A unique East Bay park allows children to “sled” in the middle of the summer. Even on 100° days, kids are out at this park, enjoying what feels to them like an authentic sledding experience, with no snow involved.
This fun and classic kids’ activity is located in the all-abilities playground at Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek, California.
If you haven’t been, the all-abilities playground is a massive playground that’s about 10 years old. It features slides, climbing structures, swings, and more, with an emphasis on serving kids of all levels of ability, including many handicap-accessible activities.
One of the coolest features, though, is a series of artificial hills in the middle of the playground. These steep little mounds are covered in slick Astroturf and are designed for kids to climb up and then slide down.
To make the activity more fun, parents often bring pieces of cardboard boxes. Kids can carry these to the top of the little hills, and then use them as a sled to slide down.
I took my six-year-old, and he even tried standing up on the cardboard and sliding down as if he was surfing. I don’t necessarily recommend that!
The all-abilities playground at Heather Farm Park is totally free. You can park in the parking lot by the swim center and walk right in.
You can bring your own boxes; it’s a great way to get rid of old ones from Amazon! You can also generally just show up, as other parents will have brought some boxes that you can use.
It’s funny that the simplest activity in this park is one of the most popular for kids. Make sure to wear plenty of sunblock, though, as unlike a real sledding hill in the winter, this one gets tons of sunshine.
Read Next
