10 Stroller-Friendly Parks in Fairfield County, CT — Grandkids Guide

Stroller-friendly doesn’t just mean paved paths. It means reasonable parking distance to the playground, accessible bathrooms, paths wide enough that you’re not doing obstacle course navigation, and ideally some shade. Here are 10 parks in Fairfield County that clear all those bars.

The Parks

1. Waveny Park, New Canaan

Flat. Wide paved paths. Playground is close to the parking lot — which matters more than you’d think when you’re managing a stroller plus a toddler who wants to run in the opposite direction. 300 acres with accessible picnic areas and pavilions.

Stroller note: Paved main paths; some grass sections that handle most strollers fine. Parking: Free, plentiful. Bathrooms: Yes, near the main playground area.

2. Sherwood Island State Park, Westport

One of the most accessible state parks in Connecticut. Paved paths along the shoreline, flat terrain throughout, several accessible picnic pavilions. The beach itself is harder on strollers, but the park areas around it are excellent.

Stroller note: Paved paths in the park areas; beach sand is harder going. Parking: Fee in season (CT State Park pass covers it). Bathrooms: Yes, seasonal.

3. Compo Beach Park, Westport

Wide paved paths along the waterfront. The playground equipment is accessible and relatively modern. The bandshell area has flat open space for toddler running. One of the nicest beach-park combinations in the county.

Stroller note: Excellent paved paths. Beach access is harder. Parking: Resident sticker required in summer after 8am; non-resident parking available before 8am and off-season. Bathrooms: Yes.

4. Calf Pasture Beach, Norwalk

Good paved paths, a waterfront walkway, a playground near the parking area. Less crowded than Compo on weekdays. The picnic area has covered pavilions.

Stroller note: Paved walkway along the water, accessible playground area. Parking: Fee in season. Bathrooms: Yes.

5. Taylor Farm Park, Norwalk

A hidden gem. Flat trails, a saltmarsh overlook boardwalk (smooth wood planks, stroller-friendly), and a quieter atmosphere than the larger parks. The boardwalk section is the highlight.

Stroller note: Boardwalk section is smooth; dirt paths passable in dry conditions. Parking: Free, small lot. Bathrooms: No — plan accordingly.

6. Cranbury Park, Norwalk

Paved internal roads through a former estate. Flat, beautiful, and usually uncrowded on weekdays. The open fields and mature trees make it a calmer alternative to the busier beach parks.

Stroller note: Paved roads throughout; some grassy areas. Parking: Free. Bathrooms: Seasonal.

7. Mianus River Park, Greenwich/Stamford

Flat trails alongside the river. The main trail is dirt but generally packed enough for most strollers. Great blue herons are regularly spotted. Kids love the rock-throwing access points.

Stroller note: Flat dirt trails — works for jogging strollers; standard strollers manage fine in dry conditions. Parking: Free, small roadside lots. Bathrooms: No.

8. Longshore Club Park, Westport

A full resort park with a pool (member access), walking paths, tennis, and waterfront picnic areas. The paths connecting the facilities are paved and flat. This is one of the more aesthetically beautiful parks in the county.

Stroller note: Paved paths between facilities. Parking: Paid; resident priority in summer. Bathrooms: Yes.

9. Fairfield Town Beach, Fairfield

The town beach’s adjoining park area has a flat paved walkway along the water. The playground is close to parking. It gets crowded on summer weekends but quiet on weekday mornings.

Stroller note: Paved walkway along waterfront; beach sand is difficult. Parking: Resident sticker in summer; limited non-resident spots. Bathrooms: Yes, seasonal.

10. Pomerance Park, Westport

A smaller local park — flat open field, accessible playground, quiet neighborhood setting. Less well-known, which means less crowded. Good for a low-key morning when you want space but not a full expedition.

Stroller note: Flat, partly paved playground area. Parking: Free, street parking. Bathrooms: No.

What Makes a Park Actually Stroller-Friendly

Parking proximity matters. The distance from car to playground is rarely mentioned in park descriptions, but it determines whether the trip is easy or exhausting. Waveny, Calf Pasture, and Compo all score well here.

Pavement vs. packed dirt. A lightweight jogging stroller handles most surfaces. A heavier traditional stroller needs pavement. Know your stroller before you pick a park.

Bathroom availability. With small grandkids, this is non-negotiable. All seasonal parks open bathrooms May through September. Off-season, plan ahead.

Time of day. Weekday mornings are consistently calmer across all these parks. You’ll have better parking, less crowd noise, and — if you’re going to water parks — you’ll avoid the summer-weekend parking scrambles.

See all Fairfield County parks with accessibility details at GrandkidsGuide.com/fairfield-county-ct/park/.