This page was updated Nov. 2024.
Wellesley likes kids to have plenty of opportunities to run around and blow off steam. With multiple playgrounds in town, there’s bound to be one near you. School playgrounds are generally off-limits during school hours except to kids enrolled in the school. But after that, all are welcome.
Bates Elementary School playground
116 Elmwood Rd., Wellesley, MA 02481
There are two playgrounds, one in the back of the school and one in front.
The back one features a large play structure with 3 slides, plus a nearby 2-panel rock climbing wall, a handful of swings and a play car/truck. The nearby Wall of Hands is fun art to view as well. The playground adjoins the baseball fields at the school.
The playground in front of the school features a very large structure with a giant plastic fish in the middle of it. Included are a rope climb, rock climb, underground microphones, one of those things you grab overhead and slide across by holding up your body. A 7-foot-high basketball hoop is next to the play structure. The ground is a spongy material. No outdoor restrooms. Benches. Plenty of parking at the school.
Brown Field
40 Colburn Rd, Wellesley, MA 02481
Erected in 2008, a modest playground beyond the outfield of the baseball field. Includes short, side-by-side slides, a teeter-totter, 4 swings (including a baby swing that the kid’s legs can stick through, and another swing that kids sit in), a balance beam, a zig-zag overhead climbing structure and a spider web for climbing. Also includes assortment of small plastic shapes to step on, and a bit of a fort atop the slides. A shaded picnic bench sits outside the play structure, which itself is surrounded by wood chips.
Fiske Elementary School playgrounds
45 Hastings St., Wellesley, MA 02418
The school has two playgrounds, one near the front and one behind it and the ballfields. The front playground includes a very small structure with 2 slides for toddlers and a nearby short basketball hoop. The larger structure has 2 twisty slides and 2 side-by-side slides for racing. The structure includes a bridge and assorted climbing devices, including a series of discs connected to poles that kids can climb across. Nearby are a tire swing, a series of tires to crawl through and a zig-zag balance beam that is low to the ground. On the pavement are 2 hopscotch games and a circle game with letters and numbers.
Behind the school and ball fields and toward Rte. 9 is another playground. Its highlight is a sort of temple-shaped red rope climb. A large play structure includes a small rock wall and a high twisty slide. A few separate metal climbing structures are nearby, along with sandboxes and basketball hoops. A tire swing and one of those grab overhead and slide mechanisms are also on hand. No restrooms aside from what might be open in the school.
Hardy Elementary School playground
293 Weston Rd, Wellesley, MA 02482
N0v. 2024: The all new-construction Hardy School playground is officially open for fun. Hardy kids can now cavort about on brand-new playground equipment, and the wider community is welcome to come and play too, on weekends, holidays, and after regular school hours on weekedays.
August 2024: The Hardy School playground has been removed, along with the baseball fields and basketball areas while the new Hardy School is being built. All will be rebuilt, but different locations on the Hardy School property. Hardy is expected to open in fall 2024.
The 18-classroom, all-new construction 80,039 square-foot building is designed for an enrollment of 365 students. While the new school has been under construction, students remained in the current Hardy School, where they got to watch the construction action.
The old school was razed during summer 2024.
August 2023: The playground, baseball fields, and basketball areas are closed while a new school is being built.
Hunnewell Field Tot Lot (near tennis courts)
435 Washington St, Wellesley, MA 02481
Small play structure with sandbox, baby swings, benches for adults.
Hunnewell Elementary School—Wellesley’s newest playground
28 Cameron St, Wellesley, MA 02482
2024 update: Hunnewell School construction is complete. The playground, baseball fields, and basketball areas are now open to the public outside of regular school hours (typically after 3:15 pm, on weekends, and during school vacation days/weeks).
Morses Pond playground
99 Turner Rd., Wellesley, MA 02482
Small play structure near the beach, packed with 4 slides. Nearby are six swings. There’s one more slide, but it goes into the water. Restrooms available. Play structure only open to beachgoers.
Ouellet Park playground
21 Charles St, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
Small, fenced-in playground with 3 climbing/sliding structures, plus a set of swings. Great thing about this playground is that it is next to a ballfield, so parents can watch their kids play ball while watching other kids on the playground. Also 2 regulation height basketball hoops.
Perrin Park
Thomas Road, Wellesley, MA 02482
Shade-covered playground geared toward younger kids, with 3 not-so-very-high slides, 8 swings (4 for babies), a play house, several climbing structures including a chain-link wall, a tire swing, a see-saw, spring animal rides. Plenty of benches and tables, too. The park also includes 2 7-foot basketball hoops and 2 regulation height hoops, funnel ball, a lacrosse field and a baseball field, all tucked into a neighborhood section of Wellesley. Have mercy on the neighborhood. Please drive slowly in and out of this dead-end street.
Phillips Park
Between Maugus Ave. and Seaward Rd. along Washington St. and the Brook Path (Map)
Features 2 moderate-sized play structures, plus a sandbox…. adjoins baseball field…. parking along Seaward Rd.
Schofield Elementary School playground
27 Cedar St, Wellesley, MA 02481
The playground is located just to the right of the school’s front and includes 3 play structures, including one large one recommended for ages 5-12 (according to a sign on the structure). The main structure includes an unusual large green climbing structure that looks something like the side of a rocky mountain. It also features 4 slides, including small side-by-side ones. Adjacent to the structure are 3 sets of 6 swings (not baby swings). A second play structure features a jumping wall (it includes measurements going up to 7-feet-6-inches and challenges kids to jump and reach as high as they can. This structure also includes a sliding handle to grab onto and zip on. A third structure features a sort of shaky bridge/balance beam (fairly safe, it doesnt swing too much) and a variety of things to grab and swing from. Three basketball hoops (2 10-footers and one 8-or-so footer are nearby, as are 3 tennis courts, baseball/soccer fields and a hill suitable for sledding. The playground area also has a water bubbler, funnel ball and a wood chip covering on the ground. No restrooms aside from what might be open in the school.
Sprague Elementary School playground
401 School St, Wellesley, MA 02482
A nice compact playground, which is built to be accessible to all, features a variety of climbing, swinging and hanging structures, and a rubbery, soft surface. Highlights include a tunnel to scurry through, side-by-side overhead sliders, chain ladders, a bridge and a pedaling contraption. Two regulation height hoops are adjacent. The playground is convenient to the nearby soccer fields, enabling parents to occupy the little ones while other kids are on the soccer fields. The playground only has one slide. Around the corner in front of the school are 10 swings, including 1 baby swing. A handful of nice picnic tables are also next to the playground.
Upham Elementary School playground
As of June 2024, the Upham School has closed as part of a district-wide consolidation plan, with initial uses for the building being a voting location and swing space for upcoming Warren Building renovations. The School Committee’s plans are to retain ownership of the building and the property until such a time that the town’s elementary school enrollment increases to the point when a 7-elementary school model is once again needed.
For now, the playground is still open.
35 Wynnewood Rd, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
The most modest of the elementary school playgrounds in town, though still features plenty to do, from 3 tire swings, to a dozen or so other swings, funnel ball, play structures for toddlers and bigger kids that boast a variety of slides (tube, side-by-side, curved). More out-of-the-ordinary apparatus includes spider web-like climbing structure, a series of chain ladders and a chain used to scale a little rock climb. The playground has woodchips on the ground. Adjacent to the play structures are 5 basketball hoops (4 regulation, one about 6-feet high). Behind the school are a soccer and baseball field and some more swings. On the pavement at the school are hopscotch and four-square games.
