day, 9am–7pm. The headline big slides are ages 5–12 only — littles stick to the Watering Hole and the younger zones.

Don't miss

  • Start at the Watering Hole The 1,200-sq-ft animal-themed splash zone is scaled to ages 2-5, with spray features set into the play area. The water only runs Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend, 9am-7pm daily, so bring a swim diaper and a towel in summer; off-season it's a dry play area.
  • The Harbor's movable play boat Right beside the Watering Hole, the 2,000-sq-ft Harbor has a boardwalk, a marina theme, and a movable play boat. It's the other zone designated for ages 2-5, so the two together make a natural under-3 loop. Put your toddler in closed athletic shoes, not sandals; one parent guide notes flip-flops make the bridges harder to navigate.
  • Plan your bathroom run before you arrive There are no restrooms inside the Play Garden itself. The washrooms (and the skate/climbing-wall rental counter) are in the Fieldhouse, a walk from the toddler zones. Do a diaper change at the car or Fieldhouse before heading into the Play Garden, since you can't quickly duck out once a toddler is deep in the play area.
  • Go on a weekday morning The Play Garden is divided into many small themed areas, which keeps it from feeling packed, but weekends still draw heavy family crowds. Arrive in the morning before the crowds; dress your little one in bright colors and pick a landmark meeting point, since the open layout makes it easy to lose sight of a fast toddler.