Fully Fenced Playgrounds
You asked for it, I finally sat down and did it. This is a comprehensive rundown to make it simple to find a fenced playground near you. These are all the ones I know about in the greater southern New Hampshire area. This includes the parts of Massachusetts that are touching southern NH…what would you call that region? I also added a few at the end that are partially fenced because it seemed too rigid to leave them off completely. Let me & your fellow grown-ups know in the comments of any other fenced options you know.
Mommy, UP Guide Maps Update
Along with this post, I have also updated the Mommy, UP! Playground Guide Map so that the playgrounds I know to be fully fenced are color-coded in blue. In the case of something being only partially fenced or if I am unsure, I left it green.
Fenced Playground: Roby Park
Roby Park
A gated & fenced playground, Roby Park is popular and known as a good spot for toddlers. One of the rare woodchip-free options in the area (or the whole state?!), the ground-cover is artificial turf. Another nice touch is the paved path circling the space so you can bring a little balance bike or do laps with the stroller while the rest of your crew plays. (More photos and details here.)
Fenced Playground: Twin Bridge Park
Twin Bridge Park
485 Daniel Webster Hwy, Merrimack, NH
Twin Bridge Park is home to a fully fenced wooden castle playground. The visual lines on the big kid side are nearly impossible, it is filled with twists, turns and hidey holes. Great park for hide & seek! The toddler section is one of my favorite for gross motor development and it is tucked away a bit from the chaos of the big castle. (More photos and details here.)
Fenced Playground: Wason Pond Playground
Wason Pond Playground
The fenced playground at Wason Pond Park is great for everyone from big kids and tiny toddlers. There are multiple pieces of toddler-friendly equipment – on the shadier side of the space even! There is a large play structure for the older kids in your crew and picnic tables inside the fence. (More photos and details here.)
Fenced Playground: Cater Park
Cater Park
55 Columbia St, Portsmouth, NH
Another residential playground, this fully fenced playground includes some toddler-friendly play structures and a basketball hoop/paved space. Surrounded by homes, there is only street parking available. (More photos and details here.)
Fenced Playground: Griffin Park
Griffin Park
Griffin Park is a large complex with a lot to offer including two separate playgrounds. The new, inclusive play space is only partially fenced with an open, split rail style. The other, more typical playground is fully fenced and gated. The typical playground has structures for little and big kids alike as well as a lot of climbing opportunities. (More photos and details here.)
Fenced Playground: Adams Park
Adams Park
The playground at Adams Park is a large, fenced space that includes multiple structures, lots of climbing and a large sandbox. The park is also home to Peterborough’s pool complex where non-residents can buy a day pass in order to enjoy the pool and attached splash pad. (More photos and details here.)
Moore Park
Moore Park
Moore Park is surrounded by mature trees and across the street from the local library. The play space is fenced but not gated, with the opening in the fence leading out into the picnic pavilion space. There is a covered picnic pavilion so you can make a day of it – run around, lunch and then library! (More photos and details here.)
Friendship Park
Friendship Park
270 Old Westford Rd, Chelmsford, MA
Truly a friends park because you will never find this one empty! The playground is fully fenced but not gated. There are 3 entrance/exit openings in the fence and it is set well into the larger park around it, away from the street. There are toddler structures and big-kid structures as well as fun grown-up exercise stations around the track! (More photos and details here.)
Ronan McElligott Park
Ronan McElligott Park
Ronan Mcelligott Park is a fenced playground that shares the same parking lot with Edward’s Beach. In-season, there is a fee for non-residents to access the beach and you should expect a lot of mixed ages as beach goers wander between the water and the playground. There is a large structure and one for little kids. (More photos and details here.)
Partially Fenced Playgrounds
Funway Park
Funway Park
Tucked in between the tennis courts of LAFA Fields at Campo Complex is Funway Park playground. It is mostly fenced in by the tennis court walls but it is not gated and there is one corner of the space that is not fenced.
Thornton Road Tot Lot
Thornton Road Tot Lot
Thornton Park is tucked into a nice neighborhood behind the Nashua Community College off of 101A. It is fully fenced on three sides but the fence along the road is a split rail style that a little person could easily slip through if they wanted to. This is a toddler park through and through with smaller-scale equipment and open-ended imaginative play structures. (More photos and details here.)
Circle of Fun Playground
Circle of Fun Playground
The Circle of Fun Playground is a beautiful and spacious area with the main attraction being the large castle structure. This one is on the partially fenced list because while it is fenced off from the road and parking lot (not gated), the rest of it is surrounded by trees and I didn’t think to investigate how far the fence goes during our visit. Does anyone know if there is a fence in the trees? Let me know! (More photos and details here.)
