This profile of Ann Arbor’s Riverside 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 Riverside Park part of the Ann Arbor system.
Ann Arbor’s Riverside Park
Riverside Park – Playground Features
Playground Profile Last Updated: June 13, 2023
Playground Best for: Kids Under 5, Kids 5-8, Kids 8-12, Teens
Structures: 1
Accessible Structure: No
Slides: 1, Curved Slide
Monkey Bars: No
Zip Line: No
Climbing Apparatus: Yes
Merry Go Round: No
Bouncers: Yes
See Saw: No
Sandbox: Yes
Natural Play: No
Swings: 2 traditional swings, 2 baby swings, 0 parent/baby swings, 0 adaptive swings, 0 tire swings
Ground Activities: Yes
Surface: Wooden Mulch
Shade: Partial Shade – Trees surround the playground.
Seating: Yes, Benches around playground. Additional benches nearby facing the river.
Events from our Sponsors
 Future Innovators Academy Break CampsDays Off From School |  Sprout Love - Summer 5KSunday, June 8 |  Big Play DayJune 21 |  Ann Arbor Jaycees 4th of July ParadeFriday, July 4 |  Pee Wee Olympics & Foam PartySunday, July 20 |
Riverside Park – Park Details
Park Owner: Ann Arbor
Location: 1000 Canal Street, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Parking: Parking Lot – A small gravel lot on Canal St, UM lots are available on weekend and after hours for more parking. Be sure to follow UM parking restrictions
Bathrooms: No
Walking Trails: Paved – Trail along the Huron River
Water Play: Natural Water – Huron River flows right by Riverside Park. There are some access points. The river was a bit fast on our visit, but the water levels are high.
Picnic Benches: Yes, Nearby, Full Sun
Pavilion: No
Sports Fields: Baseball/Softball, Open Fields
Riverside Park Description
Riverside Park playground features a a central structure with multiple climbing elements connected via a circular platform. With our updated playground profile including information on the playground structure, I had a difficult time deciding whether I should classify this as a structure or a separate climbing apparatus. I decided to call it both. The platform is small and has no slides, so it is not quite a traditional structure, but it is more than a standalone climbing apparatus.
My daughter and her friend loved the bouncing tube. I don’t quite know how to describe it, so I’ll let the picture do the talking. My daughter and her friend were 12 on the visit shown below. At 15, my daughter still had to climb on the bouncer when we stopped by after visiting the Optical Shop at the Kellogg Eye Center.
Is your child a budding percussionist? Then Riverside Park is the place for them. There is a whole section of bongos, drums, and shakers.
Another unique feature is the sailboat in a sand area. Currently, there is not a lot of loose sand, so the boat will work better as a feature for imaginative play.
Note, when we visited in July 2021 the park was overrun with Canadian Geese. Use caution particularly with young children in the sand box.
Beyond Riverside Park
Ann Arbor Playground Profiles
Have you been to Ann Arbor’s Riverside 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.
