Christine’s Playground
99 Main St
Groton MA (behind Groton Public Library)
Date/Time Visited: Friday, July 20, 2018 @ 1 PM
Bathrooms: 2 Porta-potties in the adjacent parking lot
Parking: About 10 cars plus ample parking at Groton Public Library
Shade: Several benches surrounding the playground are in the shade. The playground itself does not get much shade during the day.
Benches/Tables: Not at the playground. There are a couple of picnic tables at the Groton Public Library, a short walk from the playground, and a gazebo in the adjacent field.
Additional Features: Baseball field
Christine’s Playground was erected in memory of Christine Lee Hanson, a Groton resident, who was 2 years old when she perished with her parents during the attack on September 11, 2001. A memorial plaque with her story is located at the entrance to the playground.
The playground is hidden away behind the Groton Public Library and the Groton Center for the Arts. To get to the playground from Main St./Rt 119/Rt 225, turn onto Broad Meadow Rd, located between the Library and Dunkin Donuts, then take your first left onto Playground Rd. You will pass by the Library parking lot and proceed to the playground parking lot behind the Center for the Arts. To exit, follow Playground Road in the same direction to Main St.
The playground is not fenced in, instead it is surrounded by hedge on one side and an open field with a gazebo on the other side. The hill leading down to the field is not too steep, although it might present an attractive escape route for younger kids. We could not find any trash cans on the playground or the parking lot, or a Carry In/Carry Out sign.
There are two separate structures for younger (2-5 years old) and older kids (5+). The younger kids structure is pretty standard with a climbing wall, a rope ladder and a spiral slide.
 |  |
My sons’ favorite parts of the playground were the Roller Slide and the Log Roll - they are a rare playground treat and caused much joy and excitement. Other great features include a zipline, a couple of climbing nets and a suspension bridge.
 |  |
There are several benches in the shade along the playground perimeter, one of which is a Buddy Bench.. The idea of a Buddy Bench is that if a child feels lonely but too shy to seek out friends, they can sit down on the Buddy Bench, letting the other kids know that they are looking for playmates. Such a thoughtful addition to the playground!
We came to the playground around lunch time on a sunny day, and it was empty. Not surprising, as there is basically no shade on the structures, except along the tree line. The ground cover is wood chips and mulch, and the slides are plastic, so the surfaces were not too hot to the touch, but my kids did not last very long in the open sun. Word of advice - do not visit in the middle of a hot summer day with not a cloud in the sky.
The sandbox gets some shade thanks to the gazebo-like structure. It really is a wonderful sandbox for smaller kids, filled with trucks, sand shovels and molds of all shapes and sizes.
There are plenty of swings on the side facing the field: 3 traditional belt swings, 2 bucket seats for toddlers, one adaptive seat (although it appears to be missing any harnesses) and 1 plastic tire swing.
 |  |
Overall, this is a terrific playground to visit, with access to a large field for restless kids who need lots of space. I would recommend visiting in the morning or late afternoon on a cloudy day to avoid the heat.
Don’t Miss: There are a couple of picnic tables and a bench located in a shaded area by the library - a beautiful peaceful spot to take a lunch break and read some library books!
Natallia Lyman lives in Westford with her husband and three children. She is an Independent Consultant with Usborne Books & More (http://spacehedgehog.com/), a traveler and a daydreamer. She loves to explore new places, meet new people and hear their stories.
