Ashley Park

Location: 534 Ashley Park, Schertz, TX 78154

Amenities: basketball, soccer, playgrounds, swings, restrooms, picnic tables, trail

Ground cover: wood chips

This is a fantastic park with a lot of amenities.  I wouldn't recommend it in the summer because there is NO SHADE whatsoever.  But for all the other seasons, it's a fun place.  There's a paved trail that circles the park, good for walking/jogging while the kids play, or for riding bikes.  The lack of trees makes it a good place to fly kites.

Here's the soccer field with the basketball court in the distance.

There are two playgrounds; one for toddlers and one for older kids.  This is the larger one.  some parts of it are toddler friendly, but it has enough challenges for preschool and school aged children.

 Here are a few more pictures of it.  My three year old was a little intimidated by the bridge in the middle (can I even call it a bridge?  It's kind of like stepping stones but suspended in the air), but there are stairs at either end of the structure so all the slides can be accessed without going across it.

The swings are located near the bigger of the two playgrounds.  A bucket swing was missing when we visited...

Here's the smaller playground.  It's a great size for toddlers and there's really nothing to fall off of (always a plus!).  One of the things I really like about this park is that everything is close enough together that you can easily see your kids on either playground/swings/etc. if they want to play in separate areas. 

Pickrell Park

Location: 703 Oak St, Schertz, TX 78154

Amenitites: baseball, basketball, pavilion, restrooms, playgrounds, concessions, picnic tables, pool

Ground cover: wood chips

This park is enormous, and my three year old could easily spend all day playing here.  In fact, we spent most of our time on the large playground, and really only did a quick walk by of all the rest for pictures.  There is a lot to do for all ages here, although some of the stuff that is best for the very little kids is quite far from what I consider the main playground.  Something to keep in mind if you have a bunch of little ones with you.

Here's the pool with its awesome-looking slide (we haven't actually used this pool so I can't review it.  But my guess would be fun and probably crowded during the summer.  Feel free to check it out and get back to me.)

Large pavilion with basketball hoops and concession stands.

There are three separate structures at the "main" playground.  This is the most toddler friendly of the three.  You can access all the slides from the stairs and it's not super high up.

Here's another structure. Obviously taller, but the slides can also all be accessed by stairs, so toddlers and preschoolers can manage well.

There i also a really impressive rock climbing wall.  Which makes up for this one...

Maybe they should just take that down??

 This is the third structure.  Lots of fun things going on here, and it extends past the picture with some monkey bars too.  The first time we came to this park my daughter was 18 months or so, and she couldn't access most of these slides because you can't get to all of them without some climbing (that she kind of still can't do two years later...but other preschoolers can totally manage it).

To get to all but one of the slides on this structure you have to climb up these things.

 There' another, smaller, playground a the south end of the park.  It's a great size and just the right level of challenge for younger kids and toddlers. Probably not challenging enough for school age children.

Whee!

 Then if you head north and west (across the drainage ditch, which is generally empty and easy to cross as long as it isn't storming like crazy) you will find the swings.  They are far enough away that you can't really see them from the big playground, so your kids will actually run around inside of just sitting on a swing begging to be pushed (unless of course you walk alllll the way over there like we did).  There's also a parking lot on this side, in case you really are just there for the swings.

 There's even an extra set of bucket swings. 

 There's another little toddler-friendly playground over here, right by the swings.

 It also has a few more challenging things to climb on for preschoolers.

 And another pavilion.  I didn't count how many there are total. But there were a lot.  And tons of picnic tables throughout the park. Maybe next time we will bring lunch!

On the same side of the drainage ditch as the swings, we saw (and of course slid down) one stand alone slide.  Then it was time to go! 

Wendy Swan Memorial Park (aka Northcliffe)

 Location:4601 Cherry Tree Dr, Schertz, TX 78108

Amenities: pool, playground, restroom,

Ground cover: gravel

Here's another set of pictures that has been sitting on my phone for a long, long time.  In fact, so long that the details of the park have gotten a little fuzzy.  That could also be because we were only there for about ten minutes due to the fact that it was super hot and I was super pregnant.  Not a great combination.  There is also NO shade at this park and the equipment was too hot to touch.  I had a really disappointed kiddo. 

Here is the pool.  It was not open while we were there.  I am unable to find a website listing its hours and pricing...sorry.  I'd link it if I could find it.  Maybe I'll find my way over there again sometime and investigate. 

There are bucket swings and sling swings. 

This structure would be good for toddlers.  It is on the small side, but I bet it would have been fun if that plastic hadn't been a thousand degrees on our visit.  There is a mound shaped structure to climb on in the background as well (also 1000 degrees...)

This structure was definitely for older kids.  The park is small but it's got something for everyone. 

We tried it out since the nylon webbing was just about the only thing that wouldn't burn her.  If your toddler/preschooler is a risk taker this web will be super fun (for them...possibly nervewracking for you).  Mine's not, so this is as far as she was willing to go. 

Woodland Oaks Park

Location: Grove Park, Schertz, TX 78154

Amenities: play structure, gazebo, swings, basketball, picnic tables

Ground cover: wood chips

We really enjoyed our visit to Woodland Oaks Park.  It was formerly a neighborhood park, but is now a Schertz park.  There is no parking lot, just street parking on Grove Park.  There's plenty of shade from the trees.  The play structure is small but fun for toddlers and preschoolers, and there is plenty of open space for running and kicking a soccer ball.  The only thing I didn't like about this park is that it is right off Woodland Oaks, which can get pretty busy.  Keep a close eye on kids that might run into the road after a ball.  There is also a basketball court, and sling swings as well as bucket swings. 

 Swings

 The basketball court

The Gazebo.  My daughter had lots of fun running in and out of it.

Tot Time - Aerial Athletics

Location:  17361 Bell N Dr, Schertz, TX 78154

Amenities: gymnastics equipment, inflatables

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00-11:30, Aerial Athletics offers Tot Time to children ages 0-5.  Admission is $5 for any walking child between the ages of 0-5.  The equipment varies, but there is always at least one inflatable, a long trampoline to run and bounce along, parallel bars, and balance beams.

 On our visit there were two large inflatables with slides, and some amusing tents that looked like animals for young toddlers to enjoy

 Parallel bars and rings

And a THIRD inflatable that was smaller and easy for toddlers to access and bounce in.

Schertz Playscape

Location: 629 Westchester Dr. Schertz, TX 78154 (behind the YMCA and library)

Amenities: 3 playscapes, gravel walking trail

Ground cover: woodchips

There is a lot to do for all ages at the Schertz Playscape, and it is often quite crowded. There are three play structures, each designed for different ages.  One is very small and very contained; good for crawlers and young toddlers.  Another is a good challenge for toddlers and preschoolers, and the last is quite tall and has many challenging areas (guess which one my two year old insists on using...).  There are bucket swings, sling swings, accessible swings, and a tire swing.  There are high monkey bars and low ones. This park has it all.  And a merry-go-round (kind of).  One major drawback is there is absolutely no shade, so on a hot summer day, it is pretty brutal. 

The smallest structure is this adorable train.

 This is the medium structure.

 From another angle.

And another.

This is the front of the largest structure.  There are ramps, but I don't think you can access any of the slides from them.  You can, however, get to the rocking boat using the ramps.

 There are some fun things for non-climbers to do.  Many of the sound boards were not working when we visited. 

And this area of the largest structure is a favorite among toddlers.  There are some small slides and a small climbing wall.  Really, most of the largest structure is doable for toddlers, unless you have the type that will walk out off an opening on the platform...

Like this one at the top of the tall rock wall.

 This part of the large structure is a great place for older children, with many things to climb and "leaves" to walk across like stepping stones in the air.

Here are the "big kid" monkey  bars.

 Sling swings and accessible swings

 The accessible merry-go-round (appears to be under construction)

 Tire swing

 A car to climb in, and the shorter monkey bars are in back where you see the tires

Bucket swings.