Mark this one down for your next Adventure Day! Don Ball Park is a beautiful and large complex with modern play structures, a covered picnic pavilion, lots of playing fields, and a seasonal concession stand and splash pad.
Thanks to the splash pad this is a popular spot in the summer. You can easily make a whole day of it here – like a beach day, but closer! Pack a picnic and snag a shady spot in the grass to relax. Enjoy the playground and splash pad, then enjoy a silent ride home because everyone in the back is going to be sound asleep!
The playground has multiple structures with something for everyone. From toddlers to little kids all the way to big kids, everyone will find a challenge here. If you have a crew that is starting to age out of playgrounds and want to give them a fresh new challenge, this might be the spot for you!
The park has a large paved parking lot with lots of spots though I would expect it fill right up during peak game times as there are multiple playing fields. The lot wraps all the way around the park so don’t be discouraged if the first main lot is full, just keep going around, they tucked spots all over the place! We have visited on multiple crowded summer days and always found a spot.
Don Ball Park: The Playground
The play areas are not fenced but there is a pretty good sized buffer of space between them and the parking lots. The play areas are all full sun with the park offering shade trees around the edges as well as a covered picnic table pavilion.
Toddler Structure
First up, the toddler structure. Tucked away a little bit from the larger structures, this almost looks out of place because it is the least cool-looking thing at the park! Perfectly sized for the tiny ones in your crew, it is right across from the splash pad so if your little has had enough of the water they can take a break while you still have your eye on everyone. Thanks to the other cool structures, I never really saw any older kids on this one so even on a summer day when the park was really busy, the tiny, slower people have a little oasis where they don’t get run over.
Little Kid Structure
This is the main structure at the playground. It is gigantic with all kinds of different features and ways to interact with the equipment. There are all different monkey bars around the other side and plenty of space for everyone to be running around.
In a compliment to the community of Derry and the summertime vibes of the playground, I have to mention that I saw a lot of kindness on this structure. A place where seasoned elementary kids are mixing with 4 and 5 year olds, I saw many a kiddo stop what they were doing to ask a hesitant little if they wanted a hand or if they were okay.
THE BIG ONE
I get a little intimidated about heights, so maybe it is just me but this picture doesn’t do this structure justice. I climbed to the top and I might as well have been skydiving. If you are looking for a big kid playground, head to Don Ball Park! There are multiple ways to go up and down all around this tower, letting those big kids be kids.
Swings
This is really a run-around and climb park but there are swings for everyone. There are bucket swings, typical swings and accessible swings all lined up in their own space across from the two main play structures.
The climbing rock
A sucker for anytime elements of nature are brought into typical playgrounds, I have to highlight this rock. Surrounded by woodchips in its own play space, I take it as an invitation for climbing and exploring!
Don Ball Park’s Splash Pad
Disclaimer: I don’t like taking pictures of unaware strangers, especially children and especially adults or children in bathing suits. You should just be able to have fun without feeling like you will end up on the internets, right? So this busy splash pad was tricky to photograph, I tried to capture it without imposing on anyone’s fun.
Of the free, public park splash pads in southern NH, this is one of the largest. With ample space between water features, it doesn’t feel crowded and has enough room for kids to move around. There are benches along two sides, one of which is usually shaded. Plus, since it is not fenced in, there is more space to spread out over in the grass or at the picnic tables.
The splash pad surface is a painted cement pad and it is usually staffed by an attendant. Depending on the person, you might be constantly reminded, “no running” and you might not. The splash pad usually opens for the season in June with the exact date varying depending on weather and staffing.
Right behind the splash pad is a building with real bathrooms and the concession stand. This building is only open seasonally but I think you can count on it at least as long as the splash pad is open. For details on their season and operation, go directly to Derry Parks and Rec website or their Facebook page: Town of Derry Parks & Recreation.
Just for reference, this is an example of the prices and menu from the 2023 season.
Make a day of it at Don Ball Park and Splash Pad
The park is stroller-friendly with paved paths making it easy to get around to where you want to go. All the play areas have woodchips for their groundcover. If you are spending the day and taking advantage of the splash pad, it is probably worth it to pack up your handy wagon so that you can easily cart everything over to the picnic tables or over to the bathrooms to change.
What to pack for a day at Derry’s Splash Pad
- Beach towels
- Goggles (for kids who don’t like water in their eyes)
- Sunglasses
- Hats
- Waterproof sunscreen
- Change of clothes
- Bathing suits
- Rash guard
- Swim diapers
- Water shoes
- Cover up to throw on for the playground
- Bag for wet stuff
- Picnic lunch
- Picnic blanket
- Alllll the snacks
- Lots of water
At this splash pad in particular, I highly recommend throwing on a long sleeved rash guard rather than counting on sunscreen. If you are in the water, you are in full sun and not wondering how much sunscreen has been washed off is a gift! Bring more water than you think you will need and then remember to keep drinking! The cool water from the splash pad cools you down and it’s easy to forget.
Don Ball Park Playground and Splash Pad: Quick Facts
| Parking lot | Large, paved |
| Ground-cover | Woodchips |
| Not Fenced | Landscaping buffer between play areas and parking lot |
| Swings | Bucket, typical and accessible |
| Climbing structures | Toddler, Elementary and Big Kid sized structures |
| Stroller-Friendly | Paved paths throughout the park and to/from parking lots |
| Seasonal features | Follow Derry Parks and Rec for splash pad and concession stand details |
| Splash Pad | Painted cement pad with water features |
| Full Sun | All features are in full sun with trees providing shady benches around the space |
| Bathrooms | Seasonal real bathrooms in building with concession stand |
| Picnic | Covered picnic pavillion, full sun picnic tables and a seasonal concession stand |
| Address | 14 Humphrey Rd, Derry, NH |
Mommy, UP! is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission.
