NOTES:Known to most as the Devotion School playground, my daughter calls this the bubbellah playground because it's where she first heard the word. After our initial visit, she kept saying "Mama please: ub-lah" It took me a while to realize that she wanted me to call her bubbellah, like the mothers at the park had been calling their kids. Note the park's location: abutting Zaftig's and mere blocks from Brookline's kosher shopping district. It was her first Yiddish word. Since then, she has also learned "schmootz," since she finds it on herself so often.
The park has three levels of playground, which keeps her well occupied. The level closest to the street has some nice benches, a tall metal slide that makes cool thunder noises when you sit on top and kick it with your heels, and a fire truck climbing thing. Also, a sandbox, swings, and an un-themed climbing structure. The other two levels each have entwined climbing, bridge, slide stuff.
WARNINGS: At the bottom of the hill, at the edge of the basketball court, there is usually a giant puddle. All toddlers seem to notice this at some point, all of a sudden, and they will run toward it at great speed. Be prepared. However, it is a really good stomping puddle, if they are wearing boots.
Also, like at any school playground there are often a lot of Big Kids, especially around lunch time. Things can get pretty Darwinian.
COFFEE OPPORTUNITIES: So many! There's a Starbucks and a Dunkin Donuts on your way whether you're coming from Beacon or Comm Ave. In addition, there's Pete's, Finagle a Bagel, the crepe place, JP Licks and Zaftig's on the way from Beacon, among others. Coming from Comm Ave you'll hit Kupel's, Anna's Taqueria (cheap and good) and others, I'm sure.
