This is a pretty cute park for kids but the only thing is that there is a section. Your kids run around really quickly like mine. We can't see them through the wood slats so you spend a lot of time walking around through them. Always a muddy spot there no matter so beware. Also there is no restroom or water fountain. I believe they are trying to make changes to the park sometimes soon. read more

I took my 5 yr old and 1.5 yr old here with a friend and her kids for the first time on a Sunday morning around 10 am. There is street parking that was easily accessible to the front of the gated park entrance. The wooden playground was large and had 2 sections for bigger kids & smaller kids. The wooden train was unique and many kids enjoyed exploring it. There weren't as many picnic tables. I didn't see any bathrooms. Our kids had a lot of fun and I especially appreciated the fenced in park to keep the kids safe. It's close to many shops like Cloud 9 creamery and Common Bond. I definitely plan to come back again. read more

Donovan Park - Main Playground - Playgrounds Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I saw this park on a Instagram post and decided to try it out. I wasn't sure if the park was open to the public as I received conflicting information when I was reading reviews so I decided to email the association that created the park. They were very responsive and informed me that the park is open to the public. So I took my kids and we went on a Sunday afternoon. We parked along the street and went inside the park that is gated off from the Main Street. There were quite a few people and kids there but was big enough for everyone to enjoy. All of the kids got along and the parents seemed to stay to themselves. This park was nice and my kids enjoyed the train and the many different hidden obstacles in the park. Would definitely return when in the area. read more

I have always loved taking grandkids here but it was closed for a few months. Thought updating but no. Today went and there are missing boards and rotted boards which are a hazard. . I love how the community built it but there should be some boards across here and there for high areas for little kids. read more

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Great little park. I really love the wood. Had a park like this growing up and it's no longer around so this was very nostalgic for me and the kids had a blast. read more

The park is a cool idea but it must be kept up properly. I had to go into helicopter mom mode that my toddler wouldn't run into a broken board or a broken set. It's a giant splinter I know it's probably seen it's better days and I hope they can be seen again! read more

Way Cool park for kids. There was a decrepit park from the '50s that a new century of kids needed in working order. Train station, castle, bridges, jungle gyms and more. Designed by the elementary school kids around the corner with a national touring design team funded by the neighborhood sponsors, all organized by a Heights neighborhood group. Built by over two hundred neighborhood volunteers' donated labor, a free cafeteria, cash, materials and services over three days. I was a volunteer and my daughter's tile is in the front wall. The civil contractor I was inspecting in the neighborhood brought out the big guns for some demo and hauling. . It's all on the plaque. read more

Great park, although those managing it in the past were IMO out of touch with others in the community. A local resident built the spectacular and popular wood train himself, but the park overseers decided they didn't want it there. The community won and the train remains, but we dropped out of the Heights Assoc as a result / and we are still out! It was a big local social media issue. Those interested can Google the Houston Chronicle story from a few years ago. Nevertheless, there's a lot for kids to play on here. No dogs or pets allowed within the park, but we have seen some well-behaved dogs on leashes. Wink - wink! read more

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Great little park on Heights Blvd. for the kids! Lots of moms and kids there. I hadn't been here before but brought my niece and she really enjoyed it. There's a really cool fort, a train, and lots of swings! read more

BEST PARK EVER! This is a great spot for the family to play. Clean and very well maintained. All the kids are toddlers and not big kids running around knocking over the little ones. Great social area for adults as well. Totally gated. There are no bathrooms here and no water fountains. So bring your water bottles. I have been waiting for this park to open since the pandemic closed it. Lots of shaded areas to sit and relax. I promise if you bring the little ones, they will sleep good the same night! read more

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Beautiful little wooden park took my daughter and she loved it and in a great neighborhood

Beautiful park! We always bring the kids here after work. They have picnic tables, swings, castles, slides, and more! I also heard that they might be renovating! Can't wait to see what they build next! read more

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This is such a wonderful park! It is cosmetically appealing, and I love how the two play areas are separated too. It's small enough to relieve anxiety of losing your kid, but large enough for the kids to feel free and run around. There are benches and picnic tables too. No restrooms, so I changed a diaper on one of the far off benches. Parking was on the street, but I found a spot easily on a weekday afternoon. As far as the design of the playground goes, well, I do have one complaint from a 3-year-old who would like to know why the train doesn't have a steering wheel?! Good question. read more

So screw this place. Came here this morning with a toddler only to find out they have a cop blocking entry for a private event. They have chains around the gates. There is maybe 5 precious little kids on the playground, while there were at least is 3 small kids that I saw in 5 mins crying with disappointment on the other side of the fence. People circling the park with confusion because there wasn't even a sign. I know it is a private park. But it is Sunday morning and it is, after all, a park. Heights association maybe losing the plot a bit here. I hope they paid well. read more

This park is Adorable! It's actually a playground for kids and quite a playground it is. It is very well maintained and gated, so the children are safe. You can tell they took their time building this playground. It says on the outside that it was created by the Heights Association. So, it is not owned by the city. The slides, swings, small bouncy bridge etc look like so much fun, I wish I were smaller so I could play in them!! LOL, I kid! Anyways, Well done Heights Association you've created a little gem. read more

Hey, City of Houston you just got OWNED by a group of citizens. This park is the best damn playground in the entire city and it has a lot to do with the fact that it is NOT a city park. It is maintained by a group of members that keep it looking awesome! It was recently re-done to replace the old wood with new composite decking for years of future play. My daughter calls this the "castle park" because the play structures resemble castle tourets. It has slides, swings, a sandbox, places to climb up, hills to roll down, basically anything your child could want in a playground. It is also surrounded by a very tall fence which adds to the freedom kids can have at this park. I felt good about my 15 month old roaming about without me having to be his shadow. Overall this is an amazing gem that you would be silly to miss out on if you have kids in the Heights. Enjoy and become a member to keep it looking great. read more

Donovan Park - Playgrounds Near Me - Houston, Texas

My kids love this park. Great for getting some energy out. Shaded, gated, and a great area of town to enjoy a nice park and picnic day!

Fenced in park with great scenery and it is always busy so your kiddos will always have a friend to play with. Relaxing with large trees in the heart of the city. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy the heart of the heights and relax your worriescaway! read more

4 stars only because although my 2 yr old granddaughter loved it I saw a 6-7 yr old girl fly face down on the mulch after tripping on the train rubber enclosure. I tripped also so if they could make the mulch even with the rail that would be perfect. Very friendly kids there also. read more

Great local park in the Heights, with ample street parking and located right on the Heights hike and bike trail for easy access. The park is well maintained and cared for, and is very popular on the weekends with the local community! While they have a 'younger kids' area, it was a bit too advanced for my 15 month old. I'd say it's better suited for ages 2+. Really cute train for kids to climb on, seemed to be a hit with the kids at the park. Lots of standard park activities- swings, slides, monkey bars, and stair, and even some less common activities like a rubber bouncy bridge and a wavy wooden bridge to climb/run on. Being located right off the bike path there were lots of local families there that walked, but there's also a decent amount of street parking if you aren't in the neighborhood. We came later on a Saturday evening, and there were a lot of people still here- about 1 hour before sunset. It's less busy during the day, obviously, when you are probably at work and the kids are at school. Even with it being a bit advanced for her age, and there being a lot of people running around, my daughter had a fantastic time and we'll be back again soon. read more

Perfect playground to burn your toddler's energy. Nothing is too high or dangerous for my two year old. Big place, all wood. Busy during peak times but not too busy. read more

An AWESOME park for kids ! There is a train to climb through, lots of space to run, swings, and plenty of shade. There was quite a bit of standing water but houston had a "tropical storm" just 2 days ago. Plenty of room to walk around the water. Beautiful old trees read more

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Neat park for the kiddos. It's mostly wood and has charming train-themed structures. Kids of all ages really seem to love this place. It's nice that it's completely gated and offers a few grassy areas for picnics to hang out. Offers different style slides, swings, and some fun obstacles to go on. Can get a little muddy when it rains and bring bug spray if you're there during the warm months. Park right in front off of Heights or into the neighborhood. read more

Moms with young children speak of this park like it's phenomenal so I've been eager to bring my son here. We stopped by on a late Sunday afternoon and there was a good crowd inside. It's a gated park which is always a plus in my book. Parking is on the street, wherever you can find a spot. This park is right next to someone's home! That seems a bit odd to me but then again, this is the Heights, so anything goes. Outside the gates, there are hand-painted tiles bordering it. Once inside, you see the trains set up near the entrance. It doesn't move but kids enjoy running in and out of the train compartments. There are two play areas separated by a walking path and also by their own plastic borders. Within these areas are wood chips on the ground. Outside of the borders, you have grass and dirt (which gets muddy after rains). All the equipment here is made of wood. It's hard to see your children through the equipment when they're in it. That aspect of this park I'm not much of a fan of. The smaller kids area had just the wooden structure to run around in. The larger kids area is where you have a wooden balance beam, a "bridge" made out of material that looks similar to the belt swings and two short rock wall type structures to lead the children up onto the play structures. There are two slides attached to the older children's structure; an enclosed parking tube slide and an open spiral slide. Two swing sets also reside here; one longer than the other. The smaller swing set holds two bucket seats. The larger swing set holds two belt swings, two bucket seats and one high-backed full support swing. On the grassy areas, there are benches for parents to sit on while their children run around getting all their energy out. There are no bathrooms here which is another strike from me. I'm not impressed. This park does not make any "top parks" list of mine. As an adult, I saw this park as boring. My son, on the other hand, said he had lots of fun here. I was surprised. Children just love to run around and explore. If you have some time to spare and are in the area, it's not a bad idea to stop in here so your kid(s) can let off some steam. It's definitely not a park I would make a far trip for but it's convenient if you're already nearby. read more

Loved this place! I have a 2 year old and a 1 year old, they both found so many things friendly for their age. The park is gated, well kept, and so many friendly faces. We took the boys for a afternoon stroll admiring the charm of the neighborhood behind the park, looking at homes. read more

Donovan Park is, by far, the best playground in Houston, and one of the best I've ever taken my kids to. Located at Heights Boulevard and 7th street, it's hard to miss Donovan Park, with the huge wooden castle, the kid-size wooden train, and the tons of families on the weekends. The park is privately maintained by the Houston Heights Association, but open to the public. As you walk to the main entrance, you're greeted by hundreds of hand-painted mosaic tiles that were installed around 1995. I'm not sure of the history, but my guess is that the park had a refresh around then. Walk through the wrought iron gate, and you're transported into another world. There are four main areas within the park: the big castle, the little castle, swings, and (newly added in 2014) the train. The big castle is just that, a huge wooden castle complete with slides, stairs, sliding poles, role climbs, etc. This is definitely geared toward the bigger kids. The little castle is basically a scaled-down version of the big castle, but for the 1-3 year old range (there are also lots of cool hiding spots here). The swings are in great shape and include multiple toddler and big kid options. Finally, the train is a great new edition. It's about a 1/4 scale model of an actual train that the kids climb all over; great for imaginary play. There are two picnic areas and a lot of seating for adults watching the little ones. I believe that the pinic areas are first-come, first-serve, but you may be able to contact HHA to reserve one. The only drawback of this park is that it's crowded on the weekend, but, that's what happens with good things. Enjoy! read more

This humongous Heights playground is one of the very best things about Houston. There are two separate areas of wooden playspace - one on the right for smaller fries, and one on the left that can easily accommodate those of us who should have long since outgrown playgrounds. Zipwire (well, zip-metal-handle-thing). Huge slides. Swings. Several challenging balance beams/thingies. A big bouncy bridge. All sorts of climbing things. There are a lot of well-placed benches, too, and parents seem to feel comfortable letting their (well-behaved) children loose, especially since the park is enclosed in a tall fence. read more

So I love parks, but what makes this park more special than others in the city is that it is actually not a city park. But instead it is managed and made possible by the Houston Heights Association. By no means is it a GIANT park, but it is a great small park that is kept very clean. The playground equipment is in excellent shape and it's nice to have a play area for the kids in the area. read more

What a gem! My 4 year old yelled out "this is amazing" as we entered the park. Enough said-

This is one of my son's favorite park. It's a small park, but there is something very unique about it. Some people call it "castle park" because there are two structure that resemble a castle. They have huge towers, decks, bridges, castle turrets, etc.. they also have the typical swings, slides, hills, etc. The park seems to be very safe and well designed. Probably because it is not a Houston city park. It is managed by the Heights Association. I hope this park is kept the way it is now... because it is simply awesome.. read more

This park is awesome! Unlike a great many parks, the kids here seem to be pretty well-behaved, and it's nicely kept. It's a pretty little neighborhood park that (years ago) was once slated to become a yard for a trucking company. The neighborhood came together, bought the place and fixed it up. It's very kid-friendly and safe... (By the way, I can personally vouch for the zipline and swings: figured I'd do a little on-site testing with my nephews :-) ) read more

Awesome park. Gates on both sides and they can only be opened by tall people. Huge play area. I wish we had a park like this where i live. Very clean park and lots of shade read more

Donovan Park - In front of park - Playgrounds Near Me - Houston, Texas

I'd give it 5 stars but as far as parks go this one doesn't have public restrooms so you'll have to take your little ones somewhere else If they need to go and I love the "wood" theme but that leaves lots of areas for kids or people to hide. ..which can be a bad thing all in all this is my childhood park mostly before it's renovations though. Love the area and it's keeping up nicely! Swings, slides, climbing areas, awesome wooden train for kids to explore and play..it's the newest addition to the park. Fenced so kids can't easily escape without your knowledge. Highly recommended read more

Donovan Park - Playgrounds Near Me - Houston, Texas

I LOVE taking my son here; very charming and non-plastic . . . but fix some of the graffiti, please, Some of it is really inappropriate.

We had an amazing time at this park. The build in gyms where great and different. Park location is great and safe.

This is the best park I've been to in Houston, we stopped at Yeti Sunshine for some snowcones and then came to Donovan park! The swings vary in size so they are perfect for different ages. The park is in perfect condition. My favorite go to with the kids for some fun. read more

Donovan Park - Playgrounds Near Me - Houston, Texas

Great park for toddlers! May need to bring mosquito repellent since it's surrounded by trees and grass. My kids love the train and all the obstacle courses it has to offer. read more

Kids had an awesome time! Great people there, diverse crowd. The kids especially loved climbing around on the train. Parking was easy even on this crowded day. We went across Heights for ice cream afterwards. Perfect location. read more

You have to love castle park it's a fantastic place to take the kids at the weekend of when they are off school. It's good for toddlers and older kids as there is something there for both age groups, it's a good place for adults to meet other mums and dads I have arranged a lot of play dates at this park. read more

The park of the heights! Love it! It's huge and its gated to protect the kids! Very pet friendly, and people all get along here. Took my niece here and she had a blast! Love the trains they have, and the types of amusement they have here. It's well recommended! read more