The Tadpole Playground and the Frog Pond

Well it can be great. However the last few times we have been here the fountains were not going. This is the reason we come here and it is very sad to have to field questions from the kiddos every two minutes as to «when??» Today we were here for almost 2 hours and the fountain came on once when we were getting ready to leave. Disappointing!

While the equipment is nice, this playground is constantly a complete zoo. Visibility isn’t great, so good luck trying to track down the child that just mowed down your child. And there’s often one or more balloon artists out front, so the true magic trick would be escaping here without blowing (ha) $ 5 or more on a short-​lived animal or two.
In the summer, there’s a fountain in the corner, so half-​naked and sopping wet kids are always clambering over everything and dripping onto anyone standing below. Therefore, your child may end up in wet clothes even if he himself didn’t venture into the fountain.
It is nice that this park has plenty of shaded benches, a drinking fountain, and a sunscreen dispenser, although the latter wasn’t working on my visit.
Overall, while this playground does offer a wealth of structures as compared to, for example, the nearby Eliot Norton park, you’ll pay for the variety in terms of chaos.

My kids are used to playing on excellent playgrounds where we live– so thy are play ground critics when we go on vacation. With that said– my girls didn’t want to leave the playground. Everything was in working order and safe for the kids. Fences in with only one gate out meant that the kids were safe.

So if you have a munchkin and they see this place, you must be one crazy parent if you can resist their begging to play and run and jump and be kids here. My munchkin was beyond super excited to have been here. She was even ok with my having said to stay only in certain areas.
We had just met some other tourists at another part of Boston Common where this playground is located. They ended up beating us over here so our daughters played together. Having a grand old time.
Pro Tip: Beware the water splashing area! If you dont have your kid in swim clothes, strip them down to their skivvies or dont let them in the water like I did.
Beware that there is NOT ENOUGH ADULT SEATING. Other than that this playground is pretty awesome overall. Definitely worth a stop if you are in Boston Common.

3 visits in 3 days. My 2-​year old was in charge. Once she saw this place, she wanted to spend all of her time there. It’s a great children’s area in the middle of Boston Common, and when she’s happy, so am I.
I would like to see more of a divide between the wet areas and the play structure though, as wet kids playing on the slides was definitely fun for them but not for the kids who wanted to stay dry. It also made gripping the monkey bars tougher.
Still, a great time. Ideal age — 4 – 6, I think.

Dear Prada Wearing Mom,
Control your damn child… I was about to smack the living hell outta your bratty little punk kid as he pushed my daughter out of his way to get down the slide. Next time, I’ll scream at him and make an effin’ scene!
Other than ill-​behaved children, the playground is not bad.

Location is wrong on the map, but the Tadpole Playground is a cool newish fenced in playground in the middle of the Boston Common. It’s great because it’s relatively new — no wood or splinters here folks — and it has that recycled-​rubber flooring which is bouncy and awesome for kinds to run around on and not get hurt. It’s usually packed here during the day but it’s still fun.
The Frog Pond to me is garbage — 8 inches of dirty water with all kinds of kids playing in it during the summer. ½ of it is closed off in the winter and you can skate on it — assuming you are allowed on.

The water’s only about 1 foot deep. The ‘pond’ is concrete and very clean. It has those cool frog statues, which are bigger than most of the kids that swim by them. There’s a playground, too. They have a food stand with tables and umbrellas. It’s all right in the middle of Boston Common. My kids just love splashing around at Frog Pond during hot summer days.

My bebe has two favorite things: Frog Pond and Target.
I spend pretty much every Friday at the Frog Pond (during the warm months, that is). My bebe loves hanging out in the pond. Granted, she’s only six months old, but seeing as she’s been going there for like 3 months now, I’d say that says something. She loves to splash, kick, and squeal her way through the water, and she always makes friends, young and old, while she’s there.
Sometimes the clientele can be a bit, well, unsavory. I don’t like that. But the bebe doesn’t seem to mind. Yet.

My nephew is 9 yo now and I sadly reminisce about all the Boston attractions he use to love when «Uncle Mike» brought him into the «Big City» — The Children’s Museum, Frog Pond, The Tadpole Playground, Post Office Square and CSC fountains… now it’s all just a bore for him. He’d rather roam through the toy department at Target. That said, this playground is still an amazing place to bring your children, nieces and/​or nephews and grandchildren. There are tons of little nooks and crannies and water sources they can explore. It can get a little chaotic and you might need a bring an extra set of eyes to keep track of your little one, but it is an amazing place to get out of the hot city sun; get some great pics and make some lasting memories. Believe me, they grow up very fast :(

If you are looking to come out with your little ones on a Sunday afternoon and stroll through the Boston Commons then you will arrive at the Tadpole Playground near the center of the Commons…
I promise that your youngsters will love it — there are all kinds of activities for the little ones here and it will be an enjoyable time for you.

As I recently watched kids beat the Boston summer humidity splashing around in the Frog Pond, I found myself feeling amazed that this beautiful park has such a survivalist place in Boston’s history. Once a burial ground, a site housing British encampments and a cattle grazing area among other things, the Common now serves as the city’s premier urban oasis and neighborhood park. One of its many attractions, the Frog Pond was originally a natural marsh. In the summertime the Frog Pond features a 70 foot spray plume and a wading pool for youngsters. The spray plume and a concession stand are open daily from 11:00am — 6:00pm from July through Labor Day.
Right across the path from the pond you’ll find activities for little land lovers in the Tadpole Playground. Swings, slides and climbing apparatus are an equally fun way to spend a summer afternoon.
The Frog Pond is located on the Boston Common, off the Park Street stop on the Red or Green line. I’m told the multi-​purpose pond also serves as an outdoor ice skating rink in the winter.