You can tell a lot about a place by how it plays. From rainbow-rope nets in Japan to timber forts in London, playgrounds aren’t just swings and slides anymore—they’re feats of creativity and engineering. At AAA State of Play, we know that great playgrounds go beyond fun. They’re where imagination, movement, and safety work together to build something unforgettable.
Across the world, designers are redefining what play can be—turning ordinary parks into interactive works of art. Here are ten of the most unusual playgrounds proving that when design dares to be different, play becomes extraordinary.
Built inside a former shoe factory, St. Louis’s City Museum is one of the most unusual playgrounds on Earth. Recycled bridges, chimneys, and even airplanes form an industrial jungle where kids crawl, slide, and climb through a city made of scrap metal and imagination. Every corner offers a new adventure: spiral slides dropping ten stories, suspended tunnels twisting through the air, and hidden crawl spaces that feel endless. It’s chaotic, thrilling, and utterly one-of-a-kind—a playground that proves no material is too ordinary for reinvention.
In the mountains of Hakone, Japan, the “Woods of Net” is a hand-woven wonder unlike any other. This breathtaking play sculpture by artist Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam fills a vast wooden dome with colorful webs of crocheted tunnels that stretch, bounce, and ripple underfoot. Children climb, swing, and explore freely in a soft, ever-moving landscape of color and motion. Among the world’s most unusual playgrounds, it transforms play into art and imagination into architecture—proving creativity can hang beautifully between safety and adventure.
Across Denmark, MONSTRUM creates some of the world’s most unusual playgrounds—places where design meets storytelling. Giant whales, coiled dragons, and tilted towers rise from the ground like living fairy tales. Each structure invites children to climb through, balance on, and imagine inside, turning play into a narrative experience. Beyond their striking forms, MONSTRUM’s designs emphasize safety, durability, and accessibility—reminding us that when creativity drives engineering, the result is pure wonder.
In Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London’s Tumbling Bay Playground turns natural materials into wild adventure. Built from timber, boulders, and sand, it invites children to explore, climb, and build their own stories among the elements. Water channels encourage dam-building, while log towers and rope bridges test balance and bravery. Among the world’s unusual playgrounds, Tumbling Bay stands out for its earthy authenticity—proof that the best play sometimes comes from getting a little muddy.
Spread across seven vibrant acres, Blaxland Riverside Park is one of Australia’s most unusual playgrounds—a playground that feels more like a festival of motion. Towering slides cut through grassy hills, water jets sparkle in the sun, and massive climbing frames invite kids of all ages to take on new challenges. Designed for inclusivity and excitement, it encourages exploration on every level. Here, play isn’t limited by fences—it’s powered by pure curiosity.
In Valencia, Spain, Parque Gulliver transforms literature into a large-scale adventure. A 230-foot sculpture of Gulliver lies sprawled across the ground, turning his body into slides, tunnels, and climbs. Children scale his arms, slide down his hair, and hide in the folds of his coat, bringing Jonathan Swift’s tale to life through play. As one of Europe’s most unusual playgrounds, it proves that great stories aren’t just read—they’re experienced.
Singapore’s Dragon Playground is a beloved relic of the city’s past and one of Asia’s most unusual playgrounds. Designed in the 1970s, its colorful mosaic dragon curls around a sandpit, blending art, heritage, and play. Decades later, it remains a cherished landmark—a reminder that community spirit and timeless design can make even simple structures unforgettable.
When space is scarce, creativity climbs. The Wall-Holla in Purmerend, Netherlands, reimagines play by stacking it vertically. Nets, tunnels, and climbing walls stretch upward in a compact, cage-like frame where kids move in three dimensions. It’s one of the most unusual playgrounds in Europe—an urban solution that shows how innovation and design can turn limited space into limitless fun.
Superkilen Park in Copenhagen is more than a playground—it’s a celebration of global culture and creativity. Designed to represent the city’s diversity, it features artifacts and play structures from over 50 countries: a Moroccan fountain, a Japanese slide, and a Thai boxing ring. Every corner tells a story. Among the world’s most unusual playgrounds, Superkilen stands out for blending art, inclusivity, and play into one bright, dynamic experience.
Hidden between Manhattan’s glass towers, Teardrop Park brings wilderness into the city. Kids climb stone walls, dig in sand pits, and splash through flowing water channels—all surrounded by native plants and natural rock formations. It’s one of New York’s most unusual playgrounds, offering urban children the freedom to explore, imagine, and get their hands dirty in a pocket of pure nature.
The world’s most unusual playgrounds remind us that play is more than slides and swings—it’s imagination brought to life. These spaces invite children to climb higher, think differently, and explore in ways that surprise and delight. They challenge the limits of design and prove that when creativity and engineering come together, ordinary parks can become destinations of wonder.
Bring that same spark of imagination to your community with AAA State of Play’s creative playground designs and equipment. Contact us today to start building something extraordinary—a place where fun takes shape and every adventure begins.
Mandy has been a playground salesperson and CPSI-certified playground inspector for 12 years. Her passion for play shines through her work, and with years of experience in the playground world, her knowledge of playground safety is unparalleled. In her free time, Mandy enjoys watching her kids play baseball.
