Things to do with kids in Plantation: playgrounds and splash pads, free library story times, rainy-day picks, city kids' events and Flamingo Gardens nearby.
Last checked Oct. 10, 2026. Sources: the City of Plantation’s parks directory, park hours, Linear Trail page, children’s library page and camps page; the Broward County Library event calendar; Escapology; and Flamingo Gardens. Parks and Recreation: 954-452-2510.
Plantation’s city parks carry most of the load: playgrounds in nearly every big park, two water playgrounds, and a tot lot on the Linear Trail. Two libraries run free story times, and the city fills the calendar with kids’ events from Touch-A-Truck to the Easter egg hunt.
Who to call
- Parks and Recreation (parks, camps, events): 954-452-2510
- Helen B. Hoffman Plantation Library: 501 N. Fig Tree Lane, 954-797-2140
- West Regional Library: 8601 W. Broward Blvd.
- Plantation Aquatic Complex: 954-452-2525
Playgrounds
From the city’s parks directory:
| Park | Address | Play features |
|---|---|---|
| Central Park | 9151 NW 2nd St. | Playground, water playground, pool next door |
| Jim Ward Park | 301 NW 46th Ave. | Playground, water playground |
| Volunteer Park | 12050 W. Sunrise Blvd. | Playground; educational playgrounds and sound sculptures in the wetlands |
| Sunset Park | 10600 Cleary Blvd. | Playground |
| Rae Carole Armstrong Liberty Tree Park | 7421 NW 5th St. | Playground, exercise station |
| Plantation North Acres | 12001 NW 21st Court | Playground, open play area |
| Plantation Botanical Garden | 501 N. Fig Tree Lane | Playground, walking trail |
| Linear Trail tot lot | North trailhead near NW 70th Avenue and Broward Boulevard | Swings, climbing wall, playground equipment |
Most city parks are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Central Park opens at 6 a.m. For the tot lot, park at the Plantation Preserve golf course, 7050 W. Broward Blvd.
Splash pads
The water playgrounds at Central Park and Jim Ward Park are the city’s splash pads. The city requires water shoes and bans food, glass and pets on the pads. For real swimming, the Plantation Aquatic Complex at Central Park charges residents $3 for juniors and $10 for a family of four; see our summer camps and pools page.
Story times and library programs
West Regional Library (Broward County), 8601 W. Broward Blvd., runs free weekly programs, according to its event calendar:
- Toddler Time, Tuesdays at 10:30 and 11:15 a.m.
- Storytime Fun, for preschoolers and kids, Thursdays at 11 a.m.
- Creative STEAM Lab, for kids and tweens, Wednesdays at 4 p.m.
- Chess Club, for kids, tweens and teens, Saturdays at 11 a.m.
- Read to a Therapy Dog, on select Saturdays at 10:30 a.m.
The city’s own Helen B. Hoffman Plantation Library, 501 N. Fig Tree Lane, has a children’s collection, story hours through the year, a Summer Reading Program and a chess club on the first and third Saturdays, 1:30 to 3 p.m., open to all abilities with no registration, the city says. In May 2026 it held a Teddy Bear Picnic story time.
Rainy-day picks
- The libraries above.
- Plantation Historical Museum, 511 N. Fig Tree Lane, Wednesday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; free admission, with exhibits including an Everglades diorama and the city’s first fire engine.
- Escapology, 341 N. University Dr., Suite 1400, at Plantation Walk: private escape rooms with a Kids Mode and birthday packages; 954-900-1025.
City kids’ events
The city’s Parks and Recreation calendar has included, in 2025 and 2026: Touch-A-Truck in March at the Equestrian Center, the Royal Easter Egg Hunt for ages 3 to 10 at Pop Travers Field, Candy Land Express in April, Kids to Parks Day in May, the Daddy/Daughter Dance in July, the Back to School BBQ, the Family Fall Festival in October and Breakfast With Santa in December. Dates are on our seasonal pages; for days off school, the city’s Kid’s Day Off camp costs $30 a day for residents.
Nearby: Flamingo Gardens
Flamingo Gardens, 3750 S. Flamingo Road in Davie, about 5 miles southwest, is a botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary with animal encounters, hayrides on fall weekends and a holiday light show. Daytime admission is $24 for ages 12 and up and $17 for ages 3 to 11, and it is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.; see flamingogardens.org.
What this means for you
- Bring water shoes to the splash pads at Central Park and Jim Ward Park.
- Check each library event page before you go; some programs need registration.
- Check the city calendar monthly; most kids’ events are free.
Related: summer camps and pools, spring break, parks and trails and free things to do.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the splash pads in Plantation?
The city lists water playgrounds at Central Park, 9151 NW 2nd St., and Jim Ward Park, 301 NW 46th Ave. Water shoes are required, and food, glass and pets are not allowed.
Is there a free story time in Plantation?
Yes. West Regional Library, 8601 W. Broward Blvd., holds Toddler Time on Tuesdays at 10:30 and 11:15 a.m. and Storytime Fun for preschoolers and kids on Thursdays at 11 a.m. Both are free.
What can kids do in Plantation on a rainy day?
Try the libraries (West Regional and the city’s Helen B. Hoffman Plantation Library), the free Plantation Historical Museum Wednesday to Saturday, or Escapology’s escape rooms at Plantation Walk, which have a kids mode.
Which Plantation parks have playgrounds?
The city lists playgrounds at Central Park, Volunteer Park, Jim Ward Park, Sunset Park, Liberty Tree Park, Plantation North Acres and the Plantation Botanical Garden, plus a tot lot at the Plantation Preserve Linear Trail.
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