Dennis the Menace Park Reviews

Every time my niece and nephew pay us a visit, I make sure to take them to this park. They have such a ball. Lots to do to keep them happy and get all of their energy out

There were so many slides, even slides for adults, too. I definitely feel like a kid just hanging out here.

There some a time on any long road trip when you need to spend a few hours turning the little ones loose in a place that is more of their world. This is such a place. There were tons of different activities to keep them occupied while we adults sat in the sun and watched. Give yourself and the kiddies a break and find this place.

This park, just down the road from the usual tourist attractions will be the highlight of your kid's day. Tunnels, running and a crazy amount of slides near a lake. I have plenty of great memories here too. Though the slides of my day were not as safe as todays.

We loved this place. We were here on a trip to Monterey with our 2 and 3 year old. The park is large and there are several unique structures to play on. It feels clean and decently maintained considering it's right next to the beach in the salt air. We had a great time.

Kid is easily entertained with hours of fun. Sad only.that this park has no enclosed areas to give parents a break. Other than that it's a good park.

My boys 7 & 4 yo absolutely loved this park! It is huge! I think they enjoyed the park more than the aquarium.

This playground is probably the largest and most expansive we have encountered. It is also my kids’ favorite. We literally end up spending over three hours each time we are there. The playground is ideal for kids 2-9. It’s also well maintained – doesn’t look old/worn down.

What’s most impressive is the variety of structures/equipment that the kids of all ages can play with. Within the parking lot are clean bathrooms, drinking fountains, and a place to buy some snacks. The place also has plenty of shade and benches for picnicking.

Surrounding the playground is a pond, with ducks, and paddle boats.

It never gets old.

It's just a small play park. Not worth the walk if you are staying a way away. It's probably enough to satisfy a toddler.

Read the reviews, got there at 9.30am, got a carpark and only spent 30min at this park. My 11 & 9 year old boys were not engaged here at all. Great for stretching the legs and a restroom break but that's it.

Great large kids play area. Was great for my child to let off steam after a long car journey. He also loved the full size steam train 'parked' outside!

Dennis the Menace Park was one of my favorite parks to go to when I was a child. As a parent I loved taking my children there any chance I had. Take your child to Dennis the Menace Park and let them be a kid... you can too!!!

It has been 10 days since our epic road trip in our tiny car began, and the kiddos were ready for a park. This fit the bill. There are 4 play structures with slides, a climbing wall, swings, and large conveyor belt slide. Plus a natural looking hill with tunnels and a maze.

I expected more of a theme to the park, given the name, but there are just a few comics on a sign and Dennis's picture on another sign. It is mostly just another playground. But it is pretty big, so the kids will have fun.

I can see paddle boat rentals nearby on the pond that borders the park.

*Tip: Drop by East Village Coffee for your caffeine fix before you come.

This park is huge! Our kids played for hours and cried when we told them it was time to leave. Good for a spread of ages. Our kids are 2 - 8 and were equally entertained.

We have had the pleasure of bringing kids and grandkids to this fun park. Well maintained- lots of fun things to do.

We took our 2 girls (5 and 2) to the park over this holiday weekend and they had a blast! I saw some reviews that the park's age is showing, but at the end of the day the parks options were expansive and I think could be geared towards different ages. We all had a fantastic time! There were slides of various stages, the bridge which I was even scared of LOL and even a maze. Definitely worth a visit if you are in the area.

Visited here while on holiday visiting family and our little 3 year old loved this park, but is suitable for all ages as it has a number of sections that will keep all children entertained.

A nice area for families with or without kids. The area was nice and clean' A great outing to enjoy the sunshine and the park.

still nice but not as unique as I remember. our girls still had fun, but if you went in the 80's/90's as a kid, it's definitely not the same....but what is i guess. there was also a homeless dude sleeping on one of the rides which was pretty weird.

A childrens park and playground. Not much for adults only. Has a swinging bridge and Dennis the Menace themed items for kids to play on.

If you have a couple of hours and need a place for your kids to have fun, this is the place to go! This park has everything from a super long slide to a maze to a bridge to an awesome complex of climbing structures. Kids can have lots of fun for several hours.

I have been to this park many times. First as a child, then as a parent and now as a retiree. The park is a good d fashioned park where parents can interact with their children without any electronic assistance. It's pretty and it's safe.

This park is free and pretty darn big! They have got plenty of attractions for toddlers all the way to teens with rock walls, suspension bridge, lots of slides, a baseball field, skate park, paddle boats in the pond, etc... they have bathrooms and parking on site. Lots of things to do to wear the kids out.

Loved the park and it had LOADS to do for the kids. It had a wide variety of play structures for kids catering to all the different age groups.

I've been coming here since I was a kid and have taken my son several times. They've added a few things over the year but even as an adult I enjoy it. Check out the Giant Swan boats you can rent and paddle around the lake.

Spent some time with kids aged 4-11, and everyone enjoyed it. I saw plenty of older kids playing nicely with younger kids here, too. Lots of tween and teen older siblings--and there was stuff for them to enjoy, too.

Nicely laid out, plenty of variety, different sized structures for different aged kids. A great way to spend some of your afternoon or morning.

We went to the park after a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. It was a great place to let the kids run around after having to be a little more reserved, and before the 3 hour drive home. It has fantastic play areas, and lots of neat features. I'm not sure if the kids are looking forward more to the park or the aquarium the next time we go to Monterey...

Dennis the Menace Park has been our go-to park for the wee ones since we first went in 1990; took our kids there, now we take our grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

It is large, well-appointed with safe, kid-attractive activities (sandboxes, play equipment, a hedge maze, a climbing wall, et cetera. Best of all, it is completely enclosed; there is only one entrance, which makes it easy to let the kids loose and still keep a safe eye on them.

Parking is easy, and there is a concession stand for ballpark-style refreshment.

This playground was fun all ages of kids. Was clean and appeared pretty well kept. Just be prepared for crowds.

Wow! This park is amazing. What a great place for kids. It is free, and it is right next to the Monterey Bay harbor. There are a huge rope bridge, roller slide, and many others structures. Our kids enjoyed this playground so much and have so many sweet memories of this place.

Visited this playground with my grandsons and nearly had a heart attack because it's SOOOO big, I was afraid we were going to lose one of them. Very nice park overall, but really BIG!

Pictures don't do it justice because it doesn't capture the excitement of all the wonderful things to do.

We were lucky that we arrived around 9:30 and had no problem with parking because when we left a couple of hours later, parking was bad.

So...what do we have?

A huge sand , a couple of baby swings, rock climbing walls, a maze made from hedges, a bridge, several slides, monkey bars, tables and grassy areas.

If your toddler or young child needs to burn off some excess energy, Dennis the Menace park is for you. Spread out over a generous area, this park offers the usual climbing structures, but also other features that are unusual, including a rope bridge, a maze, a roller slide down a hillside and concrete culvert tunnels for exploring. There are activities suitable for very young children, too There are some trees for shade if it's too warm, but plenty of sunny areas for the typically cool weather of the area. A nice clean restroom is at the entrance for washing up upon your departure. Very clean and well utilized---there were lots of young families enjoying the park on our multiple visits. Park opens at 10:00 am.

This park is a high for families with kids. The city of Monterey keeps it in great condition. It has a very controlled environment for kids i.e. one way in and out. Great chance to see a steam locomotive close up.

I brought my kids and grandkids to this park numerous times, I love it and enjoy it, the city of Monterey has done a wonderful job with this park

Have taken my kids here every time we've visit - has lots of activities and the best was climbing the life size train.

This is a kids park, and it's cute--lots of slides and swings and things you can climb on. I recommend it if you have kids! But only if you can control them. Some were pretty out of control.

When re-opened...hopefully in a month or two will have better handicapped access and just as much fun for kids.

This park is known for fun. My brothers and sisters and I lived minutes from this enjoyable Place. We often continue to bring our nieces and nephews here to enjoy the same wonderful Experience...

I wish the kids were still small enough to get the most out of this little gem. If the kids are tired of the aquarium and really need to run around for a bit, this is a perfect spot to bring them. Plenty of activities to keep them occupied and tucker them out.

Played baseball right next to the park and go to see hundreds of smiling faces going in and out of the park. The various climbing bridges and other equipment looked very well maintained. The main parking lot was always full but there was lots of parking within walking distance. Good for kids of all ages.

I have enjoyed this park for years and it’s better now than ever. Great for a nice walk for just sit and watch the swan paddle boats. Not a main attraction, but close to downtown and a real treasure.

Fun! We had a good time. It is a bit hard to get to from the North, as you have to get around the baseball diamond.

This is one of the nicest Children's Parks in the Monterey Peninsula area. Lots of free parking, and close to the Bay, with lots of open space too.

This park is a great attraction for little ones and in a lovely setting in Monterey. The park is pristine and has many activities to keep everyone busy and sure to get plenty of exercise. There is a rope bridge and wonderful slide as well. Not to be missed.

Located in El Estero Park in Monterey a short distance from Cannery Row. Large playground with lots of slides, tunnels, a bridge and playground equipment. Clean and Safe it is sure to keep your child busy for awhile. Nice break and chance for your youngsters to let off some steam after the hustle and bustle of the touristy areas.

Hank Ketcham, the cartoonist who wrote Dennis the Menace, lived on the Monterey Peninsula. He must have had some involvement when this park was set up, hence the name "Dennis the Menace Park." This park has the most creative and fun rides and equipment of any kid's park that I have seen anywhere. You should definitely take your under-12-year-olds to it. They will love it and remember the experience. Unfortunately it appears that the lawyers have reared their ugly heads in recent years and some of the best equipment has been changed, presumably make it safer, but also less fun. It's still worth a visit.

Even though it can be crowded, the park is so large, you don't feel the crowds. There is so much for the kids to enjoy! I had fun even crossing the bridge with my younger ones. If you're in the area, put this on your "must visit" list!

My sister and her kids actually came to visit me specifically to come to this park! Sooo fun. You know how kids will eventually get bored wherever they are? That never happened here, they actually whined when we decided to leave. The play structures are well designed and well built, and there are lots of options for everyone.

This is a really fun park for especially young children, right in the heart of downtown Monterey. The Dennis theme is throughout and the kids enjoy climbing all over everything. Nearby, you can also rent paddle and peddle around the lake. They do have a food stand; but you can picnic as well.

We are always on the look out for a good park and this one was great. We have a 4 and 8 year old and they both were sufficiently entertained!

I was traveling solo with the kids, and after 4 hours at the aquarium, this park was a great spot for the kids to burn off some extra energy.

There are a ton of options from the swings, slides, climbing wall, hedge maze, climbing structures and spinning machine, there should be something for kids toddler - teen.

Play structures are unique and interesting for the kids. Easy distance to cover after visiting the Monterey Bay aquarium. Free parking in front of the nearby cemetery.

This is a well designed park for kids and very safe in its functionality. Nonetheless, the kids and the parents both appreciate it, probably for different reasons.

my friend from Australia wanted to visit this place. I took one look and realized this is a kids park with playground.
There is a skate board park and a baseball field right next door to the park. Plus, the park has an steam locomotive just to look at since it is fenced off to prevent kids from climbing all over it
If you have small kids, this is a place to go.

Soo we visited this park while in town this week because my husband used to go as a kid. It was a very cute park with lots to do but it is definitely run down. It is so huge that it is really hard to keep track of your kids and there are safety hazards everywhere. Metal edges, slippery rocks and outdated equipment, I think the idea of the park is great but it needs some updating and safety revisions. My kids are 3 and 5 - maybe they were just too young??

Always a great time at this park. Its like heaven for the kids since its such a large park with so many different activities. Go here almost every year!

Firstly, I cannot believe that this is a free amenity! My 3 year old had more fun here than any park he's ever been to. Great slides, very safe and well built, and sooooo much room to move around. Magical place.

This park is always a must when visiting Monterey. Parents will really enjoy that you can actually have fun with out spending any money :)

When we are in Monterey, Ca. with our granddaughter we always take her there for a few hours... she loves it... a very nice park and very clean also.

My parents took me to Dennis the Menace as a kid and I have to stop by every time I'm in the area. Great park!

I came a few years ago and the kids loved it. We came back Labor Day weekend and the kids still had a blast. I noticed this time around that 98% of the park was the same but more run down with wear and tear.

This park has a lot of unique things such as a roller slide, a long bridge, rock climbing structures and lots of things to climb on.

There are bathrooms, water fountain, free parking and a place that sells snacks at the park.

We'll definitely be back but I hope they update or refinish a bunch of the structures in the near future.

Great meeting spot in an otherwise crowded Monterey, with excellent parking for large groups, which our car club uses to assemble charity event runs.

We took our 18-month old to this park during our trip. There are a lot of different level playgrounds, so it's good for families with kids of all ages. It was a really cute park with some stuff that was even good for parents, so I'd definitely suggest checking it out!

We were visiting Monterey and saw the great reviews of this park so we had to stop. The kids loved it. We found parking with no problems and spent an hour there, the kids didn’t want to leave. It’s nice that it’s seperated into 3 area so if one area is busy you can spend time on other equipment. Great place to stop if you have kids and are in the area.

One of the best parks I’ve found. Views are fantastic, river/ bay around the park and you can see the ocean! So many cool play structures and and night bridge, there is a maze and a skatepark for the older ones as well. Bigs slides in this parks as well as a old steam train at the entrance, a must visit if you are nearby!

Kids of all ages and especially those aged 1 - 10 will love this park. Several unique play areas as well as some favorites have something for all kids.

There's also a cool slide made with rollers that I watched both kids and adults laughing as they slid down.

Excellent place for the younger part of the family to enjoy and get rid of excess energy; which make everyone smile!

This park is tucked away back off Del Monte Avenue in Monterey, but it is totally worth the brief detour. The park is huge with lots of unique play structures for kids to enjoy. My daughter's favorites were the hedge maze and suspension bridge.

We got there early on a Sunday morning, which was good because it gets very busy. Be warned though that the park is closed on Tuesdays when Monterey schools are in session.

Took the grandkids to this park. It was a hit! Not crowded on a weekday. Lots of things to do. We will have to go back.

My daughter loved the park. Its a fenced park with lots of options for the kids to play and run around. Nice clean surroundings and clean park with lots of tree with areas to sit under shade. Water fountain is within the park and has the restroom adjoining to the park - bonus :-)

Huge park, if I was local it would be a good park to come and stay a few hours. Like making a day out of it!

Nice playground, park and lake. Kids will have fun at the playground and adults can walk around the lake or picnic in the park. It is centrally located in downtown Monterey.

My boys are adults now, but we spent hours upon hours in this playground and loved every minute. Climbing on structures, the bridge, slides, playing in the maze, the train. Snack bar on site.

Great for little kids. Go early it gets really crowed. Needs fresh paint looks aged. Fun play ground. Lots to climb, loved the rocking bridge. Free

My family with grandchildren aged 9 and 5, spent 3 days in Monterey. Dennis the Menace Park was one of the highlights for my grandsons! They loved the climbing structures! They happily played in the park for 2 hours while we adults watched them. The park is safe and very popular. There are bathrooms and drinking fountains. During the on season, the snack bar is open as well as paddle boat rentals.

This park is right near the beach and a great place for the kids to play. Playground equipment, and old locomotive to climb on and plenty of grassy spots for picnicking.

Oh My, This playground has everything a child would like to experience in their childhood. It is appropriate for all ages of children from the very youngest to teenage. There are acres of activities from walking on tight rope bridges to crawling in tunnels.

Very nice park with a lot of structures to wear you out. Parking was a little tough, but if you wait around for 5 minutes then someone will leave.

I loved this park only because my boyfriend played there when he was a kid in the 1950's/60's. very interesting that the writer of the Dennis the Menace comic strip help build this park for the city of Pacific Grove. They still have the big train engine he played on as a kid but now there is a big fence around it because they say it is too dangerous for kids to play on now. It's a great park for kids to play.

A wonderful gift from Hank Ketchum for children. Lots to explore and slide and climb. All this and it's free and conveniently located.

Very cute park with lots of fun things for kids! It wasn't overly crowded and there was plenty of space to park.

This is a great park for any age! It's always clean and there is plenty of parking on site or directly across the street which is not very busy. We visit here each time with our grandchildren when we go to Monterey.

We took our almost three year old grandson and had an absolute blast! So many options for fun at this park. It does need a little TLC but overall excellent. There is something for everyone!

Over the years, the park has changed (there's a climbing wall now, and you can't play on the train anymore), but it is still great for the 2-7 year old set, and maybe older kids, depending on their interests. This park can get crowded when schools visit, but during the day it's a pleasant place to spend an hour or so (if it's not too cold--it's Monterey, people...bring a sweatshirt!!). There are restrooms and sometimes the snack bar at the field next door is open.

For those traveling to Monterey who need to get some running time in for their kids this is great. Many play structures available. I'd say best for the 6 and under crowd but not bad for the 7-8 year olds either.

This is a great local park. It has a variety of equipment for various ages. Our daughter enjoyed it more at 7 than 10 but still a good time.

We went with a 19 month old baby. The park is quite crowded, also with many big kids running around. We really appreciated that everyone acted very nicely, like kids waited for us to walk the suspension bridge before they went crazy on it. Our baby had a really great time here.

Dated playground but well maintained! Playground quipment is clean and safe for young children. Travelling with kids, go there, they will love it. Facilities: drinking station and restrooms near the entrance.

Would not travel to the area just for being there, but if you are in the area or on your way to somewhere and you have time, let the kids play. Very big and nice playground with easy access and free parking.

It can be overwhelming to take your children here if you have multiple kids and they all run in different directions because the park is large and it doesn't seem to be fenced in but I assure you there is a fence around the entire park and the only entry point is near the large black train engine (that you used to be able to climb all around but not anymore...bummer). Great park for kids to run around and there are a few places to sit and eat if you'd like to do a picnic lunch there (although not many, so you might have to improvise).

We always go to this park when we visit Monterey! The Dennis the Menace park is a large park with views of the bay. So much fun for kids to run around and play and climb. Love the wobbly bridge!

My experience was marred by some guys on the other side of the canal and upwind smoking pot.
There are also a lot of geese who can get territorial so don’t let your kids go chasing them around.

A lot of parking which is nice. My son had a great time on the board walk. A lot of fun things for the kids. The park was very big, you did not feel like you was in someone else space. Overall great spot to hang out with your kids.

The men bathroom did not have any running water to wash your hands.

The park has swings, climbing walls , slides and bars for the kids. It is a large park outside the downtown area a bit. The park is also nearby a lake where you can rent water vehicles to peddle around.Really affine park fun for the whole family.

Probably the best park that I’ve ever visited in my life. They had lots of different types of slides and different types of equipment. I couldn’t believe it was free. My kids loved it! Parents please always keep an eye on your children, even if you can see them, this park is very chaotic and there are a lot of people there.

A fun whimsical park with varying adrenaline level challenges for kids of all ages. As I said, wish I had something like this when I was a kid :)

Add rain, sunshine, sand, climbing, running, swinging and grandchildren. Stir wildly, and watch the fun. So much to do and see, and so little time, so they had to do it all at once. This was a day that at the end, sleep was sound, and hearts were happy.

Dennis the Menace Park is full of a mix of play elements (slides, rock climbing walls, a mini-hedge maze, and suspension bridges) perfect for kids to work out their energy on any sunny (or at least non-rainy) day in Monterey. Conveniently located next to Lake El Estero, with a parking lot and snack bar onsite.

Great photo opps, and in general, parents seem to be pretty good about keeping an eye on their own kids. Haven't had any negative situations during our many visits.

Note that it is closed until March 18, 2017 for renovations.

Nice place for a rest stop and to let the kids stretch there legs and have some fun after looking at scenery all day.

Views are nice: partially surrounded by water, a peak at the ocean, & the grounds themselves are nice. The layout is pleasant to wander through. Lots for kids to climb & explore. Relaxing places for adults to sit. Free & well worth it.

I read a few reviews saying this park was dated, but to be honest I'd didn't think it was in anyway. It is by a small paddling boat lake, sports center and has rest rooms just outside the entrance.
The park has plenty to keep children of all ages occupied, there are fun wiggly slides, swings, climbing frames, bridges and mazes. My daughter loved the rolled slide. It does get busy, but none of the kids seemed to mind.
It's free so there cannot be any complaints about value for money.

This park was so fun for our almost 3 grandson. He was so excited about trying out all the equipment. We went early on a Sunday morning and before the crowds, so it was a delightful experience. Would definitely recommend.

We spent several hours driving the route, stopping at the viewpoints, walking along the beach and having a meal at Roy's at Pebble Beach

A fantastic park with loads of things to do for children 2 to 12. Lots of open space. Good cafe there and McDonald’s is one block away. Good toilet facilities. Car park is small however there is lots of on street free parking. Opens at 10

So bummed that this park was closed. It's usually one of our favorite spots to visit with kids. Not sure when it will reopen but looking forward to going back.

This is a unique playground and a terrific opportunity to let the youngest tourist run around for a bit in Monterey

This park is amazing...large and always feels uncrowded...Kids will beg to stay longer...Best part, it is free and there is actually parking; If you can't find a place to park, the nearby neighborhoods have space

Plenty of challenging structures to climb, swing, slide and jump from. It has a maze, a wonderful climbing wall, 2 bridges and a few fun slides. It's good for kids older than 4. With toddlers, it's a bit tiring for adult to chase them around if they want to try the big kid structure. Will definitely visit again if I go back.

Great park but it's under renovation fort many minutes., fun location with pedal boats you can palm around there's lake!

The review title is a quote from our 4 1/2 year old grandson. Lots of playground equipment. A perfect place for kids to stretch their legs during a long road trip up or down the coast.

The park is located near downdown Monterey on Lake El Estero and features a playground for chikdren on an island surrounded by a man made moat. Hank Ketcham's cartoon character Dennis the Menance is the main theme of this famous park which offers lots of fun for old and young alike.

We took our 7 yr old to play for a bit. She had a blast. So many different play structures to play on. It's a great place to walk around and look at the ducks and other birds. Beautiful park. It has a snack shack by the ball field also. Great place to pick up an inexpensive snack.

This is a great park to let your kids explore, have fun and use up excess energy! I give it a 4 (and not a 5) only because it is possible to run into an unsavory person or two... so it's best to keep alert.

I have a 2 1/2 year old and a 5 year old and we took them to this park after we visited the aquarium. They had so much fun. They really enjoyed the bridge and the roller slide. I would recommend this park for people with small children.

I use to bring my kids to this park when they were little now im bringing there kids my grand babys this oyr favorite park .the bridge is our for most favorite an we always go in the little maze now there more slides an monkey bars for the kids to enjoy .kids all ages will enjoy .

very kid friendly park. apparatus for many ages. love taking the young ones down the roller slide. kids love the maze. very safe.
bummed that the locomotive was fenced off

Love to spend some time there with my kids, the park offers a variety of challenges that keep them busy for hours, and let them burn energy to keep enjoying Monterrey!!!

Great park this was. The kids thoroughly enjoyed them selves here. There was a few places for the adults to sit but not loads and not loads of shade on a baking hot day but if you're willing to take one for the kids they'll have a great time. A bit of parking next to it, it's a free and there was some water fountains.

Our granddaughter couldn't believe her eyes when she saw all the fun things to do at this amazing park, including a rock climbing wall and a zip line. She's only four but this park will keep her happy for many years to come. It's great fun to watch the skateboarders perform at the adjacent park and the paddle boats on nearby Estero Lake. A nice safe place to play.

Free and more fun than the aquarium or cannery row. Kids 5 to 12. Don't expect too too much, it's just a player, and you will be quite pleased.

We dont have very young children but have heard so much raves about this park that we just had to stop by. This is an excellent park for preschoolers and very young children. There are so many play structures and a special climbing rock for the little ones. It a must go to for those with young ones. I think all children will find something here that sparks their interest. You wont want your kids to miss this one.

Had a wonderful time and got to even rent the little pedal boat to end the day. The structures are very cool, would absolutely go back

Taken my son 4 yrs old to 10 yrs old, now taking grand-kids. fun and interesting. They go from one "ride" to another, climb, see, and you can rest and watch.

A Monterey institution since 1950's used by multiple generations of my family. As safety standard have risen some of the best play structures have been replaced with tamer ones. The most recent is the fence around the train. But still a favorite for my grandkids. Check open times as it does not open about one day a week. If a closed day a small park at Jacks ballpark just two blocks away. Or try the big one at Veterans park up on hill behind downtown.

A great park. Plenty of different parts to it.
There is also a skate park and a local baseball ground. We went on a Saturday and watched a game.

User-friendly....swaying bridge, climbing structures, plenty of slides.
Parents or Grandparents can find a comfy place to watch.
Lovely playground. Best in Monterey.

This was sort of a last-minute decision during our Monterey trip. Had read about the park but wasn't sure we'd have time. Definitely glad we went! The kids (ages 6 and 9) really enjoyed exploring and running around. If you're doing the aquarium you might as well get some value at this free park too. They most enjoyed the giant merry-go-round at the back of the park. I was very impressed. We had these as mini-versions when I was young and we'd spin them until someone got thrown off! Fortunately, this oversized version seemed a bit safer for the kids. I'm not sure if the size restricts the speed or there's some type of governor on the thing, but it never got spinning up to the high rates we used to enioy. I guess that's a good thing?

It was a rainy time but we were able to enjoy ourselves in spite of things being a bit damp. Would return in hopes of better weather and more kids to share the place with.

Happiness for children a wonderful park and playground - much for them to actively play on and enjoy.

Nice park next to the water if you have some kids about 11 years or younger good place to come by and waste some time, maybe while you're waiting for a hotel room to get cleaned.. Its just before the entrance to Old Fisherman's Wharf.

Took my two daughters there to play. The park seemed very dirty and well used. The girls enjoyed the slides but there was little to no parent supervision. My kids were 3 and 1.5. One kid pushed my 3 yr old off this spinning contraption while it was moving no parent watching this kid. Another kid threw dirt in my 1.5 face twice and again no parent in sight. Once i talked the wife off the ledge we left which was fine since the homeless crowd was moving in for the night.

Nice location overlooking the beach.

Food was home cooked Caribbean style and really tasty. Can recommend the BBQ rubs, which were soon tender.

Obviously this is of most interest to families with young children, but my teenagers even enjoyed checking it out. If your kids are young enough to play here, it will be one heck of a great place to play. If you are in Monterey with young kids, it would be a huge mistake not to check this out.

I didn't have this on our schedule as my kids are a bit older - 10 & 12. However, it is right where everything else is and the kids wanted to have fun (and I wanted them to burn off some energy). They loved it - mostly the merry-go-round playset on the top of the hill. It needed people to push it in order to move it though so my husband (mostly) got quite a workout along with other parents and a few helpful kids. This is the only thing my kids did on the playground, but I think they could have stayed there for quite some time.

The other play areas looked more geared towards younger kids, per the normal setup. The playground was laid out nicely though - very large, many benches. There is a skate park right beside it, but they are completely separate. There were bathrooms (we didn't use), a water fountain, one entrance, a small food bar, and free parking. All good. A nice break to the touristy stuff.

Technically a fishing license is not needed when fishing off a public pier and this includes El Estero lake at the park. It is also a lake that the state fish and game stocks periodically with farm raised trout and the dates for releases are available on their website.

A child with a drop line and some pieces of cheese has a very good chance of catching a fish (unlike the Monterey Wharf pier where there is nothing left to catch after all the over fishing by the commercial fishermen and the party boats.

Good place to spot Canada geese and in April and May a very good chance for seeing them with young goslings.

We love coming here to let the kids run around! The park has been well taken care of and our kids love coming for a picnic.

Great park to let your kids loose and have some fun! Fun play structures and lots of space. Definitely worth stopping by!

We brought our 3 year old grandson, who had a blast. There are slides of all sizes and shapes, and many things to climb on. Bridges and tunnels, too. Don't expect to sit on a bench and watch. The park is expansive, and you need to follow your child. There are ways for an adult to accompany a little one on slides and go across a bridge, but for the low tunnels it's best to have an adult on each end. And it's free!

We brought my 8 year old son here to run off some energy while on our Road Trip 2017. He had a blast. There's a great climbing wall, lots of interesting slides and play structures and plenty of room to run. It would be a five star eval, but my wife was grossed out by the conditions of the public restroom....kind of important in a place for kids I think.

If your kids need to burn off some energy, there is no better place on the peninsula. Lots of play structures, a suspension bridge, and a great hide and seek maze create a fun (and free) play space for kids. It can get crowded, but it is a pretty big park.

Just gooooooooooooo to Dennis the Menace park. We couldn't drag our kids out fhere. They absolutely loved it!!! We have been going there for years when we were in the area!

Wonderful park for families with young kids! Several play structures with fun slides. There is a huge train engine there as well!

Safe place for kids (and adults) to play!
Atlas Oscura brought us here. Neat place. Can see the appeal for parents and children alike. We are children but popped in to see a lovely park well used and respected.

As a grandmother of four I appreciate safety! I can take all my grandchildren here and keep an eye on the one entrance and exit. The playground is always clean and the equipment is state of the art!!

Generations have been wearing out their kids at this park, my parents brought us here and now I'm bringing my grandkids. They love it like I did and are exhausted when it's time to go home - yay!

This park made for some great memories for my wife and I watching our two young sons play. This place is amazing and what they offer for free to children is wonderful. Keep up the good work at this park. I'm glad to see there are still family friendly and safe parks for children in the world.

great fun. lots to do for all ages, tunnels to hide, climb, walk paths, and views of the lake, ducks, bird watching, bathrooms, 711 and many eateries very close by. mcdonals walking distance. skate park is big, grassy areas to sit, benches too.

My 6 and 10 year olds love this park. It is safe and clean with a variety of play ground equipment. There are large slides and a cool walking bridge. A short walk away is a little lake you can rent paddle boats on. I'd stay clear from the more expensive swan boats as they are harder to steer and maneuver then the regular paddle boats. There is also a skate board park and you can walk around the lake for a short, pretty hike.

We went to Dennis the Menace playground on a Saturday afternoon. It was packed, but there were so many smiling faces there. My husband and I took our daughters (aged 9 and 6).

I've noticed that places will get downvotes on this website if they have a lot of people or bad children, rude adults, etc... When we went the people were all nice and polite. I sat on a retaining wall and listened to the conversation of some locals; attendees are a blend of locals and out of towners.

We lucked out and parked at the Monterey Youth Center (for free), but there's also on the street parking and parking at the cemetery😬.

My husband attends Naval Postgraduate School, he told me that the playground is a ghost town during weekdays (if you prefer less of a crowd).

My 6 y.o. is eager to go again, but my 9 y.o. could take it or leave it (she's picky!).

Lovely park in the middle of Monterey. Fun and creative activities for kids: slides, climbing structures, tunnel, bridge, walking maze. Next door to skate park and pond with rental boats. Restrooms. Concession stand in parking lot, Mc Donald’s across the street. Picnic table, drinking fountain. Well maintained. Only difficulty is the entrance to the park is not labeled, shared parking lot. Close to highway 1 if traveling with young children and need a break.

My toddler loved this park and I did too! There were multiple play structures for various age groups. The park is surrounded by a nice little lake and has a view of the ocean. Bathrooms were a little rustic but clean and included a change table for my little one. He loved the roller slide. Best of all the park and parking is free!

We brought our 9 month old here because he loves being around kids and we needed a free activity! The park says its designed for 5-10 year olds, but he had a blast. There are a ton of different play sets so it didn't feel crowded, which was nice. We went in the late afternoon on a Wednesday. It's a great space for the kids to burn off some energy and explore all the fun equipment. Bathrooms are clean.

Great place to let the kids run wild. They were working on some of this when we were there but didn’t stop the kids enjoying it. Nice and clean in the park just watch out for bird poo if you walk by the river!

My toddler and 3 year old love this place. The park has several different areas for children to play within their age level. I enjoy the proximity of the areas to each other so that I supervise both while still allowing them to play at their level.
The park was recently redone to make it ADA compliant. Additionally, the sand underneath the play areas has been partially replaced with wood chip- making it easier to walk between play areas.
A word of warning: the areas where new sand walks were installed get very slippery when sand gets on it. During our last visit we saw a handful of children loose their footing and fall on the slippery new sidewalks. Not an issue for kids that walk instead of run.
Overall a great, kid-friendly place.

It's been a while since we have been there, as last time we visted Monterey our kids were already older. However, I remember the park as pretty big with lots of play-structures and equipment for younger children. It's a good place to let them run around and release some of that energy.

After a day at the Cannery Row area, we spotted the park whilst driving back to the hotel. It's off the Main Street and cannot be missed.
There are many birds including ducks, geese and huge seagulls that wander around.
However it isn't very well maintained and the bird poop has stained the vista points on the water.
A nearby skate park attracts the locals and it's a location where families enjoy a peaceful stroll under the cover of the trees.

This place is a must see for both kids and adults! Clever slides and climbing equipment that utilize the park itself make this a definite destination if you visit Monterey. Be sure and try the slides that go down the hill!

Dennis the Menace Park is a well maintained, safe haven for playtime! Plenty of climbing and sliding available here! Fairly easy to keep an eye on the kids while they enjoy themselves.

Our 18 month old loved it! The parking was easy. We stayed for about 30 minutes and walked around the outside of the park for another 30 minutes while we waited for our hotel room to be ready.

What a fun place for kids! It is in downtown Monterey with lots of fun things for the kids to do and explore. A great place for parents to go for an afternoon of fun and exercise for their kids!

This is a pretty large playground with lots of different kinds of slides and bridges. You can definitely expect to spend a couple of hours here. It will suck for you but your kids will love it. Don't worry, you won't be bored because you will need to keep an eye on your kids at all times since this is the sort of place that is easy to lose sight of them. Dress comfortable. Wear sunscreen, not too much shade.

This was our kids' favorite park. Climbing wall, many play structures, clean, bathrooms and snacks onsite -- what more could a family want? It's a great place to let them act like kids!

Larger than you might think at first glace, DTMP has multiple play stations with an adjoining skate park and little league field. There is a small concession stand nearby selling soft drinks, hamburgers, hot dogs, ice cream, candy, etc. and picnic tables in the park. DTMP is situated in the larger Estero Lake park which offers rented paddle boats and a very nice walking path around the whole lake where you can see lots of different birds and their hatchlings if you go at the right time of year. The DTMP is very clean and well kept. Kids can play on all kinds of different construction including tunnels, bridges, slides, climbing rocks and walls. There are swings and other traditional playground equipment. It's a well used park and play area and it seems that everyone gets along very well there. If you have kids, I can see where this could become a regular place to visit.

Great place for children to play and work off excessive energy. The park is well maintained by the city of Monterey and is open from 10 am to sunset.

Very nice park, especially for young kids old enough to walk on their own (3-5 years) ... AND ... for the parents who might need to accompany the young kid the first couple of times. Adult with no kid(s)? You get to go back in time ... 20, 30, 40, 50 years, or more, and imagine yourself at 4 or 5 having fun - on slides, in tunnels, on a suspension bridge, etc.

Always used to take my kids here when they were young. Also fun are the paddleboats you can rent around the corner.

This is a great playground, both expansive and clean. Very nice. It's all in excellent shape and there are fun paddle boats on the lake nearby. Lovely views too. Great for a wide range of age kids.

traveling with a 2 year old one must find diversions. This park was the perfect place to let our granddaughter expend some energy. It was clean and convenient.

Great playground for kids of all ages. Equipment is well maintained and there's something fun for everybody. If you have a bike, recommend riding to the park as it is easily accessible by bike

I've gone to this park as a child (YES it's been there that long!), taken my pals children, and my nieces and nephews here over and over again. They've all loved it as much as we did when we were children. Also love the snack bar burgers and fries!!!! Seems like I've eaten there all my life, at one time or another. My Granma took me there often to have lunch. A tip....a lot of locals go there for lunch, we try to get there around 11:30 to be before the rush!

Great polace to take kids, lots of unique play places, but a bit of love will go a long way. Fill in the puddles, and pull the weeds.

Very cool to visit and play like you were a kid. The proximity to water helps even big kids to enjoy. Worth a visit.

A labyrinth type maze, a suspension bridge, a rock wall, a skate park, lots of different slides, suspension bridge, a pond, baseball parks... This is every kid's dream. If you have a toddler this park might be limited for you, but if your child is over four, you will definitely love this. Great way to get out some energy!

Very good for kids. Some good things for adults too. Unique and interesting park, very sizeable. Nice place for a family picnic.

Park had unique toys and even my teenagers and husband enjoyed playing on the toys. Very large and not too congested.

What a fantastic play park. Lots of stuff for younger kids and older ones as well. My son loved the small maze. This park was quite busy

If you have kids this is a must! So many cool things to do -- unlike any park in my hometown! Definitely worth a few hours. Great play structures, and fun stuff for older kids too. They even have paddle boats you can rent.

We went there with our lovie (granddaughter), while her Mommy was diving in the Bay.
The website doesn't show how large this park is. Play structures, for the wee ones, the medium ones and the big kids. Slides big enough for adults to go down with the wee ones on the lap. Suspension bridge, tunnels, swings, steps, ramps, ladders, poles, holes to climg in and out of. A wonderful park, fun all.
Skate Park adjacent, cool to watch those talented boarders.
Lagoon wraps around the park with paddle boats, birds, flora/fauna.
In a nice area, good parking, bathrooms.

I have always gone here with my children and grandchildren whenever in Monterey! The kids really love it!

Great park- lots to do and explore. Kiddos run a muck and love every minute of it. The park is next to a little pond/lake and is close to the ocean (if the kids still have energy). Good walking distance to downtown Monterey, but sometimes parking can be tricky. Their lot is small and crowded, so it's probably best to park a couple streets over and walk.

Not really anything fancy. It's a pretty park with a playground, bridge, and some water features. We drove through and round it on our way out of town, and I think that was more than enough to see of the park.

You can skip this, and not regret it.

Took the kids ages ranging from 3 to almost 8 to Dennis the Menace park and each had a wonderful time. They had your typical play structures plus a few more exciting things, a "spinny thing" as my kids called it (a kid powered carousel type thing), rock climbing walls, cool bridges, a slow roller slide that goes under a cool sunburst-looking bridge, and even a topiary maze with a mini-play structure in the middle. My kids spent over 2 hours here after spending a morning at the MY Museum Children's museum which was just a short walk away. This place is within walking distance from the downtown hotels, too. There's even a fast food place nearby if you need to get lunch. Really great place!

We drove to Monterey from San Francisco so went here after we arrived to let our 3 year old stretch his legs. He had a great time and there were plenty of different play areas to keep his attention. It caters for a range of ages with different height slides/climbing equipment

I wanted to see this park just because of the name Dennis the Menace. I really liked Dennis the menace as a kid so we checked it out. It is actually a pretty cool park. We don’t have parks like that in Beijing, or in Riverside. We obviously didn’t do much here as we don’t have children but if you do, please take your children here and thy will love you for it.

Initially, we were planning to take our kids to Monterey Bay Aquarium but at the last moment decided against it. For a two year old and three year old, we didn't think that the Aquarium would captivate their attention for too long. So, we researched and found good reviews for the Dennis the Menace Park. The park has numerous slides and playing apparatus to satisfy any kid's appetite for playtime. Our kids did not want to leave as they had way too much fun. There's also an adjacent lake that occasionally gets stocked with trout and offers paddle boat rentals as well. We opted for the 1/2 hour paddle boat package for $20, which turned out to be plenty of time for us with a few minutes to spare. Did I mention that the park was FREE? This saved us at least $130 if we were to have gone to the aquarium.

We love this park and went here frequently many years ago when our daughters were young. We were back visiting the peninsula last week and stopped to let them see the park. We were all so sad to see that children aren't allowed to climb on the locomotive any more. I hope something can be worked out so that will be available again. It is a very nice park, though.

Large slides, bridges, sand.. what else do kids want. The setting near the water is nice. There is a locomotive there but was locked (can't go into that part).. unsure why it was there.

i took my son to this playground last November while we were visiting Monterey area.His school teacher used to live this area and her kids also played here.it is a wonderful park for young kids lots of play structures and kid can get entertained hours and hours it is clean and safe and alos have washroom facilities outside the pak.pets also welcome my son had a grate time there.recommend this place who ever visiting with kids .please go

My husband & I stopped for lunch at the park. We used to bring our kids there to play in the 90s. Glad to see that the park is still there & well maintained! I noticed that the train engine is fenced off now. Kids used to be able to climb on it. Lots of nice play structures, slides. Nice soccer field next door too!

There was nothing really special about this park. There isn't a Dennis the Menace theme, just a statue and a good sized playground. It is in a really cool area but the park itself should not be so high up in the things to do section of Monterey.

This is an absolutely darling park with lots of activities for young children. It's clean it's safe it's got and easy access. There's actually a hamburger place right here, where you can grab a bite or snack, or drink.

Wow, what a great location this Dennis The Menace Park is. Right across the street from the beach and our hotel The Montery Bay Lodge. Food trucks and paddle boats were perfect for us ! The kids ran themselves silly for hours !

This place is always packed... It's free, but so much fun for the kids. My girls love everything about the park and during the summer you can also enjoy shave ice at the little vendor that's at the parking lot. It's a bit pricey but hey when it's hot and your kid wants one it's the right price for a shave ice :)

We visit this place once or few times a month so definitely should be on your to go list esp if you have young kids (mines are 3.5 and 27 months old).

Dennis the Menace Park in Monterey is a must-visit for families seeking a fun-filled day of adventure. The park’s vibrant and whimsical design creates a joyful ambiance, setting the stage for an unforgettable experience. With a variety of activities, including a fantastic playground, towering climbing structures, and beautiful gardens, there’s something for everyone. Safety is prioritized, and the park is accessible to children of all ages and abilities. It’s a gem that offers a memorable day of fun and adventure for the whole family.

This is a wonderful park for children and a great place for parents to turn their kids loose to play on all the structures, bridges, climbing walls, etc. Children can easily be here for a couple hours without getting bored. There is one entrance/exit and it's all fenced in. I noticed one other gate, which was open, that led to a fenced in baseball field, so it seems pretty safe. As popular as it is, parking in the main lot was tight, but there was also street parking. There are restrooms. It got its name because Hank Ketchum, the creator of Dennis the Menace, was the driving force in the creation of the park. It's a nice legacy.

We stopped here after visiting the Monterey aquarium and both my younger child and young teenager had so much fun running around. There are so many different types of play equipment items from a climbing wall to spinning merry-go-round and the usual play structures. The mix of things to do was really great. If you go in the day, they have little paddle boats you can rent on the other side of the park. It was a great way to get lots of energy out after a long car ride!

We took our kids to this park and they simply didn't want to leave and two hours later they were still playing. This is an unusual park for the kids with so much activities to do without getting bored. You may have to keep an eye on kids all the time. Park is very clean and interesting. I think it's a must visit park for the kids looking for some fun.

This is a nice play area if you have some kids that need to let off some steam. We also enjoy the paddle boats in the large El Estero park that is surrounding the park area. Just one of many places in Monterey that are nice to walk around and enjoy.

I completely agree with the review below from Straav. Great park, my 4 year old son loved it and went on everything. Nice and safe for him to run around and let off some steam.

My family LOVES this park. we've been here in the winter, summer, spring, and fall. It is by far, the best public family park I have ever been to. They have bridges, trains, paddle boats, garden mazes, swings, tunnels, BIG slides. everything you and your children need to have LOTS of fun!

Our two grandchildren exhausted themselves on the different pieces of equipment. They had a ball! They loved the physical challenges and overall experience.

This is a great park for young children, with many different playground equipment like slides, swings, merry-go-round, climbing wall, etc. There is a real-life locomotive but unfortunately it is fenced in with no access allowed. At some higher areas in th park you can see seagulls on the body of water next to the park.

Lots of interesting playground equipment and next to a lake, this is an ideal spot to take an active child to wear him or her out for the day...smile. Well maintained and built many years ago by the Monterey Jacyees it is next to Lake El Estero just outside of downtown Monterey. You can rent paddle boats to go out on the small lake too.

Cute little park with Denis the menace theme.

The old train was the coolest thing there.

OK I suppose if you have kids and a need to let them play. Otherwise skip it.

This was a nice surprise to find during our Monterey trip! It was the perfect place to let my kids stretch their legs and run the sillies out.

We stopped here on the way to dinner to let the kids play. Our three grandchildren loved it. They went from one fun thing to another. We cheered the oldest as she tried the rock climbing wall. We read about the history of the park and the train engine. The Dennis statues are very cute. It's a great park, and I would definitely recommend a stop here.

Just blocks from Monterey's Alvarado Street downtown, and many historic buildings and eateries to enjoy.
In the park, walk through City of Monterey cemetery to see names and dates of founders, prominent citizen families, and warriors that served our country.

This has been a wonderful children;s park for over 50 years. I enjoyed it as a child and so did my daughter. The equipment has been changed over the years and for a city park is maintained well. The biggest drawback is the parking lot is small and most of the time you have to wait for someone to leave. If you have children this is a MUST stop

A must do for families in the Monterey area. Easy to access on the way in to town or out of town before a long drive or a destination all of it's own for kids to explore.

Nice park to run off some energy. Too bad the train is fenced off. Great carving there of the namesake.

This is a nice large park. My son wanted to go here after seeing it in a brochure. When we got there he only wanted to stay a few minutes as he said it is for younger kids. He is 11 and although the equipment said to 12 years old, he thought it would be better for younger kids.

Great park! Soooo much for kids to experience. A must for kids. And it's free! Paddle boats, skateboard park, lots of climbing options, slides, a maze.....

I took my grandson to the park. he is a 4 years old active kid. he did not want to leave the place! I had to promise him that we will be back the next day.

This park has everything you could want as a kid: slides, swings, suspension bridge, tunnels, climbing wall, and a maze. As a parent, it is free, fenced in, and has sand or soft rubbery material covering the ground so kids don't get hurt if they fall. My 3 year old could have played here for hours! Best park in the county!

The park has lots of different equipment for kids of all ages. We also really enjoyed walking around the lake and seeing the ducks. Unfortunately the paddle boats weren't available the day we went, but that looked like a lot of fun, too.

When travelling, this playground is just a god send. An hour here allows kids to run off steam and have a break from travelling. Our kids are 2 and 3 and they had a ball. It was used as bribery many times and the kids certainly behaved to ensure they went back. Lots of equipment, really spacious and there are bathrooms next door too. If only the Monterey weather would allow the sun to shine more often ;)

A great place for the kids to run off some steam, and get their wiggles out. Lots to explore. A fun park. Short walk from the Monterey Bay Lodge.

This is a pretty amazing free public park!!! The park is older but very well done and had plenty to keep both our 6 year old and 18month old happy for over 2 hours! Go early as it gets pretty crowded.

Any children up to the age of 12 will enjoy this park. Great free entertainment for an hour or two. From the antique train to the apparatus it is very different from the average park.

The park is very big for a playground, but well worth a walk from the touristy areas! Played here for hours!

Date of Visit: Saturday, Dec 14th, 2019

When you visit Monterey, especially with kids, you may want to visit the Dennis the Menace park.
It is located not far from the downtown of Monterey.
This is a cute park, with a nice little Dennis the menace statue.

Enjoy your visit.

First and foremost- I have not been to this park since I was a child and that was well over 30 years ago, but I wanted to leave a review because I HAVE ALWAYS remembered this park. I remember when the roller slide was brand new, everything was bright and freshly painted, the hills where GIANT, the maze was amazing (and hedges were tall) and children could climb on the train which I now see fenced in. This park was amazing. I can only imagine to children now this is an awe-inspiring park still, though a little sad to me. I can not wait for the opportunity to take my own kids here on a family vacation.

My girlfriend and I stopped here after dinner to give her 9y/o and 7y/o a little bit of time to play. We were on our way to San Francisco and this park several different playgrounds, and there were a lot of other kids at the park for them to play with. It is an older park, but it appears to be well maintained and in good condition.

A large pond for bird life is the centre of the park. It has children's playground facilities and a sporting venue. There is also a tourist information office. You could rent paddle boats or just relax under one of the sparsely supplied trees.

This is a fun place for kids to stretch their legs. If you're an anxious parent, be warned. This is not an enclosed area and you can easily lose sight of your child. This isn't the type of park you can sit back and watch a small child play.

My daughter would rate this higher than I would, and I do encourage a visit if you have kids that need to run off some energy. It's a great park, with lots to do - but it's older and it shows. There's not great places for adults while the kids play.

My grandson loves this park, he would play here all day if I let him! There are a lot of play structures and a good variety of slides. There is also a huge train engine for the kids. The park is right by a small lake where you can rent paddle boats. This is one of our favorite parks. Great place to go to wear out the kids!

Took 6 yr old granddaughter to park. So much to do, so many slides, climbing, swings, rock wall.
She had a ball didn’t know what to do next.

Our 6 y.o. son really enjoyed the park. IT is conveniently located near Fisherman's Wharf and we enjoyed walking around the park while he played.

This is a fun and unique park, we spent a couple of hours there before smelling something awful. I think it was sewage, my wife thought it was rotting sealife, but is was time to leave. The only other gripe is that it is sad to see the train engine fenced off (it was obviously once a play structure, with handrails and stairs still intact) - I grew up near a park with a real train to play on just like that one. It stands as a testimony of how playgrounds have been ruined in the name of safety. RIP teeter-todders and mary-go-rounds and trains ...and orca whale shows.

I was excited to visit this park based on great recommendations here and on other sites. But this park wasn't really anything special. It is in dire need of attention, as you can see in my photos. There are literally cobwebs on much of the equipment and the sun bridge is rusting. Also disappointing that you can't climb on the train engine as I read you could.

If you happen to be in the area and need a place for the kids to play, then sure stop by. But I wouldn't plan a special trip here.

One of the best playgrounds ever. Came back to Monterey for son’s birthday because he kept talking about it after our first time in July. Fortunately, we only live two hours away.

Highly recommend. Great place for kids to get their energy out while families are social distancing during these crazy stressful times.

There a even park benches and tables to eat lunch. Some birds are aggressive probably from people feeding them. Please DO NOT feed the birds! And also remember to clean up after yourself. The playground is great because visitors do a great job of taking their trash out with them (or putting into proper bins near the exit).

Playground has many play structures, slides, a merry-go-round thing, a maze, walking bridge, pond with paddle boats, shaded picnic tables, restrooms(!), and the best part is the old steam engine. What a treat for the whole family!

We have loved this park since our very first trip to the Monterey Peninsula. It has seen improvements in the past few years. Our girls ages 12, 10 & 9 thoroughly enjoyed this place. A true gem for families in the area - people who live here and anyone visiting.

Note: No dogs allowed in the playground. But there is a great walking path around the park and lake, adjacent to the Playground.

We enjoyed our picnic lunch at Dennis the Menace Park in Monterey. This is a fun park to go to. I like the lakes, seeing the waterfowl, and just watching others have a great time,

On our drive down from the Bay Area, we used to stop here every time when the kids were little. It gives everyone a chance to stretch their legs after the drive, there is lots of things to climb for the kids & you can even rent peddle boats if you time it right.

there is a little food stand and a clean bathroom for grandparents who want to sit and watch theur kiddies play too. really nice safe spot with fencing for little children.

When I have relatives that come to visit, and they have kids under the age of 7, this is a great place to bring them. It is small but lot's to do. It's like a big playground with swings, monkey bars, multiple large slides and lot's of sand. Only problem is they hate to leave.

My four year old (okay, WE) really enjoyed the variety of playthings available here. He wore himself out with ease!

This park was recommended to us by family and we stopped by to let the kids run off some steam prior to a long drive out of state. We weren't disappointed. I highly recommend a visit if you have young kids who need to tire themselves out.

When i took my kids to Dennis the menace park they had a blast ..they didn't wanna leave ...we spend a few hours there & had lunch ...on the way back home to Bakersfield they couldn't wait to come back the in next few weeks...kids love this park i really recommended !!

Found this park on trip advisor (that's why I use TA) when we were staying in Monterey. It was walking distance from our hotel, just over the road from the beach and had loads of stuff for kids up to aged 12. What a great find, free parking too if not on foot. Toilets clean and accessible from the park.

My children loved this park with all it had on offer - I wished I could have been a child again too - great little maze, play structures, climbing walls and a variety of slides - no long queues for a turn!

It is amazing how many families come here and miss this park. We have been going to this park my whole life and we love it. It is a litte "safer" than it used to be, but it is still fun!

This park was so much fun for our family. We loved the many different activities for the kiddos. It makes the adults feel like a kid again. Well designed and fun to be had,

When my family went to the park,it was practically happy hour for the kids there!! It was well managed and BIG.There were 2 sections of the park,a bridge separating them.A rock climbing wall,skateboarding rink,a maze, and so much more to enjoy and explore!

Fun well maintained park with plenty of kids and parents around on a Saturday morning, there is something for each age. Enjoy!

Such a great park for our toddler. The only problem....leaving we had a tantrum on our hands. Lots of different things for several ages. Slides, swings, bridges, climbing frames and tunnels. Right beside the skateboard park and lake boats. Has toilets with baby change. Perfect to occupy the kids.

It's under construction. The park is closed today. My son is disappointed. Otherwise should be a fun place to visit after early dinner.

Large playground with lots of activities for the little ones. Suitable for both the youngest and a bit older kids. Free parking and kiosk just beside the park.

We took our young son (8) here to let of steam one afternoon, its a great place for kids to run around and play, so much for them to do, slides, swings, climbing wall and plenty more, obviously its also a great place for all the local children to go but all the kids seem to play well together, lots of families around, cafe and a toilet nearby as well. free parking as well but the parking place gets filled up quickly so may have to wait for a space. Its lovely to see a park designed for kids that is so well looked after, definitely recommend this place for families.

We stopped here after driving into Monterey. The kids were tired of sitting in the car and we were headed to the aquarium. This was the perfect place to burn off some energy and let the kids run. They had a great time and the park was larger than I expected. The suspended bridge was our favorite. It was a weekend but it wasn't very crowded at all. We stayed for over 2 hours and played

Great park for kids - skate park, lake with peddle boats, playground etc. Baseball field also. Right across the street from the beach/bay.

Great little park with lots to do for the kidos that is really close to cannery row and the spots you want to be. Lots of slides and stuff for the little littles and biggers too.

There's not a lot for families of small children in the Monterey area once you've "done" the Monterey Bay Aquarium, so Dennis the Menace Playground is a real godsend. Slides, climbing bars, all sorts of fun stuff for little ones to let off steam. Even better, it's FREE!

Lots of fun things to do in this park. A large steam train on entrance is a great photo opportunity. It is stationary so no rides! Good historical feature though. Refreshments stand offers cheap sweets, hot food and snow cones. Free parking. Clean toilets. Easy walk to Fisherman's Wharf from here.

Great place to visit with kids. We really liked the variety of slides, ladders, and swings for kids of all ages. Great views and the history of the park was interesting. The only downside was the sand, we were pouring it out of shoes for quite a while after the visit. Definitely would recommend it though!

When the boys were little (30 years ago) they really enjoyed the park as their thing to do, after visiting the Aquarium and the Wharf (and all the stuffy seafood restaurants). We returned (sans boys) for a nostalgic visit. Actually, the park is even better. Great place for young families with young children!

This great little gem is temporarily closed for a much needed refurbishment...Check before you go.The old steam engine has become a focus of controversy and it will interesting if the nanny state wins and forever prevents kids from clamboring all over it.

We found this park by chance, though I had read about it before our trip to Monterey. My daughter was very excited to play here, though the cartoon reference was lost on her. We stayed for about 45 minutes or so. There were tons of kids there, and many things to climb. I wouldn't say it was better than any local park, with the exception that there are several play structures rather than just one or two, so many more children can play at once. The equipment seemed old, but sturdy. Lots of spiderwebs underneath the slides and other structures. Be prepared to dump out sand from your child's shoes before getting back in the car!

Interesting structures made for cute pictures!

If you have kids, HOW COULD YOU NOT TAKE THEM HERE!?? you have to! This park is so creative and unique. Your kids will love it and you will too. HANDS DOWN (A MUST)....

The kids had so much fun! I love that there are different sized play structures so all of the kids have something to do.

Family, friendly, safe, clean, lots to do for all ages. I used to play here as a child during the 1960s. It is still wonderful, though we are no longer allowed on the train at least it is there for us to look at. Bring your lunch, your moms group, or just your own children, Great place!

I was surprised at the amenities that the park included, since it was completely free - not even a meter or anything in the parking lot.

Kids love this park, it gives them lots of open space to run around and plenty of structures to play on, there is a skate board park next to it that some older kids like. Sometimes parking can be hard to find, if you have to park across the street make sure you watch the kids as they like to bolt out of the car and run for the park.

We went here to have a picnic after the Aquarium. WOW! There are so many playing apparatus that it's like 5 parks in one!! Not to mention the bridge that kids love to run back and forth on. Kids had a great time.

It's more fun for little ones I think because of their options but honestly, kids up to tween can enjoy this park.

Wish there were a bit more eating tables, so be prepared to just sit on the grass

Kids of pretty much all ages will have a fabulous time here. The equipment is quite amazing. There is a suspension bridge that the kids can run across. There are numerous slides and some of them are quite high. There are ladders and lots of other activities to do in the park. There is a carousel which can be pushed around. I have been to many playgrounds and parks all over the world but this is by far the best public playground that I have ever visited. Young kids will be thrilled and will run from one place to another. There is plenty of free parking nearby. And the toilets are pretty clean.

Lots to do, great light and protection from strong oceans winds. Clean bathrooms. My 4 and 6 year old very active boys had a blast, as well as myself and their uncle.

This park has it all. I was chasing my 2 year old all over the place, through the maze, in the tunnels across the bridges. I can see why this place is so popular.Other than the typical parents who dont watch their kids (a few kids running around with pee soaked pants) and the adults surfing down the rolling slide its a fun park to go to. They have a cheap snack snack in the parking lot and parking across the street. We will be back for sure next time we are in Monterey to let the little one run around and blow off some steam

Dennis the Menace Park is a great playground area where you can bring the kids to run and play without spending a cent. Well, you can choose to spend a little money if you want to rent a paddle boat to venture out on the adjacent pond, but there is plenty to keep the little ones occupied right there in the playground.

Just stumbled across this park driving around one day while visiting Monterey. Unreal that this park is free to the public! Hedge maze, huge slides, Locomotive, snack bar, clean restrooms! Highly recommended place to take the kiddos to burn off some energy!

Note the park is closed on Tuesdays and daily at dusk. Lots of different equipment for a range of ages. Safe padded surfaces and sand.

We went to the park to expire for when our granddaughter visits. We loved the fenced area and felt that the park offered a lot for special needs child. Once we have a chance to tour with our granddaughter we can provide a better assessment.

Great place for kids, playground safe and fun. Doesn't hurt that there's a snack bar just outside the gates

always one of our favorites. in walking distance of fisherman's wharf. Ice cream, food available.Lots of local kids!

This park was very clean and there is plenty for kids to do here. My family had a blast here and will stop by every time we pass through Monterey.

If in Monterey with little ones, be sure to visit this park. It's super cute and fun and we have gone for years. Our kids are still having fun at ages of 8 and 10! Such a fun place!

What a legendary park left by local Monterey resident and Dennis the Menace author/cartoonist Hank Ketcham.

We were so envious of the array of play stuff and wished we were young enough to have a go but ce la vie. For the kids and young adults this park offers climbing walls, swings, suspension bridge, slides, skatepark, ball park and many more to allow an energy bursting play park for any thing from an hour to all day.

We especially enjoyed the steam train and reading about the effort it took to get it in situ - shame it was out of bounds until Health & Safety issues can be resolved.

The kids will love it.

We took our daughter here several decades ago and now our granddaughter has also gone! She says, "I'm going to the BEST park in the WORLD!" and she is right!
Read the reviews! This place, with the exception of the "for eyes only" train has only become better!
On warmer days, El Elstero is nearby for boat rides around the lake and there is a small snack stand.
With the MANY types of bridges, slides, and pure fun for children of all ages, this park is the BEST I've ever seen.
Parking can be a pill so come early as the children (or your inner child) will want to stay for hours or until exhaustion sets in.

I took my children here when they were young and now I am taking my grandchildren. What a great place to take young children and build memories. To bad they closed of the train. That was always fun for them. The skate park is right next to this park so when your done bring your roller blades or skate board. Loads of fun at both places. We go there almost every weekend.

We stopped at this park after spotting it from the road and it looked so fun we figured to take a break there. My son who is 12 had the best time there even though some playgrounds are now way too young for him. This playground is definitely one of the most impressive playgrounds we've come across in our travels and it offered us a nice break from the drive and I could happily relax and enjoy watching my son be active and play like a little kid!

We came here to get some energy out after a long drive here from Yosemite and before we drive the 17 mike drive that evening. The kids had fun exploring the unique equipment, playing tag, climbing, and going through tunnels and over bridges!

This park is definitely a fun place to go to with your kids. The only negative for us was the crowds. We went there on a Sunday afternoon and it was very busy. It is hard to have a relaxing afternoon as a parent if you have to watch your kids like a hawk when they are playing and running around in a park.

we've come to this park to Times now and both times were fantastic. The first time our son was one and he had a great time but the next time he was 3 and had a blast. Everyone is so friendly there's plenty I do and areas for picnicking. If you have time get a paddle boat and spend a little time on the water. You can also rent bikes from Fisherman's Wharf and head over

The park has changed over the years but is still a favorite. Well maintained and colorful, kids will find some apparatus to play on.

We visit this park every year when we're in Monterey. My kids can spend hours running and playing on all of the cool equipment.

We took our four-year-old granddaughter to this park and she LOVED it. There was so much for her to do. She loved the swings and slides and also adored the maze. The parking is good and very accessible as are the bathrooms. Wish we lived closer!

It's a small funky skateboard park, but if you are from out of town check it out. The overall park is amazing, they even have a train you can climb on.

Love Dennis the Menace Park! We've been taking kids and now gandkids here. there are long slides, and hedge maze, a bridge , small areas for smaller children, oh, and a real train engine you can climb around on, just to name a few. you won't be disappointed.

He just love this place stayed for hours and he didn't want to leave. We finally had to go when it just got to cold.

It is rare nowadays to see a city work so hard to provide entertainment for their younger population; Monterey definitely has excelled! With lots of tunnels, things to climb on, and a sheer dedication of space, it is fantastic. Unfortunately it looks like our litigious society has caused the close down of the real world locomotive to climb on; hopefully it can be re-opened for the 99.9% that did not fall or hurt themselves and desire to sue the city.

I enjoyed the park almost as much as my kids! They loved everything about this park. Running from one part to the next. The lake was beautiful around the park, and the skate park was fun to sit and watch. Will definitely be a return to park on our next visit.

They changed it from 30 years ago, I loved climbing on the train.... now you just get to look at it.

There are still great slides, a climbing wall, and plenty to entertain the kids up to 10ish then there is a skateboarding park for older kids.

There are candy, beverages and food for sale by the parking lot next to the baseball field entrance .... nothing fancy but the price is right.

It is still worth the visit but falls far from the old days.

We thought we'd get out and stretch our legs here! It was a really fun park! Lots of equipment to climb on, slide down, and play with!

Advertised in the Lonely Planet book as a 'Kick-A' park with lightening fast slides and towering climbing walls I was sorely disappointed. Yes, it is slightly better than an average play park but 'kick-a' it is not! The slides are as fast as a snail and the towering climbing wall towers over a sardine!

If entry had not been free I would be demanding my money back!

Always a hit with kids, esp. those under 10. Well maintained equipment. The area is clean and attractive

Heaps to do, but you seriously have to follow your kid close. It's massive and always really packed .

We spend a lot of time at parks in our own town and I still love Dennis the Menace the best. Every time we are in the area we have to make a visit. My children could keep busy here for hours. The only downside is how large it is with many "hiding spots" so it gets hard to keep track of two young children. But it's worth it with the great nap they will take after. I love to visit on our last morning and they will sleep the whole ride home!

Whenever we visit Monterey we make it a point to to take our kids to Dennis the Menace Park ( as if they would let us forget). There is so much to see and do for kids of all ages. While it is best to visit early in the morning or closer to dusk (less crowded) it is always a good time.

I remember coming here as a kid, back when the train was open.
Always a great place to let the kids run loose.