47 of the Best Parks Will Make You Fall in Love with Lansing!
We’ve picked 47 must-visit epic parks in our area we know your family will love.
They’ve been tested and proved, then visited over and over again by popular demand. You know the type – where the minute your kids get in the car to leave they are knocked or worn out from all the playing.
These parks have met the standard of fun, not just for babies, not just for big kids or adults but parks the whole family will love!
Places like Frances Park, where a Rose Garden is tucked away in trails overlooking the Grand River; Or Burchfield park in the winter, where tubing not only gives us a workout climbing up the hill but has us all grinning ear to ear over hot cocoa at the end.
Best Parks in Greater Lansing by Location
Create a parks bucket-list or try something new with the LFF teams top pick list of 47 parks!
Location: City of Lansing Parks
| Frances Park 2600 Moores River Dr, Lansing, Michigan 48911 This park is both a favorite and a hidden gem – the best-kept secret of our city! It has a rose garden, lookout point onto the Grand River water, two playgrounds, and one mile paved walking trail around the perimeter. Bring some bread along to feed the ducks if you’ve got extra time. |
| Granger Meadows Park 1745 Granger Meadows Ln, Lansing, MI 48906 Do you remember the Granger Meadows area before it was a park? This is one of the coolest things a company could do with its available space. Its paved trails and huge hill to climb are great for all seasons – sledding in the winter and city gazing in the summer. If you time it right, you may see airplanes taking off or landing while on our cities mini “butte.” Disk golf with your older kiddos or play on their large and beautiful playground area and more. |
Valley Farms Park/Community Center
16199 Brook Rd, Lansing, MI 48906
Home to a newly renovated baseball diamond plus a great playground and climbing structure. Plus – it’s connected to the trail that leads to the Granger Meadows park and hill mentioned above. Year-round you’ll find a story walk in the trails of these two parks.
Grand Woods
4500 Willow Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917
A hop skip and a jump from the Lansing Mall nests this woodsy park along the Grand River. It is home to a disk golf course, rolling trails, RC Track, and multiple playgrounds.
Delta Mills
7001 Old River Trail, Lansing, MI 48917
This park is crazy – in a good way. The playground is massive and the kids literally jump for joy when they see us pulling up to this parking lot.
Pro Tip: You may want to go with a friend if you have a new baby in tow as this place is large and can be hard to hunker down in one spot. Kids love to go up and down the hills to the top of the play structure. This playground connects to two adjoining parks.
Hawk Island
1601 E. Cavanaugh Rd. Lansing MI, 48910
This amazing location is not just a playground. It is home of the Dragon Boat Races in the fall, one of the best places to cool off in the summer, and a hot spot for sledding/tubing in the winter. Their splash pad is fully fenced and the lake is a blast to play in the sand with lifeguards present. Also, the Lansing River Trail runs right through their grounds.
Potter Park Zoo
1301 S Pennsylvania Ave, Lansing, MI 48912
Just outside of the zoo entrance there’s a nice play structure. The Lansing River Trail runs through this area and makes a great pit stop on a bike ride. Play here before or after a zoo trip or just stop by for the playground.
Moores Park
400 Moores River Drive Lansing, MI 48910
You’ll LOVE this park! It has a huge round public swimming pool that is one of the last of its kind! I love this place equally as much as my kids. Run around, play on multiple playgrounds, hop on the Lansing Riverfront Trail, launch your kayak, or go fishing all in one place.
Sharp Park
1401 Elmwood Rd, Lansing, MI 48917
Sharp has two fun playgrounds with a maze and a gorgeous pond where you can feed fish and ducks. Paved trails start across the street at the Delta District Library, running through Sharp park and leading all the way to the Lansing Mall, on to Kroger, and Horrocks Farmers Market!
Crego Park
1600 Fidelity Road, Lansing, MI 48910
Crego is a relaxing and peaceful kayak and fishing pond/lake with beautiful paved trails feeding into the Lansing River Trail. The lake has a kayak launch and many sitting areas along with a large deck overlooking the water. FUN FACT: This area is a nesting site for Bald Eagles.
Rotary Park Downtown Lansing
305 City Market Dr, Lansing, MI 48912
Play in the sand in the middle of the city or just gaze on the beauty of downtown. This area is monitored by the Lansing Parks and Rec keeping it clean and safe for families.
Brenke Fish Ladder and Park
216 E Grand River Ave, Lansing, MI 48906
This downtown Lansing park shares a parking lot with Old Town and is a great place to start a nice walk or bike ride. Keep walking down the trail and you’ll run into a playground. Take a few more steps and grab a bite to eat at the Waterfront Bar and Grill or MP Social.
River Point Park
See the map below for the exact location.
This hidden gem is located on the Lansing River Trail between Downtown and Reo Town. The lookout point sets you where two streams collide and the little park is a fun pit stop on a walk or bike ride.
Westside/Dunnebacke Park
801 Stanley Street Lansing, MI 48915
Another hidden gem – the cutest little park with a sandpit and stationary digging tools. It is home to a lovely community garden and is located down the street from Biggby at the Point. We love to grab a quick coffee and head to this serene and quiet destination. There’s lots of space for kids to run around and a fun area where folks gather for horseshoe tournaments.
Woldumar Nature Center
5739 Old Lansing Rd, Lansing, MI 48917
Woldumar has a nature playground. You wouldn’t believe how much kids love this playground – almost more than most regular play structures. It’s so fun to play in the dirt and run around with logs and obstacle courses that it’s most times hard to pull them away. But don’t worry, it’s worth it! The welcome center has fun scientific information to study and learn about + storytimes.
Bonus: Woldumar has my favorite spot in the city located right in the middle of their trails. The large pines smell takes me to another world.
Hunter Park
1400 E Kalamazoo St, Lansing, MI 48912
This park’s pool and playground make the list for go-to places in the summer. The community garden and greenhouse project is amazing and the pool is a dream (sometimes cold but a great way to cool down on those hot summer days). There is a splash pad, a large wade-in pool with a climbing wall.
Beacon Field at Ferris Park
401-, 499 N Walnut St, Lansing, MI 4893
This park has a free to the public community enclosed outdoor soccer field. This large park area is right in the heart of downtown and a great place to run around with the kiddos as well as play on their playground and have a picnic.
BEST PARKS FAMILIES LOVE IN GREATER LANSING – EAST
Below is a list of parks kids to play at and parents enjoy in East Lansing, Haslett, Williamston, Howell, etc.
Patriarch Park
960 Alton Street, East Lansing, MI 4882
Patriarch has been a go-to spot for many years and their recent updated epic playground built by the community is so much fun. Kids of all ages love it here and it’s totally fenced.
Lake Lansing South Park
6260 East Lake Drive Haslett, MI 48840
If you’re looking for a place that has it all – this is it! Spend the day on the beach and in the lake swimming, boating, kayaking, paddle boating, and more! Among its many charms and amenities include two huge wood structure playgrounds and a FREE big wheel track (big wheels available).
McCormick Park
128 E Riverside St, Williamston, MI 48895
has a huge wooden play structure fun for all ages. Bring your bike or walking stick and take a little jaunt on their paved trail. Also, enjoy live performances in their amphitheater.
Kensington Metropark
4570 Huron River Parkway, Milford, MI 48380
This cool park has so much to offer you’ll want to plan a day of it. Some of the many amenities include a Water Park, Swimming, Playgrounds, Hayrides, Camping, and the list goes on!
BEST PARKS FAMILIES LOVE IN GREATER LANSING – WEST
Parks both kids and parents adore in Grand Ledge, Portland, Charlotte, etc.
Fitzgerald Park
100 Fitzgerald Park Dr, Grand Ledge, MI 48837
Home of the ledges! Can you believe we have this in our own backyard? Don’t forget to stop by the fish ladder as well. This place is beautiful in every season and a real adventure for the kids. Play on the playground or hike through the trails.
Wacousta Dream Depot 2.0
9135 Herbison Rd, Eagle, MI 48822
This park was recently rebuilt by the community and is now a destination spot again for all families. This outrageously cool 6000 sq feet park was dreamed up with kids in mind – a must-visit playground.
MOO-Ville Creamery
162 E. Tuttle Rd, Ionia, MI 48846
They have a FREE playground! Playing outside + Moo-Ville ice cream. Need I say more?
Island Park
206 W River St, Grand Ledge, MI 48837
You’ll love this unique park literally on an island right in the middle of downtown Grand Ledge. It’s a nice place to walk and rest.
Jaycee Park
525 E River St, Grand Ledge, MI 48837
Home to a new splash pad! Head over to cool off and play with other kids. This park and playground sits in downtown Grand Ledge and is walking distance to the library and Island Park.
Joe Tichvon Park
Carl St, Portland, MI 48875, see the map below for the exact location.
A small-town park set in a quiet neighborhood. Be sure to pack your basketball and bring a picnic.
Alton Park
See the map below for the exact location.
A nice sun-shade park and perfect for your little one that loves to swing!
BEST PARKS FAMILIES LOVE IN GREATER LANSING – NORTH
Fun parks families play at for hours in DeWitt, Bath, Laingsburg, St. Johns, Owosso, etc.
Riverside Park
405 S Bridge St, DeWitt, MI 48820
An “All Play” (handicap accessible) playground. Walking distance to downtown DeWitt makes Riverside’s three playgrounds a perfect stop on any given day. Don’t miss stopping into Sweetie-licious while you’re there.
Wiswasser Park
6499 Park Lake Rd, Bath, MI 48808-9718
is one of the BEST PARKS IN OUR AREA. It has a tall three-story playground and is right across the street from the swimming area on Park lake.
Sleepy Hollow
7835 E Price Rd, Laingsburg, MI 48848
The perfect place to get away for a day or overnight. Campgrounds, cabins, playgrounds, and all kinds of ways to explore await you and your family!
Uncle Johns Cider Mill
8614 North US 127, St. Johns, MI 48879
This is a family favorite loved by all. They are open as soon as May and shut down very late in the fall. Pumpkins and Cider are not even the main attraction for our kids. They LOVE the bounce houses, maze, games, huge bouncing pillow, hayrides, and snack shop.
St. Johns City Park/Spray Park
805 W Park St, St Johns, MI 48879
This park is a fantastic place to cool off in the summer and sledding in the winter!
West Park’s
11877 E Carson City Rd, Carson City, MI 48811 (M-57 at the Western Edge of Carson City, MI)
Their paved walking trails and sweet wooden play structure are a blast! After you play, jump in the water for a swim or play all the other fun games and activities that surround the park, like disc golf and more.
McClintock Park
See the map below for the exact location.
This park has one small play structure, one large play structure + a skate park. It has plenty of green space to run around and is located in downtown Laingsburg. You’ll love this park!
Bentley Park Playscape
See the map below for the exact location.
has something for everyone from the “train” play structure for your littlest engineers to the large play structure for your more adventurous kiddos + swings and more!
Motz Park’s
4630 N Dewitt Rd, St Johns, MI 48879
The sandy beach on a sun-shining day makes this FREE swimming spot a must-stop during the summer.
BEST PARKS FAMILIES LOVE IN GREAT LANSING – SOUTH
Go-to parks families frequent in Holt, Eaton Rapids, Mason, Leslie, Jackson, etc.
Burchfield
881 Grovenburg Road Holt, MI 48842
This park is an absolute blast any time you go, but tubing in the winter months is what sets it over the top. You can rent tubes for $2 and run up and down those hills as many times as your feet can carry you. There’s a warming fire pit at each hill and indoor concessions. Summer is epic here at the Beach as well.
Valhalla Park’s
2287 Pine Tree Rd, Holt, MI 48842
Their pond and beach are a great family spot. It has a playground and nature trails.
Island Park
See the map below for the exact location.
This park can be reached by a bridge in downtown Eaton Rapids. The old play structures and canon make this park a unique hidden gem. The oldness of the park is new fun to kiddos.
Russel Park
See the map below for the exact location.
This place is another throwback to the wooden play structure days set in downtown Leslie.
Rayner Park
738 E Ash St, Mason, MI 48854
There’s an extensive wooden play structure here plus, CADL does storytimes there occasionally and there is an old-school ice cream spot across the street.
Vevay Township Hall
780 Eden Rd, Mason, MI 48854
A nice play structure and swings are located across the street from Mason Jewitt Airfield. If you have an airplane lover in the family you can see tons of cool planes taking off and landing!
Hayes Park
See the map below for the exact location.
Hayes includes a huge play structure, lots of swings, tennis and basketball courts, and more.
Loomis Park
210 Gilbert Street, Jackson 49201 (Between Edgewood & Gilbert Sts) Charles A. Boos Recreation Center
Loomis park has a large community built wooden play structure/playground.
Ella W. Sharp Park
3225 Fourth Street, Jackson 49203
Home to Carter’s Corner Play Structure. Also, check out their Olympic size swimming pool, an eighteen-hole miniature golf course, and rose gardens.
Nixon Park
400 E North St, Jackson, MI 49202 (Corner of North & Cooper Streets)
This park is so cool! Their Water Park and Skate Park make it fun for both young and older kids with a swimming pool, skateboard, and rollerblade areas.
Cascades Falls and Splash Pad
1401 S Brown St, Jackson, MI 49203
This is such a beautiful spot to hang and watch the falls and play in the splash pad.
LANSING’S BEST PARKS MAP
Fun awaits at 47 fantastic parks, Lansing!
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If you know of an amazing park you’d like to share with the LFF community we’d love to hear about it! Comment below and help us add to the family fun experience in Lansing.