A Tuesday at Pass Christian’s War Memorial Park: Why the New Playground Upgrades Are a Mom-Win

Sep 23

Today (yes, just a regular Tuesday!) we loaded up the kids and headed to War Memorial Park in Pass Christian—and we ended up staying almost the whole day. The kids didn’t want to leave, and honestly, I didn’t either. The park has always been a gem, but with the recent upgrades, it’s even better.

The Best Upgrade: No More Blue Rubber Mulch

Local moms, you’ll get it—the blue rubber mulch is finally gone! 🙌 That stuff was hot, messy, and not the healthiest for little ones. Now the whole play place is filled with fresh cedar mulch. It looks cleaner, smells amazing, and feels like a safer, healthier option for our kids.

New Equipment + Plenty of Shade

The new play structures are colorful, sturdy, and fun for a wide range of ages. My littlest stuck to the small slides and climbing spots, while my older kids made the monkey bars their personal challenge course. The best part? There’s so much shade around the play area. It’s what makes this park realistic for an all-day outing—you don’t feel like you’re baking in the sun while the kids play.

The Fun Music Zone

One of the coolest new touches is the music play area. The kids loved banging on the oversized xylophone and percussion drums—it was noisy in the best way, and it gave them a creative outlet when they needed a break from climbing and sliding.

Don’t Forget the Butterfly Garden

The butterfly garden area is still there (don’t skip it, mamas!). It’s such a sweet little spot to slow down and catch your breath in between play sessions. My kids loved wandering through it, and it gave me a few extra minutes of peace.

For the Grown-Ups Too

War Memorial Park isn’t just for the kids anymore. They’ve added adult exercise stations around the park, plus a rubber walking trail that loops the space. If you’ve got kids old enough to play a little more independently, you can sneak in a walk or a light workout while still keeping an eye on them.

Why We Stayed So Long

We grabbed snacks and set up under the oak trees, which made it easy to linger. The bathrooms were clean, the breeze off the coast was perfect, and since downtown Pass Christian is just a short walk away, grabbing a coffee or a quick bite is super easy if you didn’t pack a full lunch.

Final Takeaway

Pass Christian really nailed it with these upgrades. Between the cedar mulch, the new equipment, the music play zone, and the shady setup, it’s a place where moms can actually relax while the kids play. Add in the butterfly garden, the exercise stations, the walking trail, and the nearby food and coffee, and it’s officially one of our favorite go-to spots.

✨ Bonus for Moms: If you want more information about local parks, family events, and hidden gems across the Coast, be sure to download the new “Let’s Go Gulf Coast” app on iOS or Android. We’ve proudly partnered with them to bring this amazing resource straight to all of our Gulf Coast moms.

If you haven’t been since the changes, make a plan soon—even if it’s just a random Tuesday. Your kids will thank you, and so will your sanity.

Erin Brown

Erin Brown, mom of two girls [with a baby on the way] met her husband, Richie, at Mississippi State University. With degrees in journalism and sports marketing, she worked in marketing and design before shifting her focus to family and entrepreneurship. After Richie’s NFL career ended, they returned to his hometown of Long Beach, where they now run Beacon Contracting along with her ventures, The Mississippi Mom and FRAME – Branding Agency. Erin’s passion is encouraging women through faith, family, and community. She reminds moms: “Never underestimate the impact of grace in your parenting. The more you mirror Christ, the more lasting your legacy will be.”