Park #12 - Ewing Park

Last year, I took the kids to a different park each week and did a little park review.  I hadn't planned on doing anymore but we went to a park that we hadn't been to before so I thought I would put it on here.

We went to Ewing Park with some friends.  It's a nice little park and it has a bathroom!  I didn't go inside but it was an actual building and not a port a potty or a bush :)  This park had a some really nice trails towards the back that we went exploring on.  It's small and sweet and had plenty of shade and some sun spots too!  It had a pavillion out front and also some picnic tables under the shade trees.

Here's the info I got from Bloomington Parks website - www.cityblm.org/parks

6.2 acre park located next to historic Ewing Castle in central Bloomington. Mature, native trees provide an excellent shaded area in the summer. Trail head to Hedge Apple Woods Natural Area.


1420 Towanda Avenue

•drinking fountain

•grills

•nature area

•picnic tables

•playground equipment

•restrooms

•shelter

•walking path

•6.2 acres

Pictures of us at the park

The girls walking on the trails

Cool stuff on the trails

A view of the park from the entrance to the trails (see, how big it is!)

Leaving for McDonalds (with my piggy bank...I promise, you can ask Kim!)

Park #11 - PJ Irving Park

PJ Irving Park is located on McKay Drive just off of Six Points Rd on the south side of Bloomington. It's a quiet little park of 16 acres. It has an 18 hole frisbee golf course, pavillion with picnic tables and a port-a-potty. It has a nice playground area with a "woodsy" theme which is different than I have seen before. It had a lot of mature trees with lots of shade and grassy areas. It was pretty clean and safe. It did have several climbing options which were rather tall and challenging for my 2.5 year old. We give this park 4 stars.

Park # 10 - Forrest Park

This week we visited Forrest Park which is located at 1813 Springfield Road. It's just south of Miller Park. On our way to find a decent park, we tried to visit 3 other parks, but those ended up being just drive bys (no pun intended). It is worthy of noting at least so that you don't attempt to go to these. I had never heard of them and they were somewhat close to my house so I figured I would give them a try. We'd never heard of them for a reason...I had a feeling based on the addresses that these might not be the best parks for our family to go to. So here's a few parks that I feel are a "waste of time (based on safety, location, and not sure you call it a park) parks":
Alton Depot Park - 101 S Western Ave (located behind Project Oz)...not even sure there was a place to park.
Sunnyside Park - 407 East Erickson (off of Euclid on Illinois Street - Behind Cargill - located within a certain type of housing known for causing trouble)
Buck Mann Park - 116 Weldon (one street east of Euclid) ...one little slide and maybe a swing.

Forrest Park is 20 acres and has a ton of mature trees for shade. It has 4 pavillions, grills, and a restroom. The playground equipment is only 4 years old. This park was not very clean. There was a lot of litter on the ground. It had such a huge deck area (with not a lot of open spaces) that my little crawler was able to crawl around after his sister. Lots of fun slides, rock walls and things to do. It's a nice park but I was still leary of it's safety. There was a lot of suspisious cars driving through. So...we give it 3 stars.

Park #9 - Miller Park

We were finally able to get to another park! This summer has been crazy as far as weather. We are hoping to be able to visit a few others before it gets too cold and we are stuck inside. Last Friday we visited Miller Park. This park has had some major rennovations the past year or two. I am happy to report that Bloomington Parks and Rec also made major updates to their site . Check out all the park info at http://www.cityblm.org/parks/VW-Systems/Map/map.htm
Miller Park is located at 1020 S Morris Ave. Miller Park hands down has the most things to see and do. It is 67 acres filled with 2 large park areas, sprayground, zoo, mini golf, war memorials, the pavillion, and lake with paddle boat rentals. It has some other anmenties too including concessions, drinking fountains, fishing, football, softball/baseball fields, grills, picnic tables, lots of shade, restrooms, shelters, and Bandstand. When we went on Friday, we only went to the sprayground and newer play area.
It is definitely clean since it is so new. The restrooms were right next to the play area. Although Miller park has had a bad reputation in the past, it felt pretty safe to me. Although the playground is huge and dangerous for most of the littlier kids. I think the bigger areas are for ages 5 and up. It had nice tented pavillions with lots of picnic tables. There were a few benches and tables that surrounded the park as well. One thing I loved is that it had that soft rubber material to walk on as opposed to the mulch. This was excellent for my little crawler. I think it will be the only park I will go to until he learns to walk. We give this park 5 stars!!!!

Big slides!!

Spray area

Reece and Brody on the swings.

Park #8 - McGraw Park

We have been to McGraw splash park several times this year. I finally was able to get the pictures and review written down this time. McGraw park is located behind Central Catholic High School off Airport road. The actual park is quite a hike from the parking lot. So be prepared to walk and if you have little ones, I would definitley bring a stroller. It has a small pavillion with a few picnic tables and then some benches to sit on. There is plenty of grassy area around the park to picnic also. There really isn't any shade though. There is a ball diamond, sprayground and playground. The only bathroom at this point is a port-a-potty but they appear to be building something over by the parking lot...which again is a pretty far walk from the play area. It's clean and safe and has quite a bit to do for the kids. It has a bigger play area, a smaller play area, swings and a rock climbing wall. The spray area has quite a bit of squishy ground for crawlers to play and stay out of the water if they choose. We give this park 4 stars.

Brody liked that he could stay out of the water...


Smaller play area


Rock wall and larger play area in the back.

Spray ground

Park #7 - Savannah Green

Savannah Green is the newest park in the Bloomington/Normal area. It is located on Shelbourne between Beech and Henry St. It is 2.5 acres and is very clean (check) and new! It is totally fenced in (safety - check) which was one thing I totally loved. It didn't have a lot of shade because it was so new but it did have a pavillion (check) with a few picnic tables. It has big and small playground equipment including a few swings and a digger, and a circular basketball court. Currently it only has a port-a-potty as a bathroom (check). It had plenty to do for the 2 through 5 or so age group but I am hoping they add some things to this new and wide open area. We give this park 4 stars.

Bigger play area...

Smaller play area

Park #6 - Tipton Trails

Tipton Trails (north) is located at 2201 Stone Mountain Blvd (right in front of Four Seasons II). It has a basketball court, baseball field, playground, picnic shelter (with nice, clean restrooms), sprayground, and a trail. It's a fairly new park so the trees there are small so there isn't a lot of shade unless you go under the pavillion. It is close enough so that you can watch your children play from underneath it but if you have a baby you can't really sit them on the concrete floor. I brought a blanket and sat Brody in the grassy areas around the sprayground...but again, no shade. The play ground was nice and big with plenty to do. There were a couple of smaller slides and then a couple of big ones. It had some fun bridges and tunnels to cross too. It didn't seem too dangerous but there were no signs posted on age appropriateness...there was a smaller play area that looked like a tractor but there really wasn't much to it...no little slide or anything. There were 4 big swings and 2 baby swings. The sprayground was an excellent added plus. Reece loves running through the water and figuring all the spray things out. And the ground is a soft rubbery material that babies can sit and crawl on. Mine however was not so fond of it, but I am sure it was the cold water. I'd give this park a 4 and 1/2 stars.

Reece did kind of a cute, but somewhat scary thing at the park...she noticed a couple of young boys and pointed and said "boys, boys". I said "yep, those are boys...but we don't like boys right now or for a really LONG time". She smirked and said "I like boys, boys!"...I said "no boys" and so she kept saying "boys, boys" and laughing. GREAT! All the jr high kids were laughing. Nothing else too exciting or embarrasing happened at the park which is good for me, but not so much entertainment for you guys. I was trying to think of another funny story I could share and all I could think of is how last week at Target Reece started screaming "Boobs, Boobs" next to the bra aisle. When I corrected her to say "bra" then she screamed "Bras, Bras" instead. It was pretty funny.

Entrance to the park complete with a John Deere tractor...

Sprayground...All those little things on the ground and all the poles have water that squirt out of them but you have to push little buttons to make them get going.

The tractor little play area (front side)

Sprayground and then big playground in the back

Brody...not liking the water...

This is more his style...

Park #5 - Maxwell Park

Greetings, faithful readers of our blog! This week finds us late on getting the park review out as it was not good park weather. I was waiting to see if things would clear up so we could head to the park but no such luck. But lucky for you we went to several parks last week! Now that is dedication to my anxiously awaiting readers, right!? Or maybe it's just boredom...or a kid that says "park, park" every waking moment of her life! But anyway...let me just mention that I am no park expert by any means. I just go there with my kids and am either thrilled or annoyed by what I find there. But please tell me if there are things you want me to specifically look for when I go...or something you want me to add to the review. I have had a lot of great feedback so far. Sometimes I am so focused on what the park does and doesn't have that I forget to make it somewhat entertaining which is the fun part of writing them. For example, I forgot to mention that at Anderson (during the early potty training days), "someone" (for the sake of embarrassment, I won't mention names) POOPED their pants...and because "she" did not have underwear on (yet another funny story), it rolled down her pant leg and onto the ground. But a very swift and intelligent mommy (again, no names please), swept it up like an in-fielder grabbing up a ground ball, and tossed it in the can. Phew...that was a close one. Further embarrassment came when we left the park in nothing but a t-shirt and a diaper - WITH SHOES ON. Can you say TRASHY? Anyhow...I don't think there is a day that goes by that I don't laugh my butt off at something like this (or drink until I forget about it...KIDDING). And come on...it just doesn't happen to us...if you have had a 2 year old or have one...you have gone through something similiar or will. I am not making this stuff up, people - it WILL happen to you if it hasn't already. And then you say if it does happen to you, you'd never tell...HA (I was one of those people)...well, I say there is more of it to come so you might as well laugh about it and enjoy it. Why wait til you're old to look back on it and laugh? There are so many other embarrassing stories I could share with you but I better get on to the park review. Maybe I'll add an embarrassing story to each park review and you all can give it stars.

Maxwell Park is located between Parkside Junior High and Normal West on Parkside and Gregory St. The website (http://www.normal.org/Gov/ParksAndRec/Facilities/MaxwellPark.asp) says it's a 125 acre park. It includes the Champion Fields softball complex, 6 lighted tennis courts, playground equipment for all ages, a larger pinic shelter (available for reservations), restrooms (we'll get to that in a minute), a completely fenced in dog park, 18 hole frisbee golf course, a 12 pit lighted horseshoe court (I thought horseshoes were banned like yard jarts...HA, remember that FUN and scary game?), 3 small picnic shelters, basketball court, and hiking trails. It has lots of trees for shade and benches for mommies (or daddies, or whoever) to sit. As I mentioned before, it does have a "restroom"...I wouldn't call an open room with 3 stalls and NO doors a place I would rest. How restful could "going" in front of people really be? But at least it has a bathroom though...I am still almost speechleess that Bittner park does not have one...seeming how I drink most of my meals, a bathroom is crucial (and no, I am not talking about alcohol, people...if I didn't drink a smoothie every morning for breakfast, I wouldn't get to eat - there is no time to sit and eat a meal with 2 small children -so many parks, garage sales, and other things to do! Caffiene and water are also a key part of my semi-successful parenting - so needless to say, I "drink" a lot and bathrooms are important). So...safety...it's a big park so got to keep a close eye on your peeps. It's also close to a somewhat busy road. But the playground seems safer than most. A place to go...well...to the bathroom...check. Picnic area...check. Lots to do...check. Clean...check. We give this park 4 and 1/2 stars! (would have given it 5 if the bathroom stalls had doors...)

"Littlier" kids play area (sign says 2 -5)

"Bigger" kid play area

Some swings (one is hanicapped accessible), a digger and other things...

More swings....jumpy things, and a Merry-go-round...yep...remember those?

Park # 4 - Walt Bittner Park

From West Bloomington, to Normal, to East Bloomington...we have been traveling to parks! We went to Walt Bittner Park this week. It is located at 3907 Rave Rd....just off of Towanda Barnes Rd just south of Fort Jesse. This park has a playground, basketball court, baseball field, pavallion/picnic area, and a big open field. We saw someone flying a kite out in the big open field which we thought was a great idea and something we may try sometime. The play ground was really nice and clean. It had a larger play area with a sign posted saying it was for ages 5 to 12. It did have a pretty big, dangerous type opening with a rock wall that older kids would like. It had a smaller play area too. It had swings and some other "ride-on" activities for the kids to do. It did have benches for people to sit on. There wasn't much shade except under the pavillion. One thing that I just couldn't believe is that it had NO bathroom...good thing "mi-mi" lives just around the corner! Overall we give this park 3 and 1/2 stars.

Bigger play area (see rock wall with openings). Also off to the left you can see this big thing hanging down and then a seat. It was a really neat swing type thing that I hadn't seen at any of the other parks. Reece sat on it and basically wrapped her legs around the pole and held onto it and you spin them around. I thought it was pretty neat!


Back side of big play area...lots of things to climb on

Smaller play area...this was one of the nicer (and really cute) smaller play areas I have seen.


Reece getting ready to go down the slide...

Reece riding the horsie (or whatever it was)

Park # 3 - Anderson Park and Aquatic Center

Last week we checked out Anderson Park in Normal. It is located on East College Ave or 100 S Maple St. You can view additional info about this park at http://www.normal.org/Gov/ParksAndRec/Facilities/AndersonPark.asp
Anderson Park has a tennis court, basketball court, softball/baseball diamond, 2 pavillion/picnic shelters, 2 large playground areas and restroom (in between the two play areas). This park is rather large with plenty of things to do. It has lots of shade, picnic tables, benches and areas to sit and relax (that is until you see the playground). This particular week we brought our first special guest - cousin De-de (Kennedy), Tate, and Aunt Jo-Jo.

The smaller playground on the west side of the park (closest to the aquatic center) posted a sign that said the playground was for ages 5 to 12. This I thought was interesting as we had two 2 year olds that just came from the bigger (much scarier) playground area where I didn't see a sign posted. I liked how the smaller playground had tubes that had to be climbed to get to the higher, more dangerous play area. This meant, our two year olds could not access that area without our help.

The larger playground area (on the east side of the park) was quite the match for fearless 2 year olds. As a mother watching, I am pretty sure I was on the edge of a heart attack nearly every second. This playground reached heights of I'd say at least 15 feet (Jodi, keep me honest here)...I certainly couldn't touch my little girl as she dangled her foot out of one of the many openings (which contained a rock wall, rope, pole, etc)...at any rate...an opening at which my 2 year old had no fear of. If you could have only seen Jodi and I running from end to end with our arms in the air...my palms sweat as I re-live this image. There were a couple of baby swings and even a handicap accessible swing. There were 7 BIG slides (which I got the priviledge of seeing my daughter shoot out of like a cannon ball in a cannon) and a few small ones. There was a bathroom but it was quite the walking distance from either play area and it was not very clean and had no soap!
I am giving this park 3 1/2 stars...I did like it but it just may be a few years til we go back.

Smaller playground on the East side of park (see the tube under the slide that they have to climb to get to the higher parts)

higher parts with openings...

Bigger, more dangerous side off in the distance...

phew...finally safe and caged...

Park #2 - White Oak Park

Located at 1514 N Cottage Ave, White Oak Park is just around the corner from O'Neil Park (Park # 1 from last week). This park appeared to be very new...possibly built just in the last year or so. It had a very nice picnic area with a nice grill and a view of the lake (according to the Bloomington site it is a fishing lake). Eventually there will even be some nice shade in the grassy areas around the playground. Right now the trees are too new/little for shade. The benches around the playground were made with that platsic coated metal (no splinters!). The restroom was literally steps away from the play ground area and was very clean. Actually the whole area (ground, play area, parking lot) was exceptionally clean. There was enough to do for several age groups. I liked how they seperated a play area for the smaller kids. There were 4 baby swings and 4 regular swings. The slides were easily accessible via a ramp or stair steps of "rocks" (no steep stairs to climb!). I liked that there were not a lot of open spots where little kids (like my fearless 2 year old) could jump out and brake numerous body parts. The kids would also probably enjoy the 1 mile walk trail around the lake. We saw some ducks and geese out there. It seemed like a peaceful place to go even with kids! Due to it's "newness" and location, there were just a few people there which is a plus when you are trying to keep an eye on a swift toddler. On the way home you could grab some "Little Ceasars" pizza (new in town!!) and a movie from Family Video which is just down the road from the park. Overall, we give this park 5 stars and will definitely be returning!

Again, I welcome your feedback, comments, suggestions, etc. A couple of things to note...I have made the address of the park a link to mapquest. Also, we have realized there are so many parks in Bloomington Normal that there is probably no way we could visit them all in just one summer. So, there might be weeks that we visit two (of course there might be weeks we can't visit at all)...and who knows...maybe we will continue on our adventure next year. Right now, we'll just take one year at a time.





That building in the back is the restroom and meeting room


This is the smaller play area...

Picnic tables, grill, lake (off in the back)

Look out! Future Nascar driver...