BEST PLAYGROUND

Southwind Park

4965 S. Second St., 753-0702 If you build it they will come. And families come to Southwind Park playground by droves as witnessed any nice weekend, evening or summer day. And there’s not just one playground. Besides the main playground that kids remember for its size and multiple slides and parents love for the seating, soft padded ground covering and close proximity to the parking lot (not to mention, it’s Springfield Park District’s largest accessible playground), there’s another filled-with-fun playground on the other side of the park. Both are as new as the park, only a few years old, and fresh with all the latest and greatest apparatuses for kids to swing, bounce, climb, hang, walk or jump on. And if they get bored with that (which is a rarity), numerous spattering fountains dot the park and a splash fountain located right next to the main playground is a hit on hot days. Runner-up: Washington Park