Within 20 miles of Bells, TX · Updated 2026-07-16Bells doesn't have a shaded playground confirmed inside town yet, and that matters once a summer afternoon turns brutal. Sherman's Old Settlers Park is the closest photo-confirmed pick, with Forest Park in Denison and Memorial Park in Howe rounding out the nearby options. Every playground on this list was checked against a real photo to confirm the shade actually sits over the equipment kids play on.
Top-Rated Shaded Playgrounds Near Bells
1. Old Settlers Park (Sherman)
For Bells families, plan about 17 min each way, and Sherman is easy to get around once you're there.
Location: 1609 N Harrison Avenue, Sherman, TX 75090
Sherman's biggest shaded pick: Old Settlers Park's cover sits over the equipment, with plenty of room to spread out around it.
Good to know: shade structure, playground, pavilion, baseball fields, trails, restrooms.
Parent tip: Also worth the drive: the shaded playgrounds near Sherman.
For current hours and seasonal closures, see the official Old Settlers Park page.
2. Forest Park (Denison)
Out of Bells, plan for about 18 min in the car, which makes Denison an easy weekday-afternoon trip from Bells.
Location: 300 W Crawford St, Denison, TX 75020
A complete stop north of Sherman: Forest Park's shaded structure, splash pad, and trails make it worth the drive.
Good to know: shade structure, playground, splash pad, pavilion, restrooms, trails.
Parent tip: Bring swimsuits for the splash pad next to the shaded play area. See the Denison playgrounds page for more.
For weather closures, seasonal restrictions, or maintenance schedules, view the Forest Park city page.
3. Memorial Park (Howe)
For a family coming from Bells, the drive clocks in at about 20 min without traffic, an easy add-on if you're already headed toward Howe.
Location: Howe, TX 75459
Green sails cover the net-climber at Howe Memorial Park. The main climbing structure sits in shade, a real find for a small town.
Good to know: shade sail, playground.
Parent tip: The sails cover the tall net-climber directly, so the main structure stays shaded midday.
Planning a specific day? Check the Memorial Park status page for closures first.
4. Forrest W. Moore Park (Van Alstyne)
A genuine about 24 min drive each way from Bells, worth it if the kids need serious space to roam.
Location: 1890 S. Waco St, Van Alstyne, TX 75495
Van Alstyne's best-covered playground is worth the drive from Anna when the in-town picks are crowded.
Good to know: shade canopy, playground, tennis court, basketball court, restrooms.
Parent tip: Worth the short drive north. See the Van Alstyne shaded playgrounds page for the full write-up.
Before you load up the car, review the Forrest W. Moore Park page for maintenance or event closures.
5. Central Social District Park (Van Alstyne)
A proper outing from Bells at 16.2 miles, but the scale here is hard to match closer to Bells.
Location: 215 E Van Alstyne Parkway, Van Alstyne, TX 75495
A hot-day two-for-one from Anna: Central Social District Park's shaded deck and splash pad sit together in Van Alstyne.
Good to know: shade structure, playground, splash pad, restrooms, trails.
Parent tip: Bring swimsuits and pair with Forrest W. Moore Park nearby.
6. Slayter Creek Park (Anna)
Not a quick stop from Bells at 19.6 miles, so it's best combined with other Anna stops to make the drive worthwhile.
Location: Anna, TX 75409
Real shade over the equipment kids use: Slayter Creek Park's sail covers the climber, with a creek trail nearby for extending the visit.
Good to know: shade sail, playground, trails.
Parent tip: Anna's best-covered play structure. Pair with a walk along the creek trail after playground time.
Save yourself a wasted trip — the Slayter Creek Park page lists current hours and closures.
7. Johnson Park (Anna)
From Bells, budget about 29 min each way, but Anna has enough to fill a full morning out.
Location: Anna, TX 75409
Johnson Park's shade covers the play equipment directly, a quieter option than Anna's bigger parks.
Good to know: shade structure, playground.
Parent tip: A solid backup when Slayter Creek and Aviator Park are busy.
How we picked these
Every pick here was checked against an actual photo, a city parks page, or Google Maps street view, to confirm a real shade sail or canopy sits directly over the play structure. Tree shade, a picnic pavilion off to the side, and the equipment's own tiny built-in roof don't count. Because genuinely shaded playgrounds are rare, this list draws from the towns around Bells rather than sticking to city limits.Planning your visit
A real shade sail stretches the playable window well past when an open structure turns miserable, though the mulch and metal underneath still hold heat, so bring water regardless. Forest Park in Denison and Central Social District Park in Van Alstyne both add splash pads if shade alone isn't enough.For more kids' events near Bells this week, see the Bells events page.
Bells Shaded Playground Checklist
- Touch-test the slide anyway: shade fabric blocks most direct sun, but dark plastic and metal near the canopy edges still heat up where the light angles in. A two-second palm check saves a burned leg.
- Water for everyone: shade cuts the sun, and a July afternoon is hot either way. One bottle per kid minimum; fountains aren't guaranteed to be running.
- Check what the canopy actually covers: every pick here passed a photo check for shade over the play equipment itself, but swings, toddler areas, or a second structure sometimes sit outside the sail. Each card says exactly what's covered.
- Sunscreen still applies: kids drift out from under the sail every few minutes, and reflected UV reaches under the edges. SPF 50+ before you leave the car.
Covered Playgrounds Near Bells: What Each Canopy Covers
- Splash pad on site: Forest Park and Central Social District Park pair the covered playground with a splash pad, so the cooldown is built in.
Best Times to Visit
A canopy buys you the mid-morning hours an open playground loses by 9:30 in a Texas July, but the air underneath still hits triple digits on the worst afternoons. Mornings and evenings stay the comfortable windows May through September. Spring and fall are all-day territory. Weekday mornings run quietest; on summer weekends the shaded parks fill before the open ones do, because every parent nearby knows the same trick.
Bells Shaded Playgrounds, Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best shaded playgrounds for kids near Bells, TX?
Our 2026 guide picks 7 standout shaded playgrounds within about 20 miles of Bells. The top picks include Old Settlers Park, Forest Park and Memorial Park, each chosen for kid-friendly layout, parent reviews, and how well it holds up on a weekend visit.
Are shaded playgrounds near Bells free?
Yes, every shaded playground in this guide is free to visit, with no admission fee or ticket required for Old Settlers Park, Forest Park, Memorial Park or any of the other picks.
What is the closest shaded playground to Bells?
Old Settlers Park in Sherman is the closest pick at about 11.1 miles from Bells. It's the easiest one to fit into a weekday afternoon, short drive, low commitment, easy to leave early if the kids melt down.
Are there covered playgrounds near Bells?
Yes. Every playground in this guide has a real sail, canopy, or roof over the play equipment itself, confirmed by photo before it made the list. Tree shade and picnic pavilions nearby don't count. Start with Old Settlers Park, Forest Park and Memorial Park, and each card above says exactly what the canopy covers.
Do shade sails actually keep playground equipment cool?
They help a lot, with limits. Shade fabric blocks most direct UV, so slides and rails stay touchable hours longer than on an open playground. In a Texas summer that means the difference between a playground you can use at 11 a.m. and one that's done by 9:30. What a sail can't do is cool the air, so bring water and still favor mornings on 100°F days.