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. 

Converse City Park

Location: 307 School St. Converse, TX 78109

Amenities: baseball, volleyball, playgrounds, walking trail, bathroom, pool, pavilion, bbq, sand box

Ground cover: wood chips, poured rubber, sand

This was our first visit to Converse City Park.  We definitely did not get to see it all!  This place is enormous, and loads of fun.  The highlight for my 2 year old was the "old school" playground, with plenty of swings and a stand-alone slide.  She had never seen one before and was drawn to it like a moth to a flame.  We tried out just about all of the playground equipment.  There are two playground areas, the "old school" one near the pavilion and a brand new one at the south end of the park.  If you prefer the newer playground, there is parking available from an entrance off of 78.  It was a bit of a trek between the playground areas, but definitely manageable (probably even more manageable if someone hadn't insisted on being carried).  It was overcast on our visit, but I imagine on a sunny day it could be pretty hot, as there's not much shade.  There are many trees, just not in a position to shade the playgrounds.  However, the toddler playscape is covered. 

 There are SIX bucket swings!  Several of them need some repair, but I was still pleased with how many they are.  Definitely didn't have to wait our turn!

 Sling swings, stand-alone metal slide, and monkey bars.  This area has wood chips.

Pretty sure this was her favorite part.  I don't often see these slides, which were so common in my childhood, so I'm glad my daughter could experience it.

As you can see, there are plenty of sling swings as well. 

 Here's the pavilion.  There are plenty of picnic tables both under the pavilion and throughout the park. 

 Near the swings is a small toddler playscape, with sand underneath.  There is an additional sandbox elsewhere in the park that I did not photograph.

 This is the second, newer, playground. I love these climbing rocks but could not convince my daughter to try them out.  Springy poured rubber underneath.  It's nice to have a break from wood chips (keeping them out of shoes...and mouths)!

 Here is the rest of the playground

 From all the angles

There is a walking trail through the woods that we did not explore.