Best Playgrounds For A Playdate In DFW

High dollar amusement parks may be all the rage, but what kids really need is a fun, safe place to run off steam and interact with others. Fortunately, there are plenty of playgrounds in the metroplex just for that purpose. These five parks rise above the rest by providing an endless stream of free recreation for the whole family. You can also check out these awesome indoor play areas listed here.

Klyde Warren Park
2012 Woodall Rodgers Freeway
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 716-4500
klydewarrenpark.org

There's nothing quite like playing on top of a sunken freeway. Particularly in this nationally acclaimed 5-acre urban oasis—replete with a dog park, a children's park, reading and games areas, a putting green, and walking trails. The brilliantly designed children's park features everything from a storytelling tree and a geo-dome climber to king-size building blocks, sand pits, and interactive water features. Nearby, you'll find an area equipped with foosball and ping pong tables, as well as a lawn set up for croquet, petanque and badminton. There are  restrooms in the children's area and food trucks stationed along the east side of the park. Metered street parking can be difficult to come by—a better option is to park for free in the West Village on McKinney and take a ride to the park on the free trolley.

Hope Park
8000 McKinney Road
Frisco, TX 75034
(972) 665-8729
hopeparkfrisco.org

No other park in the metroplex can compare with this all-inclusive whimsical wonderland, which opened in 2013. The idea for the park was conceptualized by a mother of a special needs child and brought together through a community-wide effort. The 15,000 square-foot park is laid out like a village, offering everything any child could dream of: forts, climbing walls, bridges, ramps, slides, swings, and even rides, like a spinning wheel that seats four kids at a time. There's also sensory equipment, musical instruments, and a large spray park to provide everyone relief from the heat during the summer.

Related: Best Playgrounds In DFW

River Legacy Park
701 N.W. Green Oaks Blvd.
Arlington, TX 76006
(817) 861-2576
riverlegacy.org

This park is a real hidden gem set in the forest behind the River Legacy Science Center. It has an awesome playground that looks like it came straight from the pages of the Swiss Family Robinson. The playscape structures, which complement the natural surroundings - include two treehouses, complete with slides, ladders and suspension bridges that wind a path through actual trees. The grounds include other interactive play elements ranging from mushrooms and bumble bees to a dinosaur skeleton and a spider's web. Along with a playground, this 1,300-acre sanctuary features hike and bike trails, picnic areas, restrooms, wildlife, and views of the Trinity River.

Parr Park
3010 Parr Lane
Grapevine, TX 76051
(817) 410-3000
grapevinetexas.gov

The huge playground at this 31-acre park offers two different play areas to accommodate both younger and older children. Both areas feature swings and a wide assortment of geometric structures, including a fire truck that's a real hit with younger kiddos.There's also a host of play structures that connect into an obstacle course for the older kids. In addition to the play area, the park boasts a large spray ground, as well as hiking and biking trails, athletic fields, sand volleyball courts, picnic areas, restrooms, and even a duck pond.

Trinity Park
2401 University Drive
Fort Worth, TX 76107
(817) 215-8500
fortworthtexas.gov

Nestled in the woods along the banks of the Trinity River, this Fort Worth mainstay sports 33-acres of lush landscape filled with hiking and biking trails, a fishing pier, a duck pond, and a miniature train that runs right through the center. Its massive-sized play area, which was renovated in 2011, features a merry-go-round, a climbing dune buggy, a climbing stegosaurus, swings, and three different fully loaded play structures. Visitors will also find picnic pavilions, restrooms and water fountains scattered throughout the park. The train is a huge draw here—it's not free, but it's good, cheap fun. Be sure to bring bread, the ducks have a hearty appetite.

Related: Best Parks To Walk Your Dog In DFW

Ilene Jacobs is a freelance writer living in Dallas, Texas. Ilene enjoys writing about a variety of topics, ranging from food, fitness and travel, to kids, pets and senior care. You can find some of her work at Examiner.com.