The Gigantic Guide to Kalamazoo Parks & Playgrounds: 25+ Places to Swing, Slide and Play

You’re Just a Hop, Skip or Jump Away from the Nearest Kalamazoo Park

Visiting parks are one of our favorite summer activities. Thankfully, Kalamazoo, Portage and surrounding cities are home to many green spaces.

With splash pads, beaches, baseball fields, pickleball courts and innovative play structures, Kalamazoo parks are bursting with outdoor family fun.

This park guide will help you find the perfect park for your family to spend the day – or plan to visit them all!

Whether you’re looking for sports courts, hiking trails or the ideal playground, we’ve got all of Southwest Michigan’s parks covered.

Kalamazoo Parks

Kzoo Parks maintains more than 30 parks and public spaces in Kalamazoo. 2022 and 2023 welcomed a new splash pad (LaCrone Park) and new accessible equipment (Milham Park).

County parks are managed by Kalamazoo County Parks.

Children’s Nature Playscape on Bronson Park

Installed in 2022, the Children’s Nature Playscape on Bronson Park transformed a reclaimed green space into a nature park for the children of Kalamazoo. Kids are encouraged to explore natural elements like water, rocks and tree stumps.

Note: This park has limited hours and is only open seasonally. Verify the schedule online before visiting.

Frays Park

Enjoy long walks on the 8-foot wide paths at Frays Park in Kalamazoo. They also offer a mess-free, tall play structure that is great for older kids and a sand volleyball court.

Pickleball and tennis fans will enjoy their courts here (installed in 2018).

Henderson Tot Lot

Henderson Tot Lot received a major upgrade in 2018, with resurfaced basketball courts, a pickleball court, new playground structures and an outdoor ping pong table.

LaCrone Park

LaCrone Park added a splash pad in July of 2022. This park also includes a playground, tennis courts and basketball courts.

Markin Glen County Park

Markin Glen offers a swimming beach, playground, mountain bike trails and 38 modern campsites.

Hikers will enjoy a scenic view of downtown while exploring.

Milham Park

Milham Park is one of the largest green spaces in the area, offering 49 acres to explore.

You’ll find four different playgrounds here as well as bridges to explore as they carry you over the Portage Creek.

2023 updates include more inclusive equipment to welcome visitors of all abilities.

Upjohn Park & Kik Pool

Upjohn Park includes a skatepark, swimming pool, boundless playground and multiple sports courts.

The Kik Pool is the only 50-meter outdoor swimming pool in the Kalamazoo area.

Woods Lake Park

Located near the Oakland/Winchell and Oakwood neighborhoods Woods Lake Park includes a playground and sandy beach.

Portage Parks

The City of Portage manages 18 park sites with a variety of amenities including playgrounds, sports courts and pavilions.

Harbors West Park

Nestled inside a Portage neighborhood, Harbors West Park includes features for kids of all ages. Little ones will like climbing the playground and walking the shaky bridge.

Big kids can play basketball, sand volleyball, or in-line hockey.

Haverhill Park

Located adjacent to the Portage elementary school, Haverhill Park is a favorite stop on the Northwest Portage Bikeway.

Families will enjoy the playground, basketball courts and tennis courts.

Lakeview Park

Two playgrounds at Lakeview Park offer different play options. Stay near the park’s entrance with the younger kids (bonus: it’s shaded!).

Venture further into the park towards Austin Lake with the bigger kids for a climbing-friendly playground.

Be sure to walk out on the docks to see the fish!

Lakeview Park Upgrades: The City of Portage announced changes to Lakeview Park, including a new game area with outdoor ping pong, cornhole, and game tables.

Other proposed changes include new roof structures on the two fishing docks, seating areas along a new boardwalk with scenic water views, and an inspiration garden that integrates with existing walking trails. Renovation dates are TBD.

Oakland Drive Park

Oakland Drive Park boasts a towering play structure, soccer fields, tennis courts, sand volleyball, basketball courts and baseball fields.

As all slides are tall, covered tunnels, this playground is best suited for big kids.

Portage Creek Bicentennial Park

Portage Creek Bicentennial Park (PCBP) was an official city project to honor the nation’s 200th birthday.

PCBP runs between the City Centre Area and the northern city limits at Kilgore Road, connected by a 3.5-mile multi-use trail. The playground is at the main entrance, off of Milham Road.

The bathrooms are conveniently located steps away from the slides.

Ramona Park

Best known for its sandy beach on Long Lake, Ramona Park includes two playground structures, fishing, and multiple sports courts.

Schrier Park

Schrier Park in Portage is a favorite spot to gather, both inside and out.

The indoor building is popular for party rentals, while outside you can walk the trails, have a snack under the pavilion or play on the playground.

Westfield Park

Westfield Park includes a not-so-subtle blue playground, tennis courts, soccer fields and sand volleyball. While the playground surface is soft (rubber turf), the slides may be a bit too tall for toddlers.

West Lake Nature Preserve

The West Lake Nature Preserve is a 110-acre wetland bog in Portage. Families will enjoy fishing, visiting the nature-themed playground and walking the trails.

Tip: Watch your step! Some floating bridges squirt water through the planks.

Surrounding Cities

Don’t stop your park exploration in just Kalamazoo and Portage: SWMI communities in Oshtemo, Texas Township, Parchment, Three Rivers and more are home to some beautiful spaces to explore!

6th Street Park

For the pickleball, soccer and football fans, 6th Street Park should rank high on your list. With 8 pickleball courts and brand-new soccer/football fields, this park offers lots of space to play.

Since there is no playground, young kids aren’t the best visitors for this one. However, there is plenty of space to run to get those wiggles out. Later phases are planned to add a playground in the future.

Note: There are no restroom buildings on site (just port-a-potties). Bathroom facilities are currently under construction and should be completed in May 2024.

Dumont Lake Park

Dumont Lake Park offers a playground and 550 feet of beach for warm-weather play. This 18.6-acre park is also a favorite spot for fishing and features a watercraft/boat launch facility.

Allegan County Parks does not charge an entrance fee. However, horses and watercraft must pay a fee to use the boat launches.

Flesher Field

Located off 9th Street in Oshtemo, Flesher Field hosts Oshtemo Fun Days and the Highland Games annually each summer.

This park offers paved walking paths, a large sports field and a good mix of play structures for big kids and toddlers.

Kindleberger Park

Located in Parchment, Kindleberger Park includes a Little League complex, playground, outdoor stage, and pickleball courts.

This park is also great for sledding in the winter and a short walk away from a summer treat at Twisters.

Oshtemo Township Park

Tucked behind the library and township hall, Oshtemo Township Park’s playground includes large and small structures for different ages. Climbers will enjoy scaling the massive climbing net in the middle.

For other fun activities, families can try pickleball, wiffleball, or the 18-hole disc golf course.

Prairie View County Park

Prairie View County Park spans an impressive 210 acres and includes two lakes (Hogsett & Gourdneck). While there is play equipment (slide/swings), the highlight here is really the water.

Families enjoy the swimming beach, which is shallow enough for little ones to enjoy. If you have canines in your family, this park also offers a dog park.

Richland Township Park

With 48 acres of land, Richland Township Park has plenty of room for activities: lacrosse fields, baseball/softball fields, basketball courts and a playground are all options here.

River Oaks County Park

River Oaks in Galesburg is well-known for its splash pad (open Memorial Day-Labor Day).

This park also includes 20 soccer fields, a dog park, a playground, and a model airplane field.

Scidmore Park

Scidmore Park has a petting zoo (May – October), a farmers market, aduck pond, and alarge, farmhouse style playground.

Sherwood Park

Situated along the east bank of the Kalamazoo River, a visit to Sherwood Park can include ice skating in the winter and sand volleyball matches in the summer.

This park also includes a Veterans Memorial at the north end.

Southwest Michigan Miracle League Playground

Located on The Dome’s campus in Schoolcraft, this inclusive playground invites all abilities to play.

This new playground opened in June 2023 and is located next to the SMML’s baseball field.

Texas Drive Park

Texas Drive Park includes a sandbox, play structure, soccer fields and a football field.

There is also a 0.75-mile paved path that encircles the park for walking or biking.

2023 added the Maple Hill Splash Pad to this park (open seasonally).

Texas Township Farmers Market Playground (Pocket Park)

Stop by the Farmers Market in Texas Corners and you will find this hidden gem of a playground, recently named Pocket Park.

Parents of younger kids will appreciate that it’s fenced, lower to the ground and partially shaded.

Worth the Drive

Bailey Park 1400 Capital Ave NE, Battle Creek, MI 49017

Kids Paradise Park 200 S Liberty St, Paw Paw, MI 49079

North Side Park Watson Rd (North of River St), Otsego, MI 49078

Kalamazoo Parks & Playgrounds Map

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