The Essex County Regatta Playground is sometimes overshadowed by the more popular venue across the pond, the Turtle Back Zoo, but the playground holds its own ground in terms of enjoyment and pastime.

Sitting adjacent to the reservoir, the playground is located on some of the most beautiful land in Northern Jersey. Surrounded by the larger South Mountain Reservation, the area overall offers a scenic escape from city life and suburbia which factors into this favorable review. There is no street parking. Rather there is a dedicated, free parking lot, with an extensive overflow lot across the main avenue that runs parallel to the playground. From the various times we've visited, we have never seen the main parking lot filled to capacity.

After crossing the thoroughfare, you will encounter a large gazebo with picnic tables as well as public restrooms. To find the park, you will veer left toward a forested area. The short, but wooded pathway sets the tone for the park itself. This area and the landscaping is very well managed which becomes appealing to the playground goers.

To enter the park, you will pass through a large, gated entry which relies on the guests to secure. We found this very desirable with regards to the safety and security of our children and other children. The gate itself, when secured, would be hard for small children to open. This gives a bit of relief to parents whom allow their children to roam the large playground freely, giving a better ability to monitor the access of others in and out of the playground area. On the other side of the coin, it may seem a bit tight within the enclosed space when the playground is busy.

While not the biggest playground area we've seen in Northern Jersey (smaller than the nearby Van Saun Playground), the playsets and variety are still rather sizeable. The main play structure is in the unique design of a ship which gives the playground its playful nature. That is surrounded by smaller climbing and balancing sets. To the side of the main play structure, there is a smaller playset catered to toddlers. Almost as an annex, there is a section purely dedicated to swings and a ropes pyramid.

The playground area is moderately shaded (still recommend sunscreen on any clear day) and has Adirondack chairs around the perimeter to sit at. There are no picnic tables within the enclosed playground area, but you can simply step out and utilize the aforementioned gazebo, or do a full-on picnic on the grassy areas of the overall park.

Overall, the Regatta Playground is unique and a must visit if you are in the area.