Last week, my husband and I took our 2.5-year-old daughter to a new-to-us playground we’d never experienced before: the Martin’s Park. Located a short walk down the pier from the Boston Children’s Museum, this park not only provides far more entertainment than most we’ve been to, it’s also special to the city given it was built in memory of Martin Richard, the youngest victim of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. The park’s goal was to provide a place for inclusion, kindness and peace – and it certainly does all of that and more.
Martin’s Park is beautifully designed with plants, stone and wood, and truly offers something for kids of all ages and abilities to enjoy. When you walk up to the park, it’s hard to fully understand just how big it is, but I remember how long it took to build and the large space it now occupies, as I worked across the water from it during construction.
My toddler’s favorite parts are the interactive pirate ship structure, water garden splash pad area and the slide that has a nicely placed shade structure to prevent it from getting too hot in the summer months. There are always kids in line for the slide – it’s definitely a favorite and it’s fun to see everyone making new friends as they climb up and slide down over and over again. There’s a climbing hill, basket swing, tube slide, rope climber and so much more. Check out the full map here.
After we visited Martin’s Park, we walked around in Boston’s Seaport neighborhood and enjoyed one of the local restaurants. There are plenty to choose from and it’s a great way to spend a nice day along the water in the city. We look forward to returning throughout the summer and even during the chillier months, as they do events like the Annual Holiday Ship Lighting, which began in 2021.
I highly recommend you check out Martin’s Park if you find yourself spending the day in the city with your little ones!
