Orchard Park

This park has gotten a recent face-​lift, as it gained a new play structure in the summer of 2013. It was the result of a joint venture between a non-​profit (KaBoom!), the Pennsylvania Municipal League, and State College — built with the help of 175 volunteers, and with the inspiration from kids’ drawings!
This is a great place to visit if you have active kids, especially if they love to climb. There are all sorts of ladders & tunnels to climb, plus some of the longest slides in State College. The play structures for the younger & older kids are right next to each other, so the kids were mostly running back & forth between them, rather than staying on the structure that was designated for their age group.
The other cool thing in this park is an updated merry-​go-​round. Kids either climb inside and ride that way, or they hang from the ropes/​bars, but regardless of how they ride — it seems like fun!
The original play equipment is still there, so there are still a few swings just across the field from the new park. Orchard Park is huge — it covers nearly 20 acres, and includes a walking/​bike path, basketball & tennis courts, soccer fields, an amphitheater, picnic areas, … and bathrooms (right next to the older playground.)
To reach the new play area, just drive a ways down Bayberry Dr. (from Blue Course), and the playground is right behind the parking area. The official address is: (1060 – 1106 Bayberry Dr. State College, PA)