There are two playgrounds at Southaven County Park, the first of which is located on the east side of the large parking field. The parking lot is unpaved and rows are marked by logs laid end-to-end, so getting through here with a stroller can be a challenge. It can also be a mess of there's been a recent rain. The east playground features this younger playset, with simple climbs and a double plastic slide as well as a fairly tall corkscrew.

Parents of a certain age will remember a few playsets, like the above stagecoach, from  their own youthful exploits at Southaven. Next to the newer sets here, they're more nostalgic than fun to play on. The east playground is also home to a very challenging climbing set, with spinning monkey bars and handle swings for the older kids. In keeping with some of the retro equipment, the play surface is mostly hard dirt. The area is also wide open, so keep an eye on wandering kids.

The much larger play area north of the parking lot boasts multiple slides and climbing areas. There are built-in games throughout and many different levels to explore. The play surface here is wood mulch, and the whole area is enclosed with a post and rail fence. 

At one end of the large playset is a high platform with a pair of great slides. They're both made of plastic and they're steep. Side by side, there is a covered slide and a wave slide that are built for speed. The area is surrounded by benches for easy supervision, and there are literally hundreds of picnic tables in the area surrounding the playground.

There are two banks of swings outside the north play area, as well as public restrooms. The chains on the swings are bare, but they're in pretty good shape. For older kids, there are multiple ball fields nearby and a number of hiking trails. For conspiracy theorists, there was supposedly a UFO crash at the park in 1988... 

The Southaven County Park

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