(Suck it, Whitman!)
Pros: The last time I was at Longfellow Elementary I was extremely drunk. (The kind of drunk where you end up singing 'Midnight Train To Georgia' in somebody's house at about 1 in the morning, end up in a weird situation with her and her ex-boyfriend (I think her ex wanted to get some, she wasn't interested and I was just the random happy drunk dude in the corner) in a hot tub and wake up the next morning on a couch without pants but thankfully with a towel. Good times, good times.) That alone endears this playground to me somewhat. As an added bonus, they have a nice, extensive little kid set of playground equipment and a slide and a soccer field that the Little Man seemed to like pointing at a lot.
Cons: There weren't many steep drops but the Cigarillo hasn't really gotten the hang of going down ladders yet. He can heave himself up them just fine but his idea of getting down usually involves a stepping into the air and hoping that it'll all work out for the best. (Which means, I have to catch him- again, he hasn't quite caught on to the ins and outs of gravity yet.)
Verdict: Close by, beautiful neighborhood with a wonderful playground. Plus, the building itself has a great 'old school' feel to it. Worth a visit!
Wickham Elementary
(The Hogwarts of Coralville)
Pros: This was a truly pleasant surprise. I hadn't planned on actually going to Wickham that day- the Cigarillo likes a decent car ride so I was going to go and check it out and then maybe head over to Shimek or Lemme so he could play on those playgrounds but we ended up staying at Wickham. Tucked away in the corner of the Muddy Creek Valley, the parking lot at the front of the school is well away from Oakdale Boulevard and the playground is just right there, open, inviting and friendly- no weird fences, no awkward walks around the building make you feel like an interloper. The whole place as a wonderful, neighborhood park type of feel to it and as a bonus, the playground was pretty damn awesome too- slides, bridges ups and downs. The Cigarillo was a huge fan- and he even wanted to go for a stroll around the place when he was done and as it's right by the golf course, it was a pretty scenic- if a short walk.
Cons: Topography. Playground is down below by the school and the swings are up a hill above it- doesn't really make it seem all that big- seems like two small playgrounds instead of one, complete playground. Plus, I wasn't a fan of pushing the stroller up the long sidewalk that lead to the top of the hill. (Plus there are a few drops on the playground- you might have to monitor the smaller kiddos.)
Verdict: Make this a must visit if you're looking to shake things up on the playdate/playground circuit. It's a good playground, friendly, open feel and even has a few trees if you want some shade to chill under while the kiddos play.
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