Dennis the Menace Playground Monterey, CA

This weekend we headed up the coast of California to Carmel-by-the-Sea, a charming little seaside town just south of Monterey. A town flanked by beautiful rocky beaches, cottage style houses and vintage old town charm. During our exploration of the area, the Dennis the Menace Playground in Monterey was overwhelmingly recommend for us to visit.

This Dennis the Menace Park is a well-loved, very popular playground of the locals and visitors to the Monterey area. It was originally designed and created by Hank Ketchum, the creator of the Dennis the Menace comic strip. He donated the playground to the city of Monterey.

Where is Dennis the Menace Park?

The Dennis the Menace playground is located within the El Estero Park Complex on Pearl Street. It's right next to the Frank E. Sollecito Jr. Ballpark and the Monterey Youth Center.

The official Dennis the Menace Playground address is: 777 Pearl Street, Monterey, CA 93940.

and since the boys had already spent a good amount of time in the car driving to Carmel, we felt this was the place we should go to let them run around.

The Dennis the Menace Playground is a pretty fantastical place. Children can play to their hearts content, running across suspension bridges, roller slides, and jungle gyms. It has a vintage charm you don't get to experience in playground anymore. Plus, the soft ocean breeze is ever present, and is just a skip and a jump from the playground.

You are greeted at the entrance by this amazing bronze Dennis the Menace statue.

If you get the chance to visit the Dennis the Menace Playground, and I hope you do, plan on staying awhile because there are many things to explore and play within the park. It's huge with lots of very different areas to explore.

You'll find things like wiggly slides, rope bridges, a garden hedge maze, rock climbing walls, tunnels....and twirly, whirly, spinning poles.

A large sunshine play structure is the focal point of the park, part of the original playground equipment from when the park first opened in 1956.

a truly awesome roller slide runs down the hill and through the center of the sun. speaking from experience, it is fun for all ages! even adults can enjoy this slide...it is worth the bumpy ride.

when you get tired of playing and need to grab a drink, stick your head into the famous Lion Drinking Fountain. it has been one of the playground's icons since the beginning.

Two more original historic features of the Dennis the Menace Park still reside onsite. A old lion that was the original lion water fountain, and Steam Engine 1285. Park visitors used to be able to climb and play on this steam engine replica, however due to safety concerns, it is currently fenced off.

BUT...they are still pretty fun to look at.

the boys played and played. with the balls, on the swings, on the jungle gyms, in and out the tunnels and though out the entire playground. being able to explore a park with so much history was a real treat. not only is the Dennis the Menace Playground a wonderful place to play,

As I mentioned, the Dennis the Menace Playground is located within the larger El Estero Park which also has some awesome amenities. You will find a huge skate park that is a favorite of local skateboarders. There is a lake the wraps around the Dennis the Menace Playground. You can rent a paddle boat and paddle around the lake on a boat shaped like a swan.

Some of the El Estero Park amenities available:

• Playground
• Skate Park
• Dog Park
• Restrooms
• Paddle boating
• Dance Studio
• Baseball Field
• Exercise Course
• Fishing Pier
• Concession Stand
• Barbecue areas
• Lawn areas
• Picnic areas perfect for birthday parties

Are Dogs allowed in the Dennis the Menace Park?

Dogs are allowed in the larger El Estero Park area, but they should not be brought into the Dennis the Menace Playground area. El Estero Park has a dog park as well, perfect for large and small dogs.

Is the Dennis the Menace Park open?

YES!

The Dennis the Menace Playground is currently open daily 10 a.m. to dusk. It is closed on non-holiday Tuesdays, between the months of September through May.

visiting this little gem of Monterey was one of the highlights of our trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea. the boys played to their hearts content...even until the sun started to set beyond the oceans of Monterey. i highly recommend stopping at the Dennis the Menace Playground with your little ones if you are in the area. click here for more information about the Dennis the Menace Playground.