Shouldice Park Playground is the biggest outdoor playground in Calgary that we’ve found. Here’s our review so you know what to expect when visiting (+more family-friendly activities at the end).
We visited the Shouldice Park playground for the first time in early spring before our son turned two years, and we have kept coming back ever since.
The Shouldice Park playground is inclusive, fully accessible with a soft floor, easy ramp access, lots of slides, climbing structures, swings, and playful setups. It’s recommended for kids in the 2-12 age range, and I love that. While our son played on smaller structures, he also enjoyed the challenge of trying the bigger climbers and slides.
This post is part of the series about the best playgrounds in Calgary.
And not only that – Shouldice Park Playground is an excellent place for parents and friends to get together while kids play.
There are many picnic tables, benches, BBQs, a seasonal washroom, a Bow River bike path, and even access to Bow River.
Here’s everything you need to know about the Shouldice Park playground.
Useful info about Shouldice Park Playground
- Location: 4900 Monserrat Dr NW, Map
- Parking: free parking lot at Shouldice Aquatic Centre + free parking lot by the basketball court on Monserrat Drive NW
- Age range: 2-12 years
Shouldice Park Playground
Playground features
The main giant structure, which is the main feature of the playground, is accessible by several wide ramps and different climbers for all age groups.
There is a rollerslide for little ones, a double slide, and as the structure continues going higher, also bigger slides. There are many activity panels along the way and different ways to go down, including monkey bars.
The highest structure is made from ropes and is intended for older kids.
All around the main structure are different play setups.
One side of the playground is dedicated to swings. There are:
- Two accessible swings
- Two regular swings
- Double swing (where two kids can swing facing each other)
- Saucer swing
- Two baby swings
Other cool features around the main structure are:
- Climbing structure for babies – this one was a hit for our son. He loved climbing independently and then sliding down the regular slide or through a tunnel.
- Spinning globe
- Spinner with back support
- Musical features
- Bouncer for four kids
- Pretend play structure
- Photo props
- Igloo structure
The biggest hit for our son was the small climbing structure and all the slides, especially the rollerslide.
Several structures have sun shades but weren’t set up in early spring yet.
Relax options
Several benches are set up all around the playground. There’s a fire pit with logs and boulders for sitting near the swings and many picnic tables with benches by the river. The trees provide lots of shade for a nice picnic and relaxation.
Around the playground
A flat paved part of Bow River Pathway runs along the river and around the playground. It’s a great place to learn biking or, as it was our case, riding a skateboard (meaning sitting on it while I push him forward).
Picnic tables and BBQs are always lovely to have in a park. They’re concentrated between the playground and Bow River. Some sites operate on a first-come, first-serve basis, and some sites you can reserve on a City of Calgary website.
What’s close by
Ice cream is available at Dairy Queen at 1701 49 St NW (10 min walk) or across the road at Safeway.
Shouldice Aquatic Centre is right by the playground. There’s also a boat ramp if you’d like to float down the Bow River (The Paddle Station with rental rafts is close by) or go stand-up paddleboarding.
More family-friendly fun activities in Calgary
- Granary Road: Active Learning Park & Petting Zoo
- Telus Spark Science Centre
- Calgary Zoo
- Sikome Lake
- 10 Best indoor playgrounds in Calgary
- Early Learning Centres in Calgary Public Libraries
- Cobb’s Adventure Park
- 33 best family trip movies you’ll love
Have you been to this playground? What do you think?