About This Playground

🌳 Blandair Regional Park North Playground is a modern, inclusive playground in Columbia, Maryland, featuring themed play areas including a farm-inspired section that pays homage to the area's agricultural heritage. The playground is part of the larger Blandair Regional Park complex and offers a variety of play experiences for children of all ages and abilities.

Visitor Experience: The playground receives overwhelmingly positive reviews from families who appreciate its innovative design, cleanliness, and inclusive features. Visitors frequently praise the variety of play equipment and the creative farm theme that entertains children while educating them about local history.>

More about this playground

Playground Type

Point of interest Establishment Wheelchair Accessible Indoor Play Ages 0-12

Address

5685 Oakland Mills Rd, Columbia, MD 21045, USA

Phone

(410) 313-3673

+1 410-313-3673

Coordinates

39.21431, -76.83748

Hours of Operation

Open Now
Monday 7:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Tuesday 7:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Wednesday 7:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Thursday Today 7:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Friday 7:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Saturday 7:00 AM – 7:30 PM
Sunday 7:00 AM – 7:30 PM

Hours may vary during holidays. Please call ahead for confirmation.

Playground Features

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Age Suitability

The playground includes separate areas for different age groups: a toddler area for children 2-5 years old and a larger play structure for children 5-12 years old, ensuring appropriate play experiences for various developmental stages.

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Equipment Available

Features include farm-themed climbing structures, slides of varying heights, swings (including accessible swings), sensory play panels, musical instruments, spinners, balance beams, climbing nets, and interactive play elements that simulate farm life.

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Shaded Areas

The playground offers some shade from strategically placed trees and shade structures over certain play areas, though additional shade is being developed as newer trees mature.

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Seating For Parents

Numerous benches are positioned throughout the playground area, allowing parents to supervise children from comfortable vantage points. Some seating areas include shade covers.

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Restroom Availability

Clean, modern restroom facilities are available near the playground, with family-friendly features including changing tables.

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Drinking Fountains

Several drinking fountains are located near the restrooms and playground entrance, including accessible height options and bottle-filling stations.

Safety Accessibility

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Fencing

The playground is partially enclosed with decorative fencing that complements the farm theme, helping to keep younger children contained while allowing multiple entry/exit points.

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Surface Material

The playground features poured-in-place rubber surfacing in vibrant colors that create visual interest while providing fall protection and accessibility for wheelchairs and mobility devices.

Ada Accessibility

The playground was designed with universal accessibility in mind, featuring ramps to elevated play areas, transfer stations, ground-level play options, and accessible pathways throughout the play space.

Cleanliness Maintenance

The park is well-maintained by Howard County Recreation & Parks, with regular cleaning and prompt repairs to equipment. The rubber surfacing is routinely inspected and maintained to ensure safety.

Additional Amenities

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Nearby Parking

Ample free parking is available in a dedicated lot adjacent to the playground, with accessible spaces located closest to the playground entrance.

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Pet Policy

Dogs are allowed in the park on leashes but are not permitted within the playground area itself. Pet waste stations are provided throughout the surrounding park areas.

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Bike Racks

Several bike racks are installed near the playground entrance, encouraging active transportation to the park.

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Nearby Food Options

There are no permanent food vendors in the park, but picnic tables are available for families bringing their own food. Seasonal food trucks occasionally visit during peak times and special events.

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Sports Areas

The larger Blandair Regional Park features multiple athletic fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, and a skate park within walking distance of the playground.

Walking / Biking Trails Nearby

An extensive network of paved trails connects the playground to other park amenities and the surrounding community, with connections to Columbia's broader trail system.

Community Reviews

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User Submitted Photos

Numerous photos shared on social media and review sites showcase children enjoying the farm-themed equipment, special events, and seasonal decorations at the playground.

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Recent Reviews

Visitors consistently highlight the playground's cleanliness, creative design, and inclusive features. Many reviewers mention it as one of the best playgrounds in Howard County.

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Crowd Levels

The playground is busiest on weekends, holidays, and summer afternoons. Weekday mornings typically offer a quieter experience, especially during the school year.

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Special Events

The park hosts seasonal community events including harvest festivals, summer concerts, and family-friendly activities that utilize the playground area and surrounding park spaces.

User Experience

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Entrance Fee

The playground and park are free to use and open to the public during regular park hours (typically dawn to dusk).

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Space For Groups

The playground area can accommodate larger groups, with adjacent picnic areas that can be reserved for birthday parties and gatherings through the Howard County Parks reservation system.

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Nature Connection

While primarily a developed play space, the playground incorporates natural elements including gardens with native plants, trees, and educational signage about local ecology.

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Noise Level

As expected for a popular playground, noise levels can be high during peak usage times, but the open design helps dissipate sound.

Aesthetic Design

The farm theme is thoughtfully executed with attention to detail, including farm animal sculptures, silo-shaped structures, and design elements that reference the historical Blandair Farm that once occupied the site.

Safety Regulations

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Security Presence

Park rangers regularly patrol the area, and the playground is well-lit until closing time. Emergency call boxes are located in strategic locations throughout the park.

Rules Restrictions

Standard playground rules apply, including adult supervision requirements, prohibition of glass containers, no smoking, and age-appropriate use of equipment. Rules are clearly posted at playground entrances.

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First Aid Availability

Park staff are trained in basic first aid. For more serious incidents, the playground's proximity to major roads allows for quick emergency response times.

Community Interaction

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Community Activities

The playground serves as a community gathering place, hosting organized playgroups, preschool outings, and inclusive play events for children with disabilities.

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Social Interaction

The layout encourages collaborative play and social interaction between children, with many elements designed for multiple users simultaneously.

Sustainability Environment

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Eco Friendly Practices

The park employs sustainable landscaping practices, including native plantings that require less water, rain gardens for stormwater management, and environmentally friendly maintenance procedures.

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Renewable Energy

Some park facilities incorporate solar-powered lighting, though this is limited in the immediate playground area.

Walkability Bike Access

The playground is accessible via multiple pedestrian and bike paths that connect to surrounding neighborhoods and the broader Columbia trail network, encouraging car-free visits.

Reviews

4.9
(358.0)
N

Natalie Van Horn

10 months ago

Blandair is a great park because it has so much to offer for kids of all ages - including shaded spots to eat and socialize, bathrooms, water fountains, (fairly) ample parking - depending on the time of day, and usually an ice cream truck on nice weather days Spring through Fall. My downsides are that because it is for kids of all ages, those with littles need to stay close by because sometimes bigger kids are not always paying attention since they are also having lots of fun and don't realize how quickly they can knock someone down by accident. My other downside is since it's opening - a few things no longer work or don't exist, like the raft swing or the pirate boat rocking back and forth. Not sure if things will be replaced over time. I recommend this park for early mornings and dinner time to get pre bedtime zoomies out, otherwise it's usually pretty packed.

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M

Matt Merkel

2 years ago

It's huge! It's like five playgrounds decided to get together and have a playground convention! It's also got soft squishy surfaces underfoot. Bouncy! Lots of unique pieces that I've never seen anywhere else. It's also quite popular, so there will be lots of kids running and screaming all over. You have been warned. Have fun!

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M

Meg Bart

2 years ago

Great playground with something for everyone. Even a picture board for any non verbal kiddos. Soft ground under play structures. Big parking lot. Clean bathrooms. Great climbing and big kid play and good wheelchair/toddler play structure. Cute farm play area for babies. Will come again 💯

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B

Brittany

5 months ago

This park is new to me. I didn't notice anything broken and I'm pretty sure we played on everything between my 3 kids. I felt comfortable letting my 7 and 4 year old have free roam over the place as it's fenced in with 1 exit. There are 2 areas for smaller kids, my 1 year old was all over the place and I didn't have run ins with bigger kids because they tend to stay in the other areas. When he did venture into those other areas, I just did my best to guide him, keeping away from the bottom of slides and noone ran into him. There's also a few shaded benches and other shady spots. We arrived about 1045 on a Sunday and the parking lot was quite full. Left around noon and there were multiple spots open. Bathrooms are close by and there are water fountains, no water bottle refill stations though that I noticed. Overall loved it, and we will be back!

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C

Chyane Jiron

2 years ago

I found out about this park from @md.kid.adventures on instagram and decided to drive the 2 hours to check it out. This park absolutely exceeded my expectations! There is so much to do here! The playground is broken up into different sections; the farm animals (My baby was able to crawl around, it had astroturf and was soft enough for little hands), dinosaur/pirates, space (this section is full of tall slides), swings, music, and spinning equipment. Literally something for every age! I also like that a lot of the play areas have covers so it doesn't get too hot. There are also covered pavilions to sit and eat and the bathroom was very clean and well kept up on.

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