Maryland State Parks have thirty-three accessible playgrounds across the state. All have been designed for children between the ages of 5 to 12 years of age. The ADA Access Specialist within MDNR Engineering/Construction, who also serves on MDNR Disabilities Advisory Council, indicated that the following playgrounds meet the Let Kids Play criteria for inclusion in this directory. You can find a map of each park by clicking on the park name.
For more information about additional accessibility amenities such as cabins, camp sites, hunting areas, fishing piers, boat ramps, trails, picnic areas, and other adaptive recreation equipment, visit their Marylands’ Accessibility for All website.
Playgrounds
Central Area of the State
Elk Lake–The playground is located next to the accessible camp store and the accessible Putt-Putt Golf. Elk Neck has several new campsites with full hook-ups that are fully A.D.A. accessible including a sidewalk to an accessible bathhouse. Several sites are available for hunters with disabilities during shotgun and muzzleloader deer seasons. The park is in Cecil County, 10 miles south of the town of North East on MD 272.
Gunpowder Falls–There are four accessible playgrounds at Gunpowder Falls State Park. In addition the park offers other accessible amenities including an accessible floating boat dock, picnic areas, NCR/Torrey C. Brown Trail, visitors’ center, path to swimming beach, beach bathhouse and day use pavilions. The playgrounds are located: 1) next to accessible Comfort Station #1 and accessible Shelter #1; 2) next to the accessible River Bath House; 3) next to accessible Comfort State #2 and accessible Shelter #2; and 4) next to accessible Comfort Station #3 and accessible Shelter #3. The park is in Harford and Baltimore Counties, Park headquarters is at 2813 Jerusalem Road in Kingsville, Harford County.
Patapsco Valley State Park–There are three accessible playgrounds at this park. They are located in: 1) the Hilton Area near the accessible Camp Shower Building; 2) the Avalon Area next to accessible Shelter #104 near the accessible Comfort Station; and 3) the McKeldin Area between accessible Group Shelters #508 and 512 and near the accessible Comfort Station. After playing on the playground in the Avalon Area you can take a walk on the scenic Grist Mill Trail, a 1.5 mile paved multi-purpose trail along the Patapsco River. The park is located in Ellicott City.
Rocks State Park–The playground is located in Hills Grove Area near the accessible Comfort Station and Shelter. The park in Harford County is about 30 miles north of Baltimore and 8 miles northwest of Bel Air on MD RT. 24.
Seneca Creek State Park–There are four accessible playgrounds located throughout the park. 1) Bob White Area near the accessible Comfort Station and Shelter; 2) Buck Area near the accessible Comfort Station and Shelter; 3) Doe Area near the accessible Comfort Station and Shelter and 4) Fawn Area near the accessible Comfort Station and Shelter. The park is located in Montgomery County.
Susquehanna State Park--There are two accessible playgrounds in this park. One located near the accessible Camp Shower Building and the other located in the Deer Creek Picnic Area near the accessible Comfort Station and accessible Shelter. There is also an accessible trail (The Greenways Trail) from Conowingo to Stafford Road. The park is in Harford County, three miles northwest of Havre de Grace, off RT. 155, 35 miles from Baltimore.
Eastern Part of the State
Assateague State Park–The playground is located between the accessible Atlantic Ocean Bath House and the accessible Camp Shower Building. The park is in the eastern portion of the state in Worcester County, 8 miles south of Ocean City, and may be reached via MD RT 50 to MD RT 611.
Pocomoke River State Park–The playground is located near the accessible Comfort Station. The park is located along the banks of the Pocomoke River and is divided into two sections. The Shad Landing area is 3.5 miles south of Snow Hill near RT. 113. The Milburn Landing area is 7 miles northeast of Pocomoke City via RT. 364 or RT. 12.
The playground at Tuckahoe State Park
Tuckahoe State Park--The playground is located at Cherry Lane Picnic Area next to the accessible Comfort Station and accessible Picnic Shelter. Tuckahoe State Park is located approximately 35 miles east of the Bay Bridge, just off MD Rt. 404, on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.
Martinak State Park–There are two accessible playgrounds within this park. One is located in the Picnic Area near the accessible Comfort Station. The second is located near the accessible Camp Shower Building. The park is located on the Eastern Shore, two miles east of Denton, off RT. 404, on Deep Shore Road in Caroline County.
Somers Cove Marina–The playground is located near the accessible Comfort Station in the Marina Area. The marina is located on the Eastern Shore in the town of Crisfield.
Southern Area of the State
Sandy Point State Park–This park has 7 accessible playgrounds. Five are located at the East Beach area, while the other two are located at the South Beach Area near the accessible Beach Bath Houses. Sandy Point State Park also offers accessible amenities, including: food and beverage concession, fishing, picnic areas, shelters, bathhouses, and sailing concessionaire. The park is in Anne Arundel County, at the western terminus of the Bay Bridge, off U.S. Routes 50/301 at exit 32.
Cedarville State Forest–The playground is located near the accessible Group Shelter and the accessible Comfort Station. The park is located in Brandywine.
Point Lookout State Park–There are two accessible playgrounds in this park. The first is near the Beach Bath House and near the accessible Comfort Station; while the other is in Green’s Point Campground near the accessible Camp Shower Building.
Recycled Tire Playground located at Smallwood State Park
St. Mary’s River State Park–The playground is located near the accessible Comfort Station at Fishing Lake. The park is located three miles north of Great Mills, 24 miles north of Point Lookout State Park, off MD Route 5 on Camp Cosoma Road.
Smallwood State Park– Note the entire playground does not meet the criteria. In a collaborative effort the community built the Recycled Tire Playground where children ages 5-12 can enjoy climbing walls, zip lines, a ten-tire bouncer, tire swings, a fish music wall and much more. The playground has a theme of fish and history. The playground entrance features art murals by Mattawoman Creek Art Center artists Bob Kenyon and Gene McCandless, and the fishing theme can be seen throughout the playground as over 65 hand-painted fish dot every piece of equipment. More than half of the structures are accessible to children with disabilities. Smallwood is within 40 minutes of Washington, D.C. via the Route 210 corridor.
Western Part of the State
Herrington Manor State Park–The playground is located across Park Drive from accessible Office and accessible Cabin #17 and #20.
Accessible Playground at Deep Creek State Park
Deep Creek Lake State Park–The playground is located above Lake across from accessible Comfort Station #2. The park is located in Swanton.
New Germany State Park–The playground is located above parking for the accessible Lake Warming Hut/Bath House; next to CCC – built Shelter and Comfort Station. NGSP offers access to the 13 acre lake, along with some picnic areas, camping, restroom facilities and pavillions. The park is five miles southeast of Grantsville, in the heart of the Savage River State Forest.
Accessible Playground in Rocky Gap State Park
Rocky Gap State Park– The playground is located between Lake Habeeb Loop Trail and the the accessible Comfort Station and Clover Hill Shelter, across from the Golf Course. In terms of other accessibility amenities, Rocky Gap offers an accessible fishing dock, amphitheater, picnic tables and camping. Trail and hunting programs along with interpretive pontoon boat rides are also available. The park is in Flintstone.
Cunningham Falls State Park–The Playground is located between the Houck Area accessible Bath House and Lake Picnic Area near the accessible Food Concession. Cunningham Falls State Park, located in the Catoctin Mountains, is known for its history and scenic beauty, as well as its 78-foot cascading waterfall. There is accessible access to the falls via a 300 yard long trail from Maryland Route 77. Cunningham Falls is located west of Thurmont MD, 18 miles north of Frederick MD.
Fort Frederick State Park–The playground is located past the accessible Fort Buildings. Located just one-half mile west of Fort Frederick is the Western Maryland Rail Trail, a 23-mile long paved path that follows the former Western Maryland Railway line. The Rails to Trails Conservancy recently chose the Western Maryland Rail Trail as one of the top 12 trails in the United States for viewing fall foliage. Fort Frederick State Park is located in the Cumberland Valley, 18 miles west of Hagerstown and one mile south of I-70 near Big Pool (Rt. 56, Exit 12). The park is 88 miles from Baltimore and 81 miles from Washington, D.C.
Greenbrier State Park–The playground is located across from the accessible North Comfort Station and near the accessible Lake Bath House with numerous accessible Picnic Pads with accessible Tables. Greenbrier State Park offers an accessible visitors’ center and campsites as well as the availability of a beach wheelchair. The park is located in Boonsboro.
