The Loop Playground

If you live anywhere near Mountainside, this is the playground you end up at every other weekend whether you planned to or not. It sits right inside the Watchung Reservation, so you’ve got real woods and a pond nearby — not just a strip of sad grass next to a parking lot. The play equipment is split up by age, which actually matters when you’ve got a toddler and a ten-year-old and you’re trying to keep an eye on both at once. There’s a water feature the kids go absolutely feral for in summer, solid climbing structures, and enough shade trees and covered seating that parents aren’t melting in the heat. Throw in BBQ grills, picnic tables, restrooms, and a walking path around the area, and honestly it’s a full afternoon without even trying.