April was the opening of a magical new playground (renamed the “princess playground” according to my daughter). If you have a child that enjoys princesses or fairytales, put this on your playground bucket list.
About the Playground
It is important to note that this playground was created by the Lillard family, “to honor the lives of Sophie and Madigan Lillard by building a memorial playground and providing opportunities for children and their families to play, learn, and create lifelong memories together…” *
And oh did I see families making memories when I visited!
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It’s All About the Details
The older section of the playground has big slides, a fun bridge and lots of climbing opportunities. There are also two baby swings and four regular swings along with a Sky Web for the older kids to climb high on!
The well-thought out details of this playground are really something to be appreciated. The huge castle felt like something from Disneyworld. The castle is the largest structure on the playground with multiple ways to enter- through Rapunzel’s hair, the mermaid tale, the rock climbing wall or the stairs. The inside of the castle has bridges, a telescope in the turret, slides and countless climbing options.
There is also a treasure hunt, which my 4 year old enjoyed. You spin to see what object to look for such as the crown, shield or a sword. Other features of the playground: Rapunzel spinning web, pumpkin carriage, horse spring riders, a small slide with a hill for the kids to run up and down.
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When to Visit
We visited the playground right after it opened and it was very busy. If you are nervous about crowds, wait until the excitement of the new playground settles a bit because I think the playground will be buzzing with excitement for awhile.
Bonus!
A bonus of this playground is that it strives to be fully accessible for children of all abilities. I saw multiple fully accessible swings!
Oh and keep your eyes peeled because there will be a Phase 2 of this playground opened (hopefully) in Fall and Phase 3 opened next year. It’s going to be a true destination playground. What a beautiful tribute to two precious girls.
—Katrina Kessler
Quick stats:
Sophie and Madigan’s Playground 632 Contender Way, Frederick, MD 21703
Bathrooms: Installing Porta Pottys
Parking: Yes (huge parking lot)
Picnic Benches: Yes (not shaded but spread out)
Swings: Yes (fully accessible swings available)
People Traffic: Just opened so very busy!
Nearby Food: Downtown Frederick is only 10 mins away with plenty of food options!
Let us know if you have any playground suggestions for us to check out in Maryland via our social media or email artdirector@jecoannapolis.com.
Written by Katrina Kessler
Katrina is a Maryland mom of two toddlers and has become an avid playground explorer since the playgrounds re-opened during the pandemic. You can follow along with her visits at @marylandkiddos. She enjoys reading, music and walks outdoors. Recently she has combined her experience as a parent with her master’s degree in psychology to launch a new page @connectingwithkatrina, which aims to connect parents and children to nature and their emotional health through virtual and in-person guides and classes.