Fairmeadows Park

If you’ve got kids under 10 and haven’t made it out to Fairmeadows yet, fix that. The splash pad is genuinely one of the better ones in Iowa City — low-key enough that toddlers aren’t getting knocked over, but interesting enough to hold attention for a solid hour. Beyond the water, there’s a solid climbing structure, slides, and swings including baby swings, so you’re not stuck hovering the whole time. Shade trees and covered seating actually make this a place adults can tolerate too, which isn’t always a given. Throw in a soccer field, clean restrooms, and proximity to trails if you want to stretch the trip out a bit.