Address: 5700 Oakland Mills Rd, Columbia, MD 21045 Website: https://www.howardcountymd.gov/parks-playgrounds-trails Type: Activity Setting: Outdoor Price: Free
Overview
The North playground at Blandair Regional Park is "Laura's Place" — a large, fully fenced, ADA-compliant "Play-for-All" playground built so kids of every ability can play side by side. It's split into six themed zones: a farm/barn area for crawlers and babies (0–2), a dinosaur area for toddlers and preschoolers (2–5), an outer-space area and a second big-kid structure (both 5–12), plus an all-ages musical "free notes" garden and a treehouse boardwalk. The whole thing is surrounded by a fence with a self-locking double gate, which is the real selling point for parents of runners.
Sweet spot is roughly ages 1–10. There's genuinely something for a baby and a 9-year-old at the same time, which is rare. Skip it if you're hoping to tire out a tween or teen — the older-kid challenge course with turf and timers is in a separate East area of the park, not here, and it's built for ages 13+.
What to know before you go
- Hours: Open daily from sunrise to sunset, the standard hours for Howard County parks.
- Cost: Free.
- Parking: Large free lot right beside the North playground. It fills up on spring and summer weekends; weekday mornings you'll have your pick.
- Restrooms: A restroom building with an adult changing table sits in the North area.
- Water: Water fountains on site, but bring your own bottles for a long visit.
- Stroller / wheelchair: Fully accessible. Poured rubber and accessible surfacing throughout, wide paths, no required transfers. This is one of the better wheelchair- and stroller-friendly playgrounds in Howard County.
- Shade: Sun shades cover parts of the play areas, but large stretches are open turf and equipment that bakes in midday summer sun. Bring hats and sunscreen.
- Food: Picnic tables and benches throughout, plus a pavilion. No concessions — pack your own snacks and lunch.
- What to bring: Sunscreen, hats, water, and a second adult if you've got more than one little one (more on that below).
Tips for families
- Bring two adults if you have multiple under-5s. The playground is huge and the zones spread out, so one kid bolts for the dinosaurs while another heads for the spaceship. Solo-parenting two toddlers here is a workout.
- The double-gate fence is the whole point. It's a self-closing, child-proof double gate — the safest playground in the area for a kid who runs. You can actually sit down for a minute.
- Babies and crawlers go to the farm/barn zone. It has lower structures, a butterfly-shaped shade canopy, and softer surfacing, away from the fast big-kid traffic.
- Go on a weekday morning if you can. Spring and summer weekends get packed; weekdays it's calm.
- Park and enter at the North lot specifically. Blandair has three separate play areas (North, West, and an East challenge course) at different entrances — North is Laura's Place, the big inclusive one. Don't accidentally aim for the West or East lots.
- Summer afternoons get hot on the equipment. Shade structures help, but plan a morning or late-afternoon visit in July and August and bring water.
- The musical "free notes" garden is a good reset spot when a younger sibling needs a break from the climbing structures.
Best time to visit
- Time of day: Mornings are coolest and least crowded. In summer, avoid the midday sun on the open turf; come before 11am or after 4pm.
- Day of week: Weekdays beat weekends by a wide margin. Spring and summer Saturdays and Sundays draw real crowds.
- Season: Spring and fall are ideal — comfortable temperatures and full sun isn't a problem. It's usable on sunny winter days if everyone bundles up. In steady rain it's a pass — there's no indoor option here.
- Weather backup: If rain rolls in, the nearby Robinson Nature Center makes a good indoor pivot.
FAQs
Is there parking? Yes — a large free lot sits right next to the North playground. It can fill on spring and summer weekends, but weekday parking is easy.
Is the playground fenced? Yes. Laura's Place is fully fenced with a self-closing, child-proof double gate at the entrance, which is a major draw for parents of young runners.
What ages is it good for? Roughly 1 to 10. There are dedicated zones for ages 0–2, 2–5, and two areas for 5–12, plus all-ages musical and treehouse sections. Older tweens and teens will be bored — the 13+ challenge course is in a separate East area of the park.
Is it stroller- and wheelchair-friendly? Yes. It's an ADA "Play-for-All" playground with accessible surfacing, wide paths, and no required transfers, so strollers and wheelchairs roll throughout.
Are there bathrooms? Yes. The North area has a restroom building with an adult changing table.
Can we bring our own food? Yes. There are picnic tables, benches, and a pavilion. There's no concession stand, so pack snacks, lunch, and water.
How long should we plan for? Most families spend 1.5 to 3 hours. The size and variety of zones easily fill a morning, especially with kids of different ages.
Is there shade on hot days? Partly. Sun shades cover sections of the play areas, but a lot of the equipment and turf is exposed and gets hot midday in summer. Bring hats, sunscreen, and water, and aim for a morning visit.
Helpful links
- Howard County Recreation & Parks — parks, playgrounds & trails — operating authority; current address, hours, amenities, and park alerts.
- Howard County dedication announcement for Laura's Place — the story behind the inclusive playground and a full list of the six themed zones.
- Visit Howard County — Blandair Regional Park listing — overview of all three play areas and park amenities.
- Visit Howard County — accessible playgrounds guide — context on Laura's Place among the county's inclusive playgrounds.
