Description
Tom Ruane Park is a vibrant, award-winning public park located on the Sligo Road in Ballina. It is widely recognized as one of the best things to do with kids in Mayo, serving as a premier outdoor playground and community recreation category attraction. Overlooking the beautiful River Moy, this spacious facility features sustainable wooden play structures, wide paths, and excellent sports courts.
Visiting this beautifully maintained public facility is completely free, meaning families can enjoy all the play areas without purchasing any admission tickets. There are no hidden booking fees, gate tariffs, or hidden costs required to access the main grounds. Because the park is run as a public municipal amenity, no commercial entry requirements exist.
If you are looking for the best place for a day out with family and kids that combines energetic play with peaceful scenic views, this park is an exceptional option. Children can challenge themselves on the monkey bars, dash across open lawns, or explore the newly integrated sensory areas. It delivers a wholesome, inclusive day out that keeps toddlers, school-aged children, and teenagers fully occupied.
Features
- Free
- Host birthday parties: No
Features
Key Features
- Inclusive & Accessible Layout: The park features recently upgraded, highly inclusive play equipment designed for children of all abilities.
- Sensory Play Elements: The park provides a calm and engaging outdoor space tailored with sensory experiences in mind.
- Educational Day Out: Children can learn about local river ecosystems while tracking passing birdlife along the edge of the water.
Detailed Highlights
- The Massive Double Slide: This giant wooden climbing and sliding frame stands as a major focal point in the main play zone. Children love racing side-by-side down the twin chutes, making it a highly thrilling experience for siblings and friends.
- The High-Speed Zipline: A favorite for older kids and young thrill-seekers looking for an extra bit of adventure. Kids enjoy the feeling of rushing through the fresh air from one end of the grass runway to the other.
- The Wooden Maze Journey: A charming, ground-level timber maze constructed with sustainable wood frames. Toddlers and younger children love playing hide-and-seek among the partitions while figuring out the correct pathways.
- The All-Weather Football Pitch: A high-quality, durable artificial turf sports arena that stays usable throughout changing weather conditions. It provides older kids and teens the perfect spot to practice football drills or start a friendly match.
- The River Moy Walkway Trails: A smooth, pedestrian-friendly network of paths that stretches directly along the riverbank. Families love strolling down to the dedicated viewing platforms to spot local wildlife and fishing boats.
Beyond the Main Attraction
- Ballina Sensory Park: A brand-new, community-led inclusive facility built right alongside the main playground. It features calm, tranquil zones where neurodivergent children can relax and explore outdoor textures at their own pace.
- The Open Sports Courts: Publicly available tennis, basketball, and netball courts situated right inside the boundary fences.
- The Sustainable Play Village: An extensive collection of bucket swings, toddler swings, roundabouts, climbing structures, and wooden beams built over soft bark mulch.
- New for 2026 BoxUp Locker System: A solar-powered sports equipment rental unit introduced by the local council. Families can use a free smartphone app to unlock active sports gear, making it easier than ever to play tennis or basketball on the public courts.
1.02 miles
