Menotomy Rocks Park Review

Menotomy Rocks Park feels like a secret - a gorgeous, quiet, deep-green secret. I've driven past it many times - daily, in fact, when I used to commute to work - and was always enchanted by the glimpse through the entrance. This week, Max and I finally entered the park.

I walked along the path, while he scampered through the field. We headed toward the pond and then bore left to get to the playground. As we were (of course!) late, our friends were already there. Young Cole clambered down and ran towards us.  Max left the path and picked his way through a rocky area to get to Cole faster. 

Cole's wise and prepared mother had brought a towel to wipe down the slides and swings, as there had been a light rain that morning. I had meant to bring a towel, but I'd also meant to be on time. It's how it goes. 

The playground is tucked away by the woods. It's a fantastically tranquil place, especially on a drizzly weekday morning in early May. What with the woods, the trails, the picnic tables and the small grove of trees between the playground and the meadow, I felt as though I were in a beautiful campground. All around is fresh green beauty … as well as some early mosquitoes. I recommend bringing bug spray.

The boys immediately climbed up and began crossing the bridge between the platforms of the play structure. It is a very safe bridge, with not much of a gap between the railings and the bridge floor, but it was slick from the rain. The boys crossed back and forth, back and forth. Then they engaged in a toddler version of "The Three Billy Goats Gruff" - one would get on the bridge and not allow the other to pass (or even to get onto the bridge). This led to a tiny bit of toddler shoving, some gentle reproaches from the mommies, and encouragement for each boy to get on his own side of the bridge, so they could both cross.

Though the play structure is fairly safe for toddlers, there are some drop-offs — the kind where you can step off the platform onto a pole or ladder. Max, of course, tried this, and he turned out to be surprisingly good at stepping from the platform out to the pole (which has some rungs). This is definitely not an activity a two-year-old should attempt without parental help; however, so keep an eye on your toddler on the platform.

Then — because pushing is fun, or so it seemed that day — one boy tried to push the other off the platform. It was time for another activity.

Cole  and his mother headed for the swings, while Max, never much a fan of swings, tried to climb the big spiral slide. It's a great slide for kids of all ages. Max needed some help climbing up, and he found the climbing much more fun that sliding down.

Then, of course, it was time for slide races on the smaller, side-by-side slides. As usual, Max shouted "Ready…Set…Go!!" on his way down the slide, leaving Cole at the top waiting to begin the race.  

The playground is a bit of a walk from Jason Street, where the entrance (and on-street parking) are, so be forewarned that if for some reason you cannot carry your child the entire distance and back and he refuses to walk, you may want to use a stroller