Highland Park

Honestly one of the better spots in Iowa City for the under-6 crowd — the equipment is newer and you can tell, everything’s still in great shape. The music section with the bongo drums and bell chimes is a genuine hit, kids will stay on that thing longer than you’d expect. There’s solid shade from mature trees, and the picnic and grill area actually makes it worth packing a lunch rather than just swinging by for 20 minutes. It’s a quiet neighborhood park, so you’re not dealing with chaos, and parking is easy. Good water feature too, which buys you extra time on a warm afternoon.