10+ of the Best Playgrounds in Red Deer and Blackfalds

We spend a weekend in Red Deer this Spring to explore some of the family friendly attractions right here in Alberta. We came up with a list of 10 Reasons You Should Take the Kids to Red Deer. While we were there we also tried to check out as many awesome playgrounds as we could. Here are our picks for some of Red Deer’s best playgrounds. Click here for a map of where the playgrounds are.

1. Parkland Class Playground

Behind Parkland School along 45 Ave

This playground has a better ramp system than any I’ve seen. It’s particularly great for kids in wheelchairs or are unsteady on their feet as they can get right in amongst the play. Young kids will adore the ramps, slides and bridges and older kids will find this playground perfect for playing tag and lava games.

2. Kingsgate Park Playground

Kentwood – Kingston Drive and Kelly St.

Located in the North side of Red Deer, swings, bright orange slides and challenging climbing equipment. If you are going with toddlers, they may find the equipment a bit too challenging but if you bring a bucket and pail they can entertain themselves with the sand flooring.

3. St. Francis of Assisi Playground

Lancaster – Lancaster Drive and Lyons Close

This playground has a separate climber for little kids and big kids, bridges, tube slides and a large web climber. Like many of the playgrounds in Red Deer, this one has sand underneath the playground so don’t forget shovels and pails for some extra fun!

4. Rotary Picnic Park Playground

43rd St and Spruce Drive

This playground is located in a beautiful park with plenty of large trees, picnic tables and washrooms. The playground itself has accessible flooring and sand by the swings, bridges and lots of slides.

5. Heritage Ranch Playgrounds

Heritage Ranch – 6300 Cronquist Drive, Red Deer, AB (you can also access off the highway through the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and Museum parking lot).

Heritage Ranch has two great playgrounds. The larger one has accessible flooring, slides, bridges and swings with lots of trees around it.

The smaller playground has a ranch theme and is right next to the horse corrals.

6. Kin Kanyon

47 Ave and 32 St

Although the playground here is nice, it’s the park that really makes it. There are washrooms, lots of picnic tables, firepits, lovely pathways and even a water feature nearby.

7. Bower Ponds Playground

Bower Ponds – off of Fountain Drive and Wood Drive.

Without a doubt this is one of the best playgrounds in Red Deer. It requires a bit of a walk to get to as it is on the opposite side of the ponds from where you can park, but it’s definitely worth it. The playground has accessible flooring, swings, musical panels, a toddler climber and a school-aged climber with a really tall twisty slide.

8. Kerry Wood Nature Centre Playground – Imagination Grove

Kerry Wood Nature Centre – Waskasoo Park – 45 Ave.

This playground is very different from your typical metal and plastic playgrounds and provides different kinds of challenges that city kids can miss out on. In addition to the great slide, kids can walk on logs, hop from stump to stump, crawl along a web and play with loose rock and wood pieces.

See more picture of Imagination Grove

9. Sunnybrook Farm Museum Playground

4701 – 30 Street

Along with all the other playgrounds on this list, the Sunnybrook Farm Museum playground is free to use but donations are appreciated. The playground itself is nice but what my kids really loved is the wooden train beside it.

You can also easily access all that Sunnybrook Farms has to offer too.

10. Eastview Middle School Playground

3929 40 Ave, Red Deer

An excellent playground for older kids but a bit challenging for preschoolers.

Blackfalds

(Blackfalds is just 15 minutes North of Red Deer)

1. Abbey Centre – Dinosaur Playground

4500 Womacks Rd, Blackfalds, AB

This playground is located just outside the Abbey Centre in Blackfalds. It features an attractive dinosaur theme with dinosaur bone climbing equipment. There’s also an outdoor fitness park right nearby.

2. Tayles Park Playground and Splash Park –  Blackfalds

Gregg St, Blackfalds, Alberta

The Pirate ship playground at Tayles Park is really cool and provides a great backdrop for imaginative play. There is a spray park right next to it which has a a variety of different spray features. The train line runs right along the park (across the street) on the west side which is a big plus in our world.

3. McKay Ranch Chuckwagon Playground

Eastpointe Dr. East of Morris Ct, Blackfalds

This playground has an adorable western Chuckwagon theme.

For a local perspective on these playgrounds and more family fun in Red Deer – check out Red Deer Kids.

Do you know a playground that should be on this list?

Disclosure: In order to facilitate these reviews, we were provided with accommodation in Red Deer, and some free admission to attractions. Thank you to Red Deer Tourism for facilitating our trip!