Discover Lansing’s Charm: 52 Parks to Spark Your Love of Nature

We’ve picked 52 must-visit parks and playgrounds in the Lansing area that we know your family will love. You know the type – where the minute your kids get in the car to leave, there’s no doubt they’re worn out from all the playing.

Make the most of the summer months and visit these places that have been tested time and time again.

Grab the sunscreen and a picnic lunch for a day of outdoor fun in Lansing.

These parks and playgrounds have met the standard of fun. Not just for babies, not just for big kids or adults – these are parks the whole family will love!

We’ve got places like Frances Park, where a rose garden is tucked away in trails overlooking the Grand River, and Burchfield Park, where winter tubing not only gives us a workout from climbing up the hill, but has us all grinning ear to ear over hot cocoa at the end.

Best Parks in the Greater Lansing Area by Location

Create a parks bucket list or try something new with the LFF team’s top picks.

Downtown Lansing

Rotary Park Downtown Lansing
305 City Market Dr, Lansing, MI 48912

Play in the sand in the middle of the city or just gaze at the beauty of downtown Lansing.

Go at night and you’ll love the dreamy vibe of the lighted forest over the Lansing River Trail.

This area is monitored by Lansing Parks and Rec who keep it clean and safe for families.

PRO TIP: Grab food from Lansing Shuffle for a fun date night.

Brenke Fish Ladder and Park
216 E Grand River Ave, Lansing, MI 48906

This downtown Lansing park shares a parking lot with Old Town and is a great place to start a nice walk or bike ride.

Keep strolling down the trail and you’ll run into a playground. Take a few more steps and grab a bite to eat at the MP Social.

Riverpoint Park
915 Platt St, Lansing, MI 48910

This hidden gem is located on the Lansing River Trail between downtown Lansing and REO Town.

The lookout point sets you where two streams collide and the little park makes for a fun pit stop on a walk or bike ride.

Play Michigan!
500 N Grand River Ave, Lansing, MI 48933

Downtown Lansing’s first all-inclusive playground right along the Grand River. Don’t worry, this park is fully-fenced.

Beacon Field at Ferris Park
417 N Walnut St, Lansing, MI 48933

This park has a free-to-the-public community-enclosed outdoor soccer field. This large park area is right in the heart of downtown and is a great place to run around with the kiddos as well as play on their playground and have a picnic.

Lansing

Frances Park
2701 Moores River Dr, Lansing, MI 48911

This park is both a favorite and a hidden gem – the best-kept secret of our city!

It has a rose garden, lookout point onto the Grand River water, two playgrounds, and a one-mile paved walking trail around the perimeter.

Bring some seeds along to feed the ducks if you’ve got extra time.

Hawk Island Park
1601 E Cavanaugh Rd, Lansing, MI 48910

This amazing location is not just a playground. It is home to the Dragon Boat Races in the fall, one of the best places to cool off in the summer, and a hot spot for sledding/tubing in the winter. 

The splash pad is fully fenced, and the lake and sandy beach are a blast. Lifeguards are on duty to keep you feeling safe.

The Lansing River Trail runs right through Hawk Island’s grounds.

Potter Park Zoo
1301 S Pennsylvania Ave, Lansing, MI 48912

There’s an amazing playground with several play structures located just outside of the zoo entrance.

The Lansing River Trail runs through this area and makes a great pit stop on a bike ride.

Play here before or after a zoo trip or just stop by for the playground.

Moores Park
400 Moores River Dr, Lansing, MI 48910

You’ll LOVE this park!

Run around, play on multiple playgrounds, hop on the Lansing Riverfront Trail, launch your kayak, or go fishing all in one place.

Read about the Save Moores Park Pool initiative.

Crego Park
1600 Fidelity Rd, Lansing, MI 48910

Crego Park is a relaxing and peaceful park with kayak and fishing pond/lake with beautiful paved trails feeding into the Lansing River Trail.

FUN FACT: This area is a nesting site for bald eagles so be sure to look to the sky and into the trees.

Hunter Park
1400 E Kalamazoo St, Lansing, MI 48912

This park’s pool and playground make the list of go-to places in the summer.

The community garden and greenhouse project are amazing and the pool is a dream (sometimes cold, but a great way to cool down on really hot summer days).

There is a splash pad and a large wade-in pool with a climbing wall.

Schmidt Community Center – FitCore Extreme Playground
5825 Wise Rd, Lansing, MI 48911

Think American Ninja Warrior right here in Lansing.

The FitCore Extreme Playground offers a challenging obstacle course-style layout that includes a peg bridge for enhancing upper body strength and an angled beam to aid in refining balance skills.

This playground is an ideal destination for children who want to put their agility, strength, and balance to the test.

Granger Meadows Park 
1745 Granger Meadows Ln, Lansing, MI 48906

Remember the Granger Meadows before it became a park?

Now it’s a great space with paved trails, a large hill for sledding and airplane watching. It even has a disc golf course and playground.

Valley Farms Park/Community Center
16199 Brook Rd, Lansing, MI 48906

Home to a baseball diamond plus a great playground and climbing structure. My kids adoringly call this the “Spider Park” because of the rope climbing piece.

BONUS: Valley Farms is connected to the Granger Meadows park trail and the hill mentioned above. You’ll find a story walk in the trails of these two parks year-round.

Delta Township

Woldumar Nature Center
5739 Old Lansing Rd, Lansing, MI 48917

Woldumar has a nature playground. You wouldn’t believe how much kids love this playground – almost more than most regular play structures.

It’s so fun to play in the dirt and run around with logs and obstacle courses that it’s almost always hard to pull them away. But don’t worry – it’s worth it!

The welcome center has fun scientific information to study and learn + story times.

BONUS: Woldumar has my favorite spot in the city located right in the middle of their trails. The large pines’ smell takes me to another world.

Grand Woods
4500 Willow Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917

A hop, skip, and a jump from the Lansing Mall nests this woodsy park along the Grand River. It is home to a disc golf course, rolling trails, RC Track, and multiple playgrounds.

Delta Mills
7001 Old River Trl, Lansing, MI 48917

This park is crazy – in a good way. The playground is massive and the kids literally jump for joy when they see us pulling up to this parking lot.

Kids love to go up and down the hills to the top of the play structure. This playground connects to two adjoining parks.

PRO TIP: You may want to go with a friend if you have a new baby in tow as this place is large and it can be hard to hunker down in one spot.

Sharp Park
1401 Elmwood Rd, Lansing, MI 48917

Sharp Park has two fun playgrounds with a maze and a gorgeous pond where you can feed fish and ducks.

Paved trails start across the street at the Delta Township District Library, run through Sharp Park, and lead all the way to the Lansing Mall, on to Kroger, and to Horrocks Farmers Market!

Westside/Dunnebacke Park
1001 Stanley St, Lansing, MI 48915

Another hidden gem – the cutest little park with a sandpit and stationary digging tools. It is home to a lovely community garden and is located down the street from Biggby.

We love to grab a quick coffee and head to this serene and quiet destination. There’s lots of space for kids to run around and a fun area where folks gather for horseshoe tournaments.

East of Lansing

Below is a list of parks for kids and parents to enjoy in the East Lansing, Haslett, Williamston and Howell region. These destinations are East of Lansing.

Patriarche Park
960 Alton St, East Lansing, MI 48823
Patriarche Park has been a go-to spot for many years and their recent epic playground the community built is so much fun. Kids of all ages love this spacious park.

BONUS: Most of the park is fully-fenced.

Lake Lansing South Park
6260 East Lake Dr, Haslett, MI 48840

This place has it all – beach and lake activities like swimming, boating, kayaking, and paddle boating, along with two large wood playgrounds and a big wheel track. Additionally, there’s a beautiful pier for fishing and park benches for enjoying the water views.

PRO TIP: Pack a blanket and bug spray and stay for concerts in the park.

Orlando Park
1275 Orlando Dr, Haslett, MI 48840

This park spans 1.3 acres and features a dense woodland, a playground, a gazebo, and a paved pathway featuring a story walk.

PRO TIP: There are no bathroom facilities at this park. We found this out the hard way!

McCormick Park
128 E Riverside St, Williamston, MI 48895
McCormick Park boasts a huge wooden play structure that’s fun for all ages.

Bring your bike or walking stick and take a little jaunt on their paved trail. Also, enjoy live performances in their amphitheater.

BONUS: The “little ones” play structure is fully-fenced!

Howell Summit Gardens
219 N Walnut St, Howell, MI 48843

Featuring slides, an amphitheater, concrete tables for ping pong or chess, corn hole arena, and a labyrinth. The park also features artwork from local artists.

Survivor Playscape
2911 Dorr Rd, Brighton, MI 48116

The playground features are crafted to cater to the needs of all children, ensuring accessibility for those with disabilities including autism, and various physical impairments such as mobility, sight, or hearing.

It boasts an array of nature-inspired elements, including climbing logs and stumps, a rope bridge, and boulders.

The playscape also has slides, a zip line, a spinning structure, a basket swing, water features and musical elements.

West of Lansing

Parks both kids and parents adore in Grand Ledge, Portland, Charlotte, and all other places West of Lansing.

Fitzgerald Park
100 Fitzgerald Park Dr, Grand Ledge, MI 48837

Home of The Ledges! Can you believe we have this in our own backyard? Don’t forget to stop by the fish ladder as well.

This place is beautiful in every season and a real adventure for the kids. Play on the playground or hike through the trails.

Island Park
206 W River St, Grand Ledge, MI 48837

You’ll love this unique park literally on an island right in the middle of downtown Grand Ledge. It’s a nice place to walk and rest.

PRO TIP: Bring cracked corn, oats, rice, birdseed, frozen peas, chopped lettuce, or sliced grapes to feed the ducks.

Jaycee Park
525 E River St, Grand Ledge, MI 48837

Home to a splash pad on the riverfront! Head over to cool off and play with other kids.

This park and playground sit in downtown Grand Ledge and are within walking distance to the library and Island Park.

PRO TIP: Bring a towel and a change of clothes during the warmer months.

Wacousta Dream Depot 2.0
9135 Herbison Rd, Eagle, MI 48822

Located at Wacousta Elementary School, this playground is now a destination spot for all families.

This outrageously cool 6,000-square-foot park was created with kids in mind. Definitely a must-visit playground.

NOTE: Playground not available during school hours.

Joe Tichvon Park
Carl St, Portland, MI 48875

A small-town park set in a quiet neighborhood. Be sure to bring your basketball and pack a picnic lunch.

Alton Park
501 W Grand River, Portland, MI 48875

A nice sun-shade park and perfect for little ones that love to swing!

North of Lansing

Fun parks families play at for hours in DeWitt, Bath, Laingsburg, St. Johns and Owosso.

Riverside Park
405 S Bridge St, DeWitt, MI 48820

Riverside Park is a fantastic destination for families with young children, featuring not just one, but three interconnected playgrounds.

What’s more, one of the playgrounds is all-accessible, making it a great spot for kids with different abilities to play together.

Situated within walking distance to downtown DeWitt, this park is an ideal stop for families looking to take a break and let their kids burn off some energy while exploring the charming town.

Sports Park
210 W Herbison Rd, DeWitt, MI 48820

The DeWitt Sports Park upgraded their playground equipment in 2023. More than just a playground, the Sports Park offers a regulation size soccer field, two softball fields, bathrooms (yes!), and a pavilion.

Wiswasser Park
6499 Park Lake Rd, Bath, MI 48808

This park is one of the best parks in our area. It has a tall three-story playground and is right across the street from the swimming area on Park Lake and just a short walk to the delicious Park Lake Creamery.

McClintock Park
255 E McClintock, Laingsburg, MI 48848

This park has one small play structure, one large play structure + a skate park. It has plenty of green space for running around and is located in downtown Laingsburg. You’ll love this park!

BONUS: This park has live music and movies in the park in the summer!

Uncle John’s Cider Mill
8614 North US 127, St. Johns, MI 48879

This is a family-favorite loved by all. They are open as early as May and shut down very late in the fall.

Pumpkins and cider are not even the main attraction for our kids; they LOVE the play structures, bounce houses, maze, games, huge bouncing pillow, hayrides, and snack shop.

St. Johns City Park/Spray Park
801 W Park St, St Johns, MI 48879

City Park’s splash pad is a fantastic way to cool off in the summer and the hill is great for sledding in the winter. It’s a win-win year-round.

Their classic wooden playground is nestled in the trees in the middle of a walking path. Tennis courts, pavilions, restrooms and drinking fountains round out this park.

Motz County Park
4630 N DeWitt Rd, St Johns, MI 48879

The sandy beach on a sun-shining day makes this FREE swimming spot a must-stop during the summer. Motz Park offers fishing, pavilion rental, picnic areas, restrooms, and is ADA-compliant.

PRO TIP: Bring an beach umbrella for shade.

West Park
11877 E Carson City Rd, Carson City, MI 48811 (M-57 at the Western edge of Carson City, MI)

The paved walking trails and sweet wooden play structure are a blast. After you play, jump in the water for a swim or play all the other fun games and activities that surround the park, like disc golf and more.

Bentley Park Playscape
623 S Shiawassee St, Owosso 48867

Bentley Park offers attractions for all ages, from a train-themed play area for little ones to a thrilling mega-tower with slides and climbing spots for adventurous kids. Swing sets and benches are also scattered throughout for added enjoyment.

Kerby Park
200 N Kerby Rd, Corunna, 48847

Situated east of Corunna at the five points, Kerby Park is at the site of the former Kerby School. It features three pavilions, a playground, several picnic tables with grills, a sand volleyball court, an expansive open field for recreational activities, and restroom facilities.

South of Lansing

Go-to parks families frequent in Holt, Eaton Rapids, Mason, Leslie and Jackson.

Burchfield Park
881 Grovenburg Rd, Holt, MI 48842

Enjoy endless fun every visit, but the highlight is winter tubing. Experience the thrill of sliding down snowy hills by renting tubes for a nominal fee. Warm up by the fire pits scattered around each hill or indulge in indoor concessions.

Summers are equally spectacular with epic beach activities.

Valhalla Park
2287 Pine Tree Rd, Holt, MI 48842

Delhi Township’s largest and most developed park, families adore this park for its huge playground, swimming lake, open fields, wooded area, and access to nature trails that hook up with the Lansing River Trail.

GAR Island Park
150 E Hamlin St, Eaton Rapids, MI 48827

This park is a hidden gem, thanks to its unique old play structures and canon. The vintage feel of the park adds an exciting element for kids, making it a new and enjoyable experience for them.

Russell Park
N Main St, Leslie, MI 49251

Set in downtown Leslie, this place is another throwback to the wooden play structure days.

Rayner Park
738 E Ash St, Mason, MI 48854

An expansive wooden play structure is available, and to add to the delight, there’s an ice cream parlor across the street.

Vevay Township Hall
780 Eden Rd, Mason, MI 48854

A nice play structure and swings are located across the street from Mason Jewett Airfield. If you have an airplane lover in the family, you can see tons of cool planes taking off and landing!

Hayes Park
827 W Columbia St, Mason, MI 48854

Mason’s largest city park, Hayes Park includes a huge play structure, lots of swings, tennis and basketball courts, plus much more.

Loomis Park
210 Gilbert St, Jackson, MI 49201

Enjoy the large community-built wooden play structure/playground plus exercise equipment. In winter, Loomis Park has a sledding hill.

Ella W. Sharp Park
3225 Fourth St, Jackson, MI 49203

Home to Carter’s Corner Play Structure. Also, check out their Olympic size swimming pool, an 18-hole miniature golf course, disc course, and rose gardens.

Nixon Park
400 E North St, Jackson, MI 49202

This park is so cool! Their waterpark and skate park make it fun for both young and older kids. Also make sure to check out the swimming pool, skateboard park, and rollerblade areas.

Cascades Falls and Splash Pad
1401 S Brown St, Jackson, MI 49203

This is such a beautiful spot to hang because of the gorgeous tranquil grounds where you can watch the falls and play in the splash pad.

Lansing Parks Map

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What’s Your Favorite Lansing Area Park?

If you know of an amazing park you’d like to share with the LFF community, we’d love to hear about it! Comment below and help us add to the family fun experience in Lansing.

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