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This profile of Washtenaw County’s County Farm Park Playground is part of our Playground Profiles Series. Are you interested in sponsoring the series? Contact us for details.
Each week Ann Arbor with Kids is profiling a different playground in the Ann Arbor area including Ann Arbor, Saline, Ypsilanti, Dexter, etc. Today we are profiling County Farm Park part of the Washtenaw County system.
Washtenaw County’s County Farm Park
County Farm Park – Playground Features
Playground Profile Last Updated: May 9, 2017
Playground Best for: Kids Under 5, Kids 5-8, Kids 8-12
Structures: 1
Accessible Structure: No
Slides: 3, Straight Slide, Curved Slide
Monkey Bars: No
Zip Line: Yes
Climbing Apparatus: No
Merry Go Round: No
Bouncers: Yes
See Saw: No
Sandbox: Yes
Natural Play: No
Swings: 2 traditional swings, 0 baby swings, 0 parent/baby swings, 2 adaptive swings, 0 tire swings
Ground Activities: Yes
Surface: Rubber Mats
Shade: No –
Seating: Yes, There is a long retaining wall that is great for parents to sit on. Some picnic tables near play area as well
County Farm Park – Park Details
Park Owner: Washtenaw County
Location: County Farm Park, 2230 Platt Road, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Parking: Parking Lot – The best parking for County Farm Park playground is in the lot on Platt Rd. You can also park at Meri Lou Murray Rec Center and walk. Or, there is street parking at the Medford Rd entrance and you can walk from there.
Bathrooms: Yes, Year Round
Walking Trails: Paved – A mix of paved and gravel paths run through County Farm Park and connect to neighboring sidewalks
Water Play: None
Picnic Benches: Yes, Nearby, Under Cover of Pavilion, Shady, Full Sun
Pavilion: Yes
Sports Fields:
County Farm Park Description
My daughter loves County Farm Park. It is great for older kids. The main play structure is tall and offers plenty to challenge big kids. There are tall slides, a zip line, a rope and several climbing challenges.
Over the years, I’ve heard various people say that County Farm Park is great for younger kids. There are rockers, bouncers, and small climbers. There is also sand and they can explore the community gardens. This will entertain most young kids. Even my 11 year old was entertained by the bouncers – and she barely fit on it. In this area, the tractor play element has a small slide but I haven’t counted it as a full structure.
However, I never liked County Farm Park when my daughter was young (and I’m not alone). On the pro side for little kids, there are lots of ground based activities like little houses, bouncers, and the like. On the con side for little kids, the structure itself is one of the tallest around and too challenging for a toddler. As a toddler my daughter was all about the structure, so I avoided it when she was younger. (In her defense the ground activities have been overhauled since she was a toddler). If your child is happy with the ground based activities and doesn’t care about the structure, it’s a great park for the littles. So, I would say the answer depends on your particular young child.
The pavilion at County Farm Park is available on a first-come, first-serve basis except when used for county programs like summer camps. Over the years, we have frequently visited County Farm Park for birthday parties, preschool class reunions, and other large group gatherings. The playground is large and can easily accommodate a large group.
Events at County Farm Park
County Farm Park is a frequent home for programming from Washtenaw County Parks Department. They hold nature programs there and some annual holiday/seasonal celebrations.
Upcoming Events
Ann Arbor Playground Profiles
Have you been to Washtenaw County’s County Farm Park? If so, what is your favorite part?
Find more Ann Arbor area playgrounds in our Playground Profile series. Then, plan your own playground tour.
