Hanson Pines Playground and Trails

Recently our crew had to travel out to the Rochester area for a special event and I was hoping to find a kid-focused place to let loose a bit before trekking back home. On my phone I opened Google Maps, pulled up the Mommy, UP Playground Guide Map and zoomed in to see what kinds of playground options we had. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Hanson Pines playground was around the corner and off we went!

Jump to Quick Facts

Checking out Hanson Pines Playground

There is street parking along the edge of the park which includes basketball courts, a pool for residents and walking trails. The park is right next to a high school so depending on the time of year I would expect more older kids traveling through than you might normally expect to see at a playground.

Fenced and Gated – with a hole

The playground is fully fenced and there is a gate at the entrance. However, the tall hedges over by the toddler structure make up part of the fence and a path has been made over time allowing access to and from the un-fenced basketball courts.

Hanson Pines Playground: Toddler Structure

The toddler-sized structure is perfectly designed for little crawlers and climbers to explore just like the big kids do. The little house has all the fun of a typical play structure but with the added benefit of being enclosed for a fun playhouse. Under the house is the shadiest spot in the park!

Hanson Pines Playground: Main Play Structure

The main play structure is still a modest size. It is very do-able for preschoolers and other littles to conquer some of the features. The two cargo-net style climbing spots were both very engaging challenges and unique features. One is a bridge and the other was a curved ladder up to the top.

Thanks to the structure not being crazy high the slides are not too fast and provide for independent landings. Take a seat grown-up, you don’t have to catch anyone today!

Swings

Expertly tucked off to the side of the play space is the swing line-up. There is an accessible swing, typical swings and bucket swings to choose from.

Other features at the Hanson Pines Playground

The Hanson Pines Playground features an awesome 4+ seater wobbly see-saw.

It also has musical instruments and other small sensory touches. The xylophones were fun but all the drums seemed to be broken.

The playground has two spring-riders. Kiddos can ride a horse or rocket ship up to the moon!

Hanson Pines Trails

As the namesake for the playground, it is only fitting to add a walk among *the* Hanson Pines to your playground outing. The woods are sandwiched between the playground and the beautifully calm Cochecho River.

There is a paved path that cuts straight across the woods to a bridge overlooking the river.

Looking down at the river from the bridge was great way to end our little adventure with some nature appreciation. We spotted a turtle swimming among the lily pads. Then one small child thought it was funny to keep acting like they were going to throw their shoe in the river and the moment was over. Note to self: Establish which of our shoes float and which shoes sink.

In addition to the paved trail across, there is a .8 mile loop that takes you through the forest. A grown-up just walking could probably do the whole loop in 15 minutes. This makes it a good option for relaxing and going at a toddler-led pace. (You can always use the paved path to cut the loop in half if you have run out of your patience and wonder!)

The loop is wide and well-established making it easy work for a jogging stroller or little on a balance bike. If you have reluctant hikers, this would be a good starter trail. Especially with a scavenger hunt of some sort to focus on and get everyone going.

Quick Facts: Hanson Pines Playground