Lafayette Playground552

I grew up at Lafayette Playground in the late 60's and 70's... Back then, with the Dem's occupying office, lafayette was a regional sports powerhouse. The money for kids to play sports was there for 8 years or more. Lafayette was truly an amazing place then. During the summers, at any one time there were 30-50 kids or more hanging out at the house there having a blast and learning from a great group of directors... We had carrom, paddle tennis, stickball, ping pong, tennis, and full court basketball running 24x7. Chico the tennis coach who lived under the stairs was a great teacher to a whole generation of kids and broad branch market was our baseball sponsor... We played with "bon food stores" emblazoned on our jerseys and of course we got the free soda's if we won. I've seen lafayette lately... Not quite what it was in the 60's and 70's but still a great place to be if you're a kid...

Lafayette is terrific. There are a number of separate play areas--a small fully fenced and gated area for small toddlers. This one has a great sand box, developmentally appropriate swings and two cool slides for climbing and sliding. The other area further into the park has lots more climbing equipment, monkey bars, a new area with a kid-manageable spray of water, good swings (if a bit sunny) and lots of shade. Picnic tables are all around. And, the baseball field slightly below this play area has a terrific track around it for triking, biking, scootering, and rollerblading. There's a water fountain near the rec center and the bathrooms are generally open. Plenty of parking all around the permimeter.