As a crucial part of civic green open space, the urban waterfront, one of the most significant places for children’s outdoor activities, living, and studying, is of great importance to their development. This study selects three typical formal children’s play spaces and their surrounding landscape in Xuhui, Yangpu, and Qiantan greenbelt along the Huangpu River in Shanghai, conducting field research and observation methods to obtain the data on public preferences related to children’s play spaces of waterfront. By summarizing and analyzing current preferred activities of children’s play spaces and public satisfaction assessments of game facilities and landscape facilities, it is obvious that the study sample lacks quantity and types of formal children’s play spaces. Therefore, this thesis proposes the mesoscale and microcosmic methods for current issues. The former emphasizes humanized construction of the landscape’s slow-traffic system and diverse arrangements of children’s play spaces, while the other approves of reservation and innovation of regional cultures, construction of biophilia creative space, the entertaining experience of landscape elements, and interactive perception in respect to public art. At the same time, the design of children’s play space in the waterfront area of Yangshupu Power Station is an example for preliminary exploration from the perspective of regional experience, nature experience, entertainment experience, and art experience. The study aims to provide a theoretical basis and practical reference for the design of children’s play spaces on the urban waterfront.