It was my goal this summer to visit every park in the Fairbanks area. So we started visiting them and making note of what these parks offer so we can easily know which parks would be best for our family to visit at different times. Hopefully this can help you figure out which parks you want to make your go to parks too!
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Sunriser’s Rotary Park
This is my least favorite park in Fairbanks. It is designed for families with 2 kids or less and it causes fights with my kids every time.
Features
- Turf
- 2 swings
- Sitting merry-go-round
- 2 sand diggers
- conveyor belt thing
- Handicap hang glider
- Rope glider
- Blue hole cave
- Pavilion
- Picnic tables
- Grill
- Benches
- Hill and field near by
- Woods
- Sani-can
Bernice Allridge Park
Undergoing remodel this summer. It used to be my personal favorite park, I hope the remodel turns out great.
South Fairbanks Park
This is my oldest daughters favorite park since they redid it last year. It has some great climbing and it is definitely improved.
Features:
- Padded
- 3 normal swings
- 1 handicap swing
- 2 big tall slides
- Toddler area
- Merry go round
- Fake climbing tree
- Big hill
- Basketball court
- Hop scotch
- Pavilion
- Parking on the side of the road on the other side of the hill
- Sani-can
Midnight Sun Lions Park
The motorcycle has been broken for literally years. This park is a tiny patch of green surrounded by houses. My kids love the slide and the pirate ship is cute.
Features:
- Rocks
- 2 swings
- 2 baby swings
- Pirate ship
- Teeter totter
- Slide
- Bouncy motorcycle
- Dog poop
- Small field
- Picnic tables
- Grill
- Fenced in
- Parking along the fence
- No bathrooms
Kiana Park
This tiny park is so cute and has so much potential. I look forward to when parks and rec renovates this park. It has a great area for your kids to ride in loops through the “woods”.
Features:
- Rocks
- Bike paths
- 2 slides
- 2 swings
- Picnic tables
- Basketball court
- Grill
- Small field
- Parking near by
- No bathrooms
Tanana Lakes Park & Rotary Pathway Park
This is two parks at the Tanana Lakes, the rotary park is newer while the other one is not as new, but still a fun area to play. The Rotary Pathway isn’t my favorite because it is so spread out and hard to keep your eyes on your kids. It’s also strange that they decided to use wood chips when it is next to water where kids would likely be barefoot in this area.
Tanana Lakes Park Features:
- Wood chips
- Musical instruments
- Spinny 2 story sphere
- Hill
- Corn hole
- Pavilion
- Picnic tables
- Grill
- Bathroom
Tanana Lakes Rotary Pathway Features:
- Wood chips
- Lots of climbing
- Beach
- By the water
- One slide at the end
- Zip line
- Saucer swing
- Obstacle course
- Rope course
- Sani-can at the beginning
Ringsted/ Growden Park
Your kids may be oddly drawn to the skate park on the other side of the hill, but my kids love the tunnels
Features:
- Rocks
- 6 Swings
- 2 small tunnels
- Monkey bars
- Rings
- 2 bridges
- 1 slide
- Volleyball nets
- ‘Hill
- Skate park
- Pavilion
- Picnic tables
- Parking near by
- Sani-can
Kiwana’s Park
This summer something happened to a slide and they removed the tire swing, so hopefully they fix that soon, but its a cute park across the street from another bigger park.
Features:
- Wood chips
- Wood fence
- 2 partner swings
- 4 baby swings
- 3 normal swings
- 2 slides
- Basket ball court
- Pavilion
- Grills
- Picnic tables
- Bench
- Parking right by
- Sani-can (usually a tire swing and 3rd slide but they were broken when I went)
Pioneer Park
This park was recently updated and it is now an excellent park! It has a designated toddler area that is perfect for little ones 5 and under. There is a near by mini golf course as well.
Features:
- Padded
- Toddler area
- Alaskan themed
- Lots of climbing
- Handicap ramps
- Tunnels
- balance beams
- 2 handicap swings
- 1 partner swing
- 2 toddler swings
- 8 normal swings
- Holey cave
- Musical instruments
- 3 slides
- Bouncy salmon
- 2 spinny seats
- Small teeter totter
- Seated merry go round
- Rocking platform
- Cute train with foam chunks underneath
- Benches
- Pavilion
- Picnic tables
- Bathrooms
Myrtle Thomas Park
This park could really use an update. It’s cute, but the wood around the edge of the park is an ant magnet and there aren’t any benches.
Features:
- Rocks
- 2 teeter totters
- Bouncing turtle & horse
- Climbing thing
- Ship
- 2 swings
- Tunnel
- Basket ball court
- Small hill
- Field
- Parking near
- Mostly fenced
- No bathrooms
Nordale Education Center
Nordale is a solid park to visit, since it is used by BEST homeschooling now, it is available at any time and a great big park to visit.
Features:
- Very similar to Denali school
- Rocks & padding
- Fenced in
- Fire truck
- Tube teeter totter
- Climbing structure
- 3 tunnels
- Monkey bars
- 12 slides
- 30+ swings
- Basket ball court
- Picnic table
- Benches
- No bathrooms
Sneeden Park
This park is great, it has some of everything, the dragonfly teeter totter is unique. The biggest problem is that there is a river right nearby and if your kid is quick and fearless you better watch them very closely.
Features:
- Near water
- Mostly fenced in
- Part padded & part rocks
- Merry go round
- Bouncy dragonfly
- Bouncy duck
- Bouncy chipmunk
- 6 slides
- Bridge
- Playhouse
- Teeter totter
- Climbing arch
- 2 swings
- 1 handicap swing
- 1 baby swing
- Basketball court
- Lending library
- Pavilion
- Grill
- Benches
- Picnic tables
- Parking near by
- Sani-can
Nussbaumer
In the spring, this park has a lot of mosquitos and can be very wet due to the shade from the trees. I think this park could be so much better.
Features:
- Rocks
- 2 swings
- 3 slides
- Lots of trees
- Baseball field
- Pavilion
- Picnic tables
- Grill
- Road parking
- No bathrooms
Slaterville Park
Undergoing Remodel this summer. While it had older equipment I don’t feel that it needed a remodel.
Baranof Park
This small park is cute and great for younger kids and smaller families.
Features:
- Small
- Rocks
- Bouncy horse
- 2 slides
- 2 swings
- Trees
- Small mound
- Benches
- Picnic table
- Grill
- No bathrooms
Joy Community Center
This is one of the first grade schools in Fairbanks. Since parks and rec took over management of it, it has improved greatly.
Features:
- Rocks part padded
- Fenced in
- 8 swings
- 2 baby swings
- Basketball court
- Pickle ball courts
- Climbing things
- Monkey bars
- 2 tunnel
- Hanging spinning things
- Teather ball poles
- 4 slides
- Small hill
- Picnic tables
- Sani-cans
Aurora Park
This park needs a good remodel. It’s cute and could be an amazing park, but it needs a good upgrade.
Features:
- Rocks
- Small
- One big swirl slide
- Wooden structure with climbing tires
- Monkey bars
- Big stump
- No grill
- Picnic bench
- Strawberry bushes
- Lilac tree
- No bathrooms
Graehl Park
This park is right next to the river, so if your kid is quick, keep a close eye on them. It was remodeled recently and the part I don’t like the most is the bridge that can be very slippery in the winter and kind of scary for little ones.
Features:
- Small
- Tire swing
- 2 swings
- Music
- Scary bridge
- Padded
- Next to the river
- Field & trees
- Parking right next to the park
- Sani-can
Fahrenkamp Park
I grew up going to this park and it’s cute, but better for younger kids or smaller families. My kids like the flowers that the woods have nearby.
Features:
- Rocks
- Double slide
- 1 swing
- 1 baby swing
- Picnic tables
- Grills
- Small forest
- No bathrooms
Bluebell Park
This is one of my kids favorite parks, it’s biggest downside is the quantity of swings.
Features:
- Padded
- Big climbing thing
- 2 slides
- 1 swing
- 1 baby swing
- Play house
- Picnic tables
- Field
- Parking near by
- No bathrooms
Ester Community Park
Ester park is unique because they offer a lot of wheeled toys all summer long to play with on a huge paved basketball court.
Features:
- Rocks
- Teeter totter
- One swirly slide
- Play kitchen
- Bouncy turtle
- Part is still wood with a metal tunnel and tires and a tire swing
- Sandbox
- Big tires
- Digger
- Donkey bars
- Basket ball court
- Pavilion
- Picnic tables
- Bbq
- Parking right next to the park
- Benches
- Field
- Big tires
- In the summer there’s bikes, scooters, and dump trucks to play with
- Bathrooms
Ken Kunkel Community Center/ Goldstream Valley Park
I really like this park, but the mosquitos are rough. There’s tons of climbing, and my kids love the sandbox and play kitchen.
Features:
- Rocks
- Lots of climbing
- Spiny thing
- Teeter totter
- 4 swings
- 2 baby swings
- 2 slides
- Play kitchen
- Rolling running thing
- Bouncy bench
- Balance beam
- Sand box
- Horseshoe
- Fire pit
- Grills
- Picnic tables
- Benches
- Soccer field
- Basketball court
- Lots of mosquitoes
- Parking near by
- Sani-can
Funtime Park
This is a popular park due to it’s location, but it’s not one of my favorites because it’s next to Hot Licks, ice cream is spilled all over the place making it a sticky mess.
Features:
- Rocks
- Fenced in
- 4 swings
- 2 baby swings
- 3 slides
- Monkey bars
- Merry go round
- Climbing structure
- Teeter totter
- Bouncy motorcycle
- Basket ball court benches
- Pavilion
- Picnic tables
- Sticky everything in the summer
- Sani-can
Fox Lions Park
This park is great! It’s got lots of features and its pavilion is amazing for large gatherings.
Features:
- Rocks
- 2 baby swings
- 4 swings
- Bouncing chipmunk
- 7 slides
- 1 tunnel
- Monkey bars
- Teeter totter
- Merry go round
- Musical instruments
- Basketball court
- Soccer field
- Benches
- Picnic tables
- Grill
- Pavilion
- Lending library
- Bathroom
Terry Miller Park
This park is older, but my kids love it. The bouncy dinosaur is a favorite in my family.
Features:
- Rocks
- Musical instruments
- Cute wooden truck
- Bouncy purple dinosaur
- Bouncy turtle
- Teeter totters
- 4 swings
- 3 baby swings
- 2 small slides
- Climbing structure
- Wooden playhouses
- Picnic tables
- Benches
- Grill
- Pavilion
- Sani-can
- Fenced in
- Lending library
- Food pantry
- Parking near by
Apartment Complex Parks
Jillian Square
Features:
- Rocks
- Wooden
- Bouncy toys
- 2 slides
- Hills
- Trees
- Big rocks
- 3 swings
- 1 baby swing
- Tire swing
- Monkey bars
- Grill
- Picnic tables
- Bench
- Volleyball court
- Big tires
- Best to park by building C
- No bathrooms
Cowles & 22nd Apartments
Features:
- Rocks
- Lots of trash
- Triple slide and single slide
- Wooden play structure
- Balancing pole steps
- No bathrooms
Raven’s Landing
Features:
- 2 parts:
- part 1:
- Rocks & padding
- Part fully fenced in
- Tire swing
- Bouncing duck
- Bouncing frog
- 4 swings
- 2 baby swings
- Low rings
- Monkey bars
- 5 slides
- Small hill
- Grill
- Benches
- Picnic table
- Parking is difficult
- No bathrooms
- Part 2:
- Padded
- Fenced in
- Tunnel
- Double slide
- Drums
- Climbing wall
- Benches
- Grill
- Picnic table
- Parking difficult
- No bathrooms
Birchwood Homes Apartments Park
Features:
- Rocks
- 2 swings
- Very fast big slide
- 2 slides
- Red spiny thing
- Blue tilted spiny circle
- Lots of climbing
- Benches
- Parking is not close
- No bathrooms
Little Dipper Apartments
- Wood Chips
- 2 slides
- Monkey bars
- Steering wheel
- Parking nearby
- No bathrooms
Walden Estates Park
Features:
- 4 parts:
- Part 1:
- Mostly fenced in
- Balance pods
- 2 slides
- Bridge
- Tunnel
- Basketball court
- Tennis court
- Part 2, 3, & 4:
- 1 slide
- Monkey bars
- 2 teeter totter
- Merry go round
- 2 swings
- Tire swing
- Bouncy toucan
- Bouncy horse
- Benches
- Parking near by
- No bathrooms
Riverpoint Village Park
Features:
- Impossible to park
- Rocks
- 2 slides
- Dirty
- Bouncy duck and turtle
- Fenced in
- No bathrooms
University Condominium Park
Features:
- Rocks
- 4 swings
- 2 baby swings
- Climbing dome
- Climbing tree
- Fenced in
- Parking near by
- No bathrooms
Garfield Ct Apartments
Features:
- 3 parts:
- part 1:
- Rocks
- 2 small slides
- Fenced in except entrance
- Part 2:
- Rocks
- One fast double slide
- Monkey bars
- Rock climbing
- Picnic table
- Fenced in except entrance
- Part 3:
- Huge tire
- Basket ball court
- 2 slides
- Monkey bars
- No bathrooms
Yak Estates Park
Features:
- Lots of trash and socks
- Rocks
- One slide
- Lots of climbing
- No swings
- No benches
- No real parking
- No bathrooms
Amherst/ Chenana apartments park
Features:
- Wood chips
- 2 slides
- Monkey bars
- Parking near by
- No bathrooms
Park West Apartments
Features:
- Rocks,
- Fenced in
- 1 slide
- Climbing structure
- Bouncy duck
- Bouncy worm
- Benches,
- Parking is tricky
- No bathrooms
Churches
Zion Lutheran Church
Features:
- Rocks & grass
- 7+ slides
- Monkey bars
- Climbing structures
- \Sand boxes & toys
- Fenced in 4 separate areas
- Rding cars
- Baby slides
- Climbing things
- 2 playhouses
- Play food
- Water table
- Bouncing duck
- Bouncing turtle
- Teeter totter
- Field
- Benches
- Little hill
- Only available on Saturday OR after 5 pm weekdays
- No bathrooms
Fairbanks Native Chapel/Far North School
Features:
- Rocks
- 7 slides
- 4 swings
- Monkey bars
- Teather ball
- Balls
- Merry go round
- Picnic table
- Bench
- Fenced in
- Parking near by
- No bathrooms
Lighthouse Church
Features:
- Rocks
- Wooden structure
- Tall monkey bars
- Rings
- 1 big slide
- 3 swings
- Tire swing
- Picnic table
- No bathrooms
Fairbanks Seventh Day Adventist Church And School
Features:
- Rocks
- Field
- Huge upright tires
- Climbing dome
- Bouncing steps
- Monkey bars
- 3 slides
- 4 swings
- Basketball court
- Parking near by
- No bathrooms
Christ Lutheran Church
Features:
- Rocks
- Mostly fenced in
- 3 slides
- Bridge
- Bouncy frog
- Bouncy whale
- Baby swing
- Teeter swing
- Small tunnel
- Small field
- Bench
- Picnic table
- Parking near by
- No bathrooms
Schools
Barnette Magnet School
Features:
- Rocks one fenced in part completely padded
- Fenced in
- Monkey bars
- 3 tunnels
- 11 slides
- 22 swings
- Drums
- Bridge
- Hill
- Basketball court
- Bunny & chicken sculpture
- Benches
- Picnic table
- Parking near by
- No bathrooms
Fairhill Christian School
Features:
- Grass
- Part Fenced in
- Playhouses
- 8 swings
- 2 slides
- Teeter totter
- Kids picnic table
- Basketball court
- Nearby parking
- No bathrooms
Watershed School
Features:
- Rocks
- Fenced in
- 10 swings
- 2 climbing webs
- Huge tires
- Monkey bars
- Parking near by
- No bathrooms
Boreal Sun Charter School
Features:
- Grass & wood chips
- 2 hills
- Climbing dome
- Sandbox
- Water table
- Platform
- Big tires
- Tunnel in a hill
- Tea party set up
- Basket ball court
- Tether ball
- Gaga ball court
- Picnic table
- Bench
- Fenced in
- No bathrooms
Hunter Elementary School
Features:
- Rocks & some padding
- Fenced in
- 30+ swings
- 1 handicap swing
- 13 slides
- 3 tunnels
- Bridge
- Teeter totter
- Lots of steering wheels
- Hill
- Basketball court
- Adult workout equipment
- Benches
- No bathrooms
Denali Elementary School
Features:
- Very similar to nordale,
- 2 parts:
- Part 1:
- Rocks & part padded
- Fenced in
- 3 slides
- 1 tunnel
- Bench
- No bathrooms
- Part 2:
- Rocks & part padded
- Black bouncy tube
- 10 slides
- 30+ swings
- Monkey bars
- 2 tubes
- Climbing structure
- Fire truck
- Hill
- Basketball court
- Benches
- Picnic tables
- No bathrooms
Ladd Elementary School
Features:
- 2 parts:
- Lots of mosquitoes
- Part 1:
- Rocks
- Fenced in
- Playhouse
- Play kitchen
- Boxes
- Sleds
- 3 slides
- Bench
- No bathrooms
- Part 2:
- Rocks & some padding
- 30+ swings
- 1 handicapped swing
- 1 tunnel
- Monkey bars\
- 4 slides
- Soccer field
- Basket ball court
- Hill
- Picnic table
- Benches
- No bathrooms
Monroe Catholic School
Features
- Rocks
- 15 swings
- 6 slides
- Spinning thing
- Climbing structures
- Climbing dome
- 4 person teeter totter
- Tunnel
- Hanging gliders
- Picnic tables
- Benches
- Basketball court
- Only available on Saturdays even in the summer
- No Bathrooms
Anne Wein Elementary School
Features:
- Rocks
- 6 slides
- 30+ swings
- Hanging spinning thing
- Monkey bars
- Bridge
- Teeter totter
- Basketball court
- Picnic tables
- Benches
- Parking nearby
- No bathrooms
University Park Elementary School
Features:
- 2 parts:
- part 1:
- Padded & some rocks under some swings,
- 4 slides
- Balance bridge
- 30 swings
- Hanging spinny thing
- Monkey bars
- Balance steps
- Rolling running thing
- Climbing wall
- 2 climbing structures
- Soccer field
- Benches
- Picnic tables
- No bathrooms
- Part 2:
- Rocks
- 14 swings
- 3 slides
- Bridge
- 3 tunnels
- Benches
- Basket ball court
- Hill
- No bathrooms
- Kindergarten part:
- Rocks & part padded
- Fenced in
- Sand box
- Tunnel
- Sliding pole
- 4 swings
- 1 slide
- Benches
- No bathrooms
Woodriver Elementary School
Features:
- 2 parts:
- Part 1:
- Climbing dome
- 10 swings
- 2 slides
- Hill
- Fenced in
- 4 way teeter totter
- Basket ball court
- No bathrooms
- Part 2:
- 1 slide
- 16 swings
- Hanging swinging thing
- Soccer field
- Bridge
- Monkey bars
Pearl Creek Elementary School
Features:
- Rocks
- Mostly fenced
- 8 swings
- 4 person teeter totter
- Monkey bars
- Bridge
- Tube
- Tunnel
- Hanging spinning things
- Teather ball pole
- Climbing dome
- Basketball court
- Bench
- Picnic table
Weller Elementary School
Features:
- Part padded part rocks
- Fenced in
- 4 tire swings
- 5 slides
- Tunnel
- Basketball court
- Soccer field
- 10 swings
- Monkey bars
- Bridge
- Hill
- No trees
- Benches
- Picnic tables
- Enter by the soccer field
- No bathroom
