Vail Parks & Playgrounds

Whether you're here for a short visit or you live nearby, make plans to explore Vail's parks for an entertaining outing with the kids. Pack a lunch and bring the bikes as most of the parks can be found along the 12- mile Gore Valley Trail recreation path which extends from dowd Junction to the base of Vail Pass, or along the North Recreation Path which follows the North Frontage Road from west Vail to the Main Vail roundabout.

WHAT'S NEW

• Bighorn Park Playground in East Vail completed a facelift and reopened last fall with new play structures made of beetle-killed lodge pole pines. Designers were especially mindful of the natural beauty of the park and worked with an environmental artist to create the active play structures which mimic the park's native willow stands.

• A skatepark returned to the top deck of the Lionshead parking structure last summer and will be reconstructed for this summer with obstacles for every age. The park features modular structures including a half-pipe, multiple ramps, transitions, rails and banks, plus a street course and an area for younger or less experienced riders to hone their skills. Open early June through mid-October. Helmets required.

KID FAVORITES

• Ford Park playground features a large custom play area that includes a suspension bridge, climbing wall, multiple structures, climbers and slides that are meant to challenge kids of all ages.

• Pirateship Park best exemplifies the town's tradition of custom designed playgrounds. The newly rebuilt ship structure includes a crow's nest, three deck levels, multiple climbing nets and even a plank.

• Donovan Park playground includes structures constructed of peeled logs as well as whimsical art elements. Its visibility from I-70 attracts many traveling families during the summer months who marvel at its craftsmanship.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Of course, you don't have to be a kid to enjoy Vail's parks. There's ample space for picnics, people watching, games, and best of all, places where your best friends have their own space to play. Bighorn and Stephens Parks, located at the east and west ends of Vail's neighborhoods, are designated as off-leash dog parks. These areas have become extremely popular gathering places where users are asked to take responsibility for ensuring the park's cleanliness. Access to Vail's parks and playgrounds are on a first-come, firstserved basis, with the exception of the lower bench of Ford Park, which can be booked in advance by calling the Vail Town Clerk's Office at (970) 479-2136.

For additional information on Vail's parks, call the Town of Vail at (970) 479-2100.