Discovery Playground, Nantucket

Hinsdale Park is a multi-use location dedicated to outdoor recreation, fitness, and community gatherings. It can be found on Old South Road. A labyrinth, mowed sporting grounds, a playground, and a pathway network are all included in its design.

The Discovery Playground in Hinsdale Park is an accessible playground constructed on property owned by the Land Bank. The park results from a partnership between The Land Bank and the Maria Mitchell Association and is a component of the Healthy Nantucket 2020 initiative. This initiative was conceived during the process of building and inaugurating the new Nantucket Cottage Hospital.

There is something for children of all ages and abilities to do at this playground, and even a portion of the structure is intended specifically for adults to use. Even benches for playing checkers are available for those who prefer a more sedate atmosphere in the playground.

This fully accessible playground has a Netplex Structure, a Sensory Wall, a Cozy Dome, Global Motion, and HealthBeat Fitness Equipment, as well as a 66-foot-long Zip-Krooz with pendulum chairs and inclusive seats, a ramped structure, and a variety of musical instruments. At the Discovery Playground, each piece of apparatus and outdoor furniture is wheelchair-accessible or designed to enable wheelchair transition. A significant portion of the playground has what is referred to as a “high play value,” which means that many children can play together on multiple components of the playground and do so in an environment accessible to people of all abilities.

The Land Bank’s Discovery Playground, built in 2019, is the newest feature of Hinsdale Park. This STEAM-based (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) playground was made by the Land Bank and the Maria Mitchell Association, with help from the Nantucket Cottage Hospital, the Community Health Initiative, and the Town of Nantucket/Community Preservation Act. The playground is designed to be accessible to children of all abilities. This playground offers something challenging for explorers of all ages, including numerous climbing structures, zip lines, and adult fitness apparatus.

The hours of operation for the Discovery Playground in Hinsdale Park are from daybreak until sundown. A small parking area is available, and it has designated parking spots for the disabled and a room for buses. The Nantucket Community School will maintain and routinely update a bulletin board located at the playground entrance. This board will contain information about health-related programs and community resources.