For this week’s edition of Slide Guide, we paid a visit to one of Neenah’s major parks with a rocket-themed playground.
Riverside Park, which is on the Fox River, frequently hosts events in that community, including Community Fest, the Fox Cities Marathon and Riverside Players performances. But to Neenah residents, especially kids, it’s known as the “rocket park.”
The playground equipment at Riverside Park in Neenah is shaped like a rocket and has views of the Fox River. Slide Guide gave the park an 8 out of 10 for its fun shape and location, but noted fewer inclusive features and options for younger kids.
The park, which is over 150 years old, has had a rocket-shaped play structure since 1966. The original structure, a 33-foot rocket with a 16-foot slide, was replaced in 2007, according to Neenah News-Record archives.
Here’s our Slide Guide to Riverside Park.
This archived newspaper image, dated April 25, 1966, shows the original 33-foot rocket slide at Riverside Park.
Riverside Park, 500 E. Wisconsin Ave., Neenah
Surface: Turf
Fencing: No fence
Restrooms: Restrooms in shelter
Shade: Park benches under shade trees and awnings
Inclusive features: Paved walkway, harnessed swings
Other features: Drinking fountain, photo station, imaginative play opportunities, rock-climbing wall, sand digger, track ride
The slide at Riverside Park in Neenah is shaped like a rocket. The park has views of the Fox River.
Reviews: During our visit to Riverside Park, the first thing kids did when they arrived was race to the track ride and start climbing to the top of the rocket. Online reviewers also appreciated the blend of old and new and the park’s views of the Fox River and Neenah Harbor.
Slide Guide rating: 8/10. For aspiring astronauts who love climbing, this park is a great place to visit. And, while it has limited inclusive features and is rated for ages 5-12, we noticed children younger than 5 enjoying the playground’s smaller slides with a little help.
Food and drink nearby: Restaurants on West Wisconsin Avenue, such as Broken Tree Pizza, Hong Kong Buffet and Bona Fide Juicery, start at a little over a half-mile away from Riverside Park.
Rebecca Loroff is a K-12 education reporter for the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. She welcomes story tips and feedback. Contact her at rloroff@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Slide Guide: Riverside Park in Neenah known as the ‘rocket park’
