Calkins Playground

If you live on this side of New London, you already know Calkins is the low-key spot that doesn’t get enough credit. The ball fields get solid use, and that walking track is genuinely good for laps while the little ones burn energy on the open grass. Kids 2 to 12 have plenty of room to roam, and the neighborhood stays pretty quiet — no chaos, no crowds. The real bonus? Trains roll past close enough to stop a toddler mid-sprint, which sounds like a small thing until you see how obsessed kids get with it. Restrooms on-site too, which makes a longer visit actually doable.