Wilson Park Playground

Locals know Wilson Park is one of the more underrated spots in Bakersfield for a full afternoon out. The playground sits alongside a ball field, and there are four picnic tables if you want to make a day of it — restrooms are actually open and usable, which matters more than people admit. What really sets it apart are the paved trails that wind along a marsh and out through a big open field, so the kids can run while you actually decompress. It’s the kind of park where you show up for the playground and end up staying way longer than planned.