If you’re out in Clayton, definitely swing by the Archer Lodge Community Center Park! With a playground, picnic shelter, walking path, Little Library, and baseball fields, it’s sure to keep you and the kids entertained for hours!
Playground
My kids love playing on this playground! It’s not fully gated, but it’s tucked back in an alcove so you don’t have to worry about them running towards the parking lot. The surface is mulch and it gets partial shade.
The playground is the old metal style and the large dome climbing structure is a big hit with the kids. The slide structure is a lot taller than most playgrounds, similar to Green Hills County Park, so you might want to be careful with kids younger than 2. My 2.5 year old was able to traverse it easily, but my heart did skip a beat when I saw him up that high! There is a smaller slide for the younger kids if you can direct them towards that instead!
There are also a couple of bucket swings and a seesaw that can be pretty popular, but the hidden surprise is what all the kids gravitated to. The tree adjacent to the playground has a large ring of bushes encircling it. Find the hidden entrance and you can enter the tree “fort”! The kids spent a lot of time in there hiding and playing. It was a great, safe little spot to let them explore on their own!
Picnic Shelter
There’s a picnic shelter right next to the playground, which is perfect for hosting events. You can get more information about renting the shelter at the Archer Lodge Website.
Amphitheater
The amphitheater hosts lots of community events throughout the year. It’s a great stage for live bands or theatrical performances. My kids liked pretending they were putting on a play while mommy watched from the audience!
Little Free Library
We’ve raved about the Little Free Libraries before since the concept is genius! You’ll find these boxes placed throughout the city where you can donate old books or pickup some new ones for your family. My kids are always so excited when they see these boxes because they know they’ll get to read some new books! Take the books home or just enjoy them while at the park, your choice! But definitely return them at some point so others can enjoy them too. The best part – no late fees!
Baseball Field and Walking Path
Archer Lodge community center park has a lighted walking trail that encircles the entire park. The trail is approximately 1/3 of a mile long and you can see the playground from almost anywhere on the trail. It’s a quick loop that the kids can handle if you need a change of scenery or need to burn some excess energy!
The baseball fields are available for play unless there is a special event.
If you’re looking for more family fun in Clayton, try Bungalow Bounce indoor bounce house!