Excelsior Playground is a huge playspace in the heart of the city's Southern neighborhoods that has something for kids at all ages and stages. We dropped in on a recent warm day and found the playground full of neighborhood kids and their parents escaping the heat for some outdoor fun.
MAMAS RATING
We started the day with shoes on, but the main structure is sand-locked so we ditched the footwear for easier access. I didn't have Mia's sand toys with me but the kids there were generous with their own gear and she had a great time building, destroying and rebuilding with them! At one point the ice cream man came by and all the kids ran over including Mia, only for me to realize I had no bills and just a bit of change in my pocket. He graciously gave us an ice cream at a heavy discount so she wouldn't be left out of the fun, which I so appreciated. And there was enough for us to share!
Name: Excelsior Playground
Neighborhood: Excelsior
Address: Russia Avenue at Madrid Street
Parking: Street
Surface: Rubber
Sand? Yes
Bathrooms: Yes
Public Transit: MUNI 29-Sunset; 14-Mission; 54-Felton
If you're entertaining kids of multiple ages Excelsior is designed so that you can sit right in the middle of the big kid and little kid structures and keep an eye on both.
Rating Scale
Four Stars: Worth a trip across town
Three Stars: Nearby? Check it out
Two Stars: Use In Case of Playtime Emergency
One Star: Don't Do It
No Stars: No. Nope. Never.
These ratings are totally subjective and based on our experience on one or more visits. They are based on playability, location, accessibility, cleanliness, facilities, mood of a two-year-old, and the number of snacks in my purse. Please use your best judgement when visiting these playspaces and share your experiences with us!