The best outdoor playgrounds in Singapore

The iconic former Big Splash water theme park reopens as Coastal PlayGrove, a 4.5-hectare outdoor play area featuring Singapore's tallest outdoor play tower, a classroom by the sea, a nature play garden and water play area. The centrepiece of Coastal PlayGrove is the reconstructed Big Splash Tower, which now houses the Vertical Challenge. Kids can take a scramble up its colourful rope-based obstacles, including stepping pods, hammocks, grip wall and disc swings. Be treated to expansive views of East Coast Park at the top of the tower, then take a thrilling ride down the 7.3-metre and 11.9-metre slides from the third and fourth levels. 

Let the kids run riot at this outdoor wonderland. Also dubbed the "Adventure Playground", Tampines Green Forest Park is split into three sections – a high-element obstacle course, a fitness corner, and a playground for the tiny tots. Kids and kidults can burn some energy and challenge themselves at the cargo net structure. Scale up to the first tower before crossing the net bridge to get to the next tower and finishing it down the tall slide.

Burn some energy at this long, narrow recreational area sandwiched between houses in Joo Chiat. Here, kids (and kidults) are welcome to take on one of the city's 15 vertical playgrounds: the Wallholla Playground. It's equipped with rope bridges, a rock climbing wall, and a fireman's pole to boot. However, note that the playground can only hold up to 30 kids.

Take a wild ride down any one of the 26 unique slides at three main play areas: Junior Play, Adventure Play, and Family Terracing Play. The young and the young-at-heart can slide down The Curved Roller Slide, a 34-metre-long outdoor slide lined with black tubes similar to that of a conveyor belt for easy sliding. Besides the slides, there’s an inclusive playground fitted with a wheelchair swing and merry-go-round to support play between children with and without needs.

The Seletar Aerospace Park is truly a space for the family. When everyone is done with brunch at The Wheeler's Estate, let the kids run around the aviation-themed playground that is equipped with various swings, slides, a plane and even a 'control tower'.

With kid-friendly restaurants and a beachfront setting, Marina Cove Playground makes a great spot for a family day out. This 3,500-square-foot playground is home to all manners of swings and slides. Older kids can scale up the wobbly net climbing courses at a three-storey play structure aptly modelled after a lighthouse. For those with toddlers in tow, steer them over to the merry-go-round and grass maze. The super-inclusive playground also has wheelchair-friendly play areas.

Singapore is home to the first garden in Asia dedicated to children. With the aim of promoting awareness and education, the Jacob Ballas Childen's garden is divided into several spaces for play and exploration – there's a farm, orchard, and forest with stream and ponds. The active tykes can burn some energy at the trampolines, treehouses, and flying fox zipline. For a cool down, head to the sheltered outdoor café nearby with all-day brunch items for the whole family.

One of the largest outdoor playgrounds in Singapore, this family-friendly park sits on 50-hectares of land that includes a camping site, barbecue pits, a dog run, and a huge playground with eight sets of play areas. Take on the large zipline play zone, pyramid-shaped rope course with a slide, Viking ship playground, toddler play corner, unique swingsets, and more. In case you need to refuel, the McDonald's is right next to the play areas.

Deemed as the largest nature wonderland in the heartlands, Jurong Lake Gardens is Singapore's latest national garden, spanning a whopping 90-hectares. Beyond the flora and fauna, the grounds are specially landscaped and designed for families and the community to come together to play, learn and bond. Children can burn their energies by taking on the various obstacle courses, hopping about at the sunken trampolines, flying across a zip line, and scrambling up a tower to go down a tube-like slide.

A hop and a skip from Fort Canning MRT Station, Jubilee Park has multiple swing sets of various sizes and styles, a log scramble, hydraulic see-saws, a 'treehouse' with large climbing nets, and two slides – one for the tiny tots and the other for the big kids.

After its major facelift, Bishan-Ang Mo Kio re-opened in 2019 with a spacious playground nestled between the Kallang River and a little pond. Let the kids have their fun in the sand, as well as play on the massive swings, the climbing frame, and the tunnel slides. There's also a pirate-ship structure for the little ones to roleplay as Captain Hook and say "arrr".

The tilted train playground at Tiong Bahru has been the subject of many photographs on Instagram, and for good reason – its quirky design is visually arresting. And they're not just for show, either. Kids can have fun navigating their way through the train as its walls, set at unnatural angles, make it difficult to keep upright. Slides and ramps are present at various entryways around the train, while nearby, there are ziplines, swings, and a padded play area for toddlers.

Sembawang Park's beachside locale is perfect for a lazy weekend picnic or evening barbecue. While the adults are busy setting up, children can have fun at the park's famous battleship playground. The maritime theme is a homage to the park's links to Singapore's naval history (it used to be part of a naval base built by the British). The battleship is made of uneven, slanted wooden decks, with nets and escape hatches that are actually concealed slides. There's also a climbing net and pendulum swing, nearby.

Go for a jaunt through Pasir Ris Park with the kids in tow. While the coastline view is a plus, explore the mangrove swamp using the boardwalks and bird-watch at the three-story viewing tower. Playgrounds and pony rides keep the kids entertained, while nearby barbecue pits and nature trails ensure parents can keep an eye out for their little ones.