McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park Review by greatparks

Review

Usually called "The Train Park," McCormick-Stillman is perfect for kids and train enthusiasts. And kid train enthusiasts.

Entrance to the park is free. Riding the miniature train costs $2 per passenger. The kids will love it. There's also a carousel they can ride on for a fee. Concessions are often available for sale near the museum (there are a number of historic train engines and cars that an older kid or train enthusiast wil enjoy).

The rest of the park is free. This consists of two distinct playgrounds and several picnic areas. The first playground is south of the train "depot," and offers just about every kind of playground amenity a kid could ask for - swings, slides, climbers, and the rest. Plus, it's shaded and right next to the restrooms. The second playground is a short walk to the west. This second playground has an "Old West" theme, with a pretend fort, jail, and stagecoach. Here kids can use their imaginations and play "cowboys and bandits."

If you're looking for a park to play sports, this isn't the one. But for the kids, it's hard to beat. Arrive early to avoid the crowds. And come during Christmastime when the train line is decorated with festive lights.

There's a Model Railroad Museum too. I'm not terribly interested in model railroad exhibits, but even so, it was pretty cool. It's really cool for the kiddos, and I'd imagine that any model train aficionados would love it!

Another awesome attraction here is the old Presidential Pullman Car, the Roald Amundsen. It was the private car for Presidents Roosevelt (FDR) and Truman. It's like a step back in time. Photos on the wall show FDR whiling away the time playing solitaire - an old-school game from an earlier time... To get to the Pullman Car, you go through a small but nice railroad museum that provides an introduction to how the trains were run: job descriptions, tools, and other old artefacts.