18 Splash Pads in Brookline, Massachusetts

A pathway bisects the park, creating a series of functional areas. The park contains a grass area, a sand-based play structure, swings, a spray pool, a wooden-roofed play structure, and a basketball half court next to the third play structure. Play areas are laid out on different levels with the tot lot in the upper level in a sunken area. Planters, flowering trees, mature trees, and open lawn make the park enjoyable for adults as well as children. Splash Pad open from 8am-6pm during months of operation.

This property, along with Cypress Street Playground, was the town's first land purchase for parks and recreation. This park is comprised of a large athletic field along Brookline Avenue. The park is relatively flat except for the slope below Aspinwall Avenue and is located partially within the 100-year floodplain of the Muddy River. There is a fenced tot lot near the Lynch Center and an open lawn with a play area.

The many trees in the park and the surrounding wood-frame residences lend this park its domestic character. The mound at the entrance adds interest to an otherwise flat plane. The park has an open lawn area near the play area. Park recreational facilities include a tot lot, swings, a basketball court, and a spray pool.

The playground has a meadow area and a grove of mature trees. Park recreational facilities include tot's and older children's play area, spray pool, tennis court, basketball court, and an open lawn area.

The most significant attribute of this park is its hilltop location and striking view of Boston and Cambridge. The park is divided in 2 by Summit Avenue. This potential disruption is ameliorated by the mature oaks and maples that line both edges of the street, clearly defining the sides of the park. The southern parcel contains a playground and the northern parcel has a sundial and large open sloped lawn.

The playground is a long, rectangular park located between multifamily houses on the north, Cypress Street on the east, the high school on the west, and the Main Gym and Kirrane Aquatic Center on the south. A play area and spray pool are located at the bottom of the slope beside Cypress Street. A basketball court and bleachers stand beside the large multipurpose field. The fields are used extensively for high school sports, adult leagues, and youth sports. New playground equipment was installed in 1999 and 2000, with donations from neighborhood families and parents of children in the Brookline Early Education Program.

Surrounded by family homes and often hosting community events, Emerson Park is not only a beautiful site but also a gathering point for residents. The diverse perimeter plantings and clearly marked, inviting entrances render a gardenesque character to the park. The park has specimen trees, interesting shrubs, and a circular path around a grassy space. Bench groups are located near the spray pool and at intervals around the walk. Playground facilities include Brookline's first spray pool, and a colorful ship in the toddlers' lot.

The Daniel W. Warren, Jr. Playground includes one of the 3 largest playing fields in Brookline. It serves the Heath School and neighborhood as well as being a townwide facility for baseball, soccer, and softball. Separate play areas are spread across a large sloping lawn section, and a mix of hardwoods including elm and black cherry provide a shaded canopy. One full-size baseball field and 1 youth baseball field, 3 tennis courts, 2 bang boards, 4 basketball courts, and pickleball (6 courts wihin the tennis courts, and 3 courts within the basketball courts) are located in the park. Off-street parking is provided off Eliot Street. A log cabin stands in the center of the park. The Eliot Recreation Center is located at the edge of the park.

Harry Downes Field, surrounded by trees on 2 sides and a dense neighborhood, is across from Olmsted Park. The park includes a track, field facilities, synthetic turf soccer and football fields, and 1 softball diamond. There is also a play area located at the southwestern end of the site, and a restroom and storage building located behind the backstop in the northeastern end of the field. Mature oaks line the southern edge of the property.

Large mature oaks line the edge of this park. There is open lawn on one side and an extensive array of recreational facilities on the other side. From Dean Road, the park appears as a large, open green field. From Clinton Path, the park appears to be a buzzing recreational area. The park has 8 new tennis courts. There is a play area, seating areas, and youth baseball field.

The park is bowl shaped with a noticeable grade change, retaining walls on 3 sides, and a sloped grass surface. Play equipment, furniture, and entry points are located on 2 sides. Park recreational facilities include basketball key, tot lot, and spray pool.

Juniper Street Playground is dominated by a steep slope decorated with mature junipers on its banks. The steep wooded slope embracing the 2 sides of the park provides ample shade. Most of the facility consists of a playground.

This playground is divided in two by Lawton Street with two areas of almost equal size. The north side is used for court games. The south portion is a playground for young children. The woodland feel of this portion is due to its small-scale, dense plantings, and the unique design of the play equipment. The spray pool, located within the perimeter of the northern side, is lined with trees.

Longwood Playground is the school playground for Lawrence School. Situated in a bowl, the perimeter of Longwood Playground is lined with mature trees. The slopes of the land dictate the location of the field, and all other facilities are located around the field. There are many pleasant seating areas throughout the park. During the week, the park serves as the venue for the Lawrence School's recess, physical education, and after-school programs. The school does not own the park. The park is developed with 2 separate play areas, one designed for school age children and the other for toddlers. Three tennis courts are located at the eastern edge of the playground. There are six pickleball courts located within the tennis courts. Two short combination softball and youth baseball infields are provided. A well-developed pedestrian path system exists around the field.

Playground facilities include a youth baseball / softball infield, large paved basketball court, and a play area, with trees in the northwest corner. It is separated from the Walnut Place conservation restriction by one lot. This park has a variety of edge conditions: one is sloped, one lined with trees, 2 sides are lined with houses, and 2 with streets. The vegetation is not notable except along the perimeter, where there are mature trees.

The park has an upper level with play equipment and a lower level with a ball field, with a steep, grassed slope between. The playground and field are located behind residences along School Street. The playground is enclosed by apartment buildings and their parking lot on the west, housing on the east and north. This green space serves as the school yard for the Pierce School which connects to the site by means of a pedestrian bridge over School Street. The school does not own the playground. The field is used extensively for youth baseball during the spring. The playground also includes basketball court, play area, tot lot, seating area, and spray pool.

The site has a wooded area, a specimen beech tree (which played a deciding role in the location of the rear soccer field), an isolated land area subject to flooding, and an interesting geological history. In addition to puddingstone and other rock outcroppings, the soil content is unique with 11 feet of peat found in one of the fields. Robinson Field, located near the site of the original main house, has 1 soccer field. The property also houses the newly renovated Environmental Education Center. The center has seasonal public restrooms and holds environmental education programs, including our summer and school vacation nature camps. The entire recreation area includes 2 soccer fields, tennis courts, expanded play equipment for both toddlers and school age children, and a splash pad water play area.

This park has a courtyard feel with three sides lined by brick apartment buildings and a clearly-defined perimeter fence. There are two sections to the park, one open area and one densely vegetated area with amenities (playground equipment, water play, benches, and a rose garden). Though the park is compartmentalized in function and use, the perimeter fence and mature shade trees composed primarily of maples and oaks unify its character. The rose garden, raised flower beds, and trellis are additional character defining elements. Dogs are allowed on-leash.