Westhampton Beach Debuts New Playground

Kids can immerse themselves in the pirate theme at the newly renovated Ria Del Bene Memorial Playground.
Kids can immerse themselves in the pirate theme at the newly renovated Ria Del Bene Memorial Playground.
8/5/24 - By Jennifer Voit

Westhampton Beach unveils a new action-packed pirate ship playground experience at Ria Del Bene Memorial Playground. Families with younger and older kids will love the redesigned village play space in Suffolk County. The new equipment transports families with a vibrant, interactive pirate theme that my kids had a blast exploring.

Read on for the nautical details of this new gem on Long Island's playground scene. 

For even more family outdoor adventures check out our Guide to Park and Playgrounds on Long Island and our Ultimate Long Island Summer Vacation Guide.

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Ria Del Bene Memorial Playground
There are climbing structures and slides catering to kids of different ages.  

Ria Del Bene Memorial Playground's Top Features

The completely renovated Ria Del Bene Memorial Playground is steps from Main Street in charming Westhampton Beach. The centrally located recreation area on Mill Road lets kids embrace their inner pirate. The playground layout features shaded areas and picnic tables that parents and caregivers will appreciate.

The upgraded, inclusive playground can accommodate kids with various physical, social, and cognitive abilities. The space greets you with a colorful pirate ship climbing structure that dazzled my kids as we pulled into the conveniently located adjacent parking lot. 

Pirate Ship Play and Spinner

The bright blue whimsical playground ship features impressive sails, skeleton images, and buccaneer designs. Kids can board the fun by climbing a rock wall, heading up the stairs, scaling a ladder, or tackling ropes. Kids can immerse themselves in the pirate spirit by walking the “plank” balance beam, climbing rock steps, and hanging over the “water” on the monkey bars. An open double slide is perfect for little ones or even babies with a parent. Two cool tube slides atop the pirate ship are a blast for older kids. The structure is even big enough for parents to navigate with toddlers. 

There is space for the kids to roam and run around too. A spinner with vertical climbing ropes was very popular and a big hit with my kids. My seven-year-old and four-year-old could not get enough of the spinning action. Parents can even hop on with little ones for a spin with no problem. 

Ria Del Bene Memorial Playground
Little mates can pretend to have treasure at the gold shop in the imaginative play area. 

Interactive Playground Panels

The space has a lot of interactive sensory elements for kids to play with inside the pirate ship and around the playground. Kids can ring bells to make music, manipulate gears, play Connect Three, spin a rain wheel with beads, and more. Little Mates can also pretend to have treasure at the gold shop. The playground has a great rubber surface to minimize bumps and bruises - a tan color for the “sand” and blue for the “ocean” play area. 

Baby and Toddler Fun

There is a shaded swing set area best for babies and toddlers. This part of the play area has a giant treasure chest for imaginary play. There is also an adorable small playhouse for crawlers and toddlers, complete with a crawling tunnel, interactive clock, knobs, and an outdoor garden. 

There are a lot of cute Instagram-worthy photo opportunities–one favorite is a pirate cutout to capture your little ones' perfect smiles. Kids from babies to tweens can enjoy a visit to this renovated spot. My kids instantly crowned this locale their new favorite East End playground and are already planning our next pirate adventure. 

Know Before You Go to Ria Del Bene Memorial Playground

  • Parking is free in the public lot next to the playground. 
  • The playground is fenced so that kids have more freedom to roam safely.
  • There are no bathrooms at Ria Del Bene Memorial Playground. The village does have public bathrooms a short walk into the town. 
  • There is lots of shade available at this new playground. A shaded pavilion in the middle of the playground has picnic tables. There are also sunshades over benches scattered around the play space. 
  • The shaded area is perfect for bringing a snack or lunch for the family. Remember to bring water and sunscreen. 
  • The playground is just behind the village shops and restaurants if you have time to explore after playing. 

Photos by the author

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Ria Del Bene Memorial Playground