We decided to revisit some of our favorite playgrounds to see how they were the second time around. General response: a huge thumbs-up. Arlington Reservoir Beach: Last time we went, we tried to focus on Mt. Gilboa Playground, the playground at the reservoir. But the tots were magnetically drawn to the mucky, ankle-deep water. The entire park had a seedy, unkempt, off-season feel (not surprisingly; it was still only May). A recent visit on a blazing July weekend gave us a beach crowded with families and a lovely expanse of clean, cool water. The park wasn't overly crowded, and we found a great…

The former Cutter School may have been turned into condos, but the playground remains, and in good shape, I might add. This little hideaway on School Street has a good-sized play structure, swings, and a very interesting contraption comprised of large tires planted sideways in the ground and a curved, seesawing lever, reminiscent of a railroad hand car or pump trolley. Max and one of his friends found it both intriguing and confusing. Unable to climb up by themselves, holding the bar, they asked for help and ended up standing on the bar. As the actual use of this device was unclear, perhaps …

It's not that Buzzell Field is boring, exactly. The park has two baseball diamonds, a basketball court, a large grassy field, and a playground. Several small paths lead to it: from Water Street, from the Minuteman Bikeway, and from a nearby housing complex. Parking on Summer Street isn't too hard to find, and the park is fenced to prevent fast-moving toddlers from dashing into the busy street. But yet. The playground has some shade, but otherwise the place was very sunny. We were the only people there on this beautiful morning. Overall, the place had that hot, quiet, sunny, terribly still …

The Hardy School Playground is tucked away behind the Hardy Elementary School on Lake Street. The playground has a large excellent climbing structure, swings, a second, smaller-but-no-less-excellent climbing structure, a climbing wall, a make-believe car, an almost-clear tunnel, and a basketball court. Did I leave anything out? Benches. Some shade. A neat little area to run between parallel fences, just off the basketball court. Plus, on the lucky day we visited, a basketball and Razor scooter that someone, or someones, had left behind. Max's friend Sienna started off on the swings. She loves…

They approached from the playground side, on North Union Street. We approached from our shady parking spot on Everett Street.  They got as far as the sand pit and stopped. We got as far as the water. Eventually, both toddlers met up, Sand-Toddler joining Water-Toddler in the fabulously high spray jets of Lussiano Park. What a marvelous place on a hot summer's day! The water feature of Lussiano is bigger and better than any other spray park we've found. Those other parks? Mere foot-sprays, really, compared to Lussiano and its high peaks of water, huge fountains of spray, and puddles to run …

This week found us venturing to Parmenter Park, on the grounds of the International School of Boston (Arlington Campus). The place was overrun with laughing, busy, French-speaking four-year olds…so much so that Max and his intrepid companion, Sienna, needed a few minutes to adjust. We decided to start on the quiet basketball court, which is full-sized and a few steps down from the playground. After some warm-up hoops (or, Max kicking the ball around, my husband holding Max up in an attempt to help Max shoot a basket, and Sienna watching the scene, cheddar bunnies in hand), we made our way …

Today's lucky find was the Peirce School Playground. The playground is actually divided in two; the upper part has a climbing structure designed for smaller kids.  The lower part has a big climbing structure with no less than three (three!) slides, two climbing wall-type structures, and various platforms, bridges, ladders, and bars. We had the place to ourselves at first. Max tried one of the climbing walls. These aren't your typical climbing walls such as you'd find at the rock gym or on many home playground structures these days, with a vertical wall to which is attached small footholds and…

This week found us at Bishop Field, the playground and park behind the Bishop Elementary School. The park has a large playing field, a baseball diamond, a basketball court, and a playground. It also has a climbing structure—great for bigger kids than Max—that looks like a love child between Buckminster Fuller and a spider: a webbed climbing dome, with another webby structure off to the side. There are swings for big kids, and tires to climb on, and lots of space to run around. In the playground proper, there's a nice climbing structure with a few slides—straight and winding—some baby swings, …

This week's playground adventure led us to Mt. Gilboa Playground, at the Arlington Reservoir Beach. Though the place currently has the seedy, off-season feel of an abandoned amusement park or a seaside town that's no longer in vogue, it's still charming.  Right now, the grass is high, the concession stand and restrooms are closed, and the parking is free, but that will soon change. Once the park officially opens for the summer, all visitors must display tags that are purchased in advance at the Arlington Recreation Office or else at the beach, once it opens for the season. Right now; however…