Iron Bear

Right in the thick of New Bedford’s historic district, this little playground is the kind of spot you stumble on between museum visits and actually end up staying longer than planned. The Whaling Museum is practically around the corner, so it works perfectly if you’re doing a full day down here with kids who need to burn off some energy mid-exploration. There’s decent food nearby too, which helps when everyone gets hungry after running around. It’s urban through and through — don’t expect sprawling green space — but for a city playground, the location alone makes it worth knowing about.