Bury Meadow Park

Right in the middle of Exeter, this one’s a solid go-to when you want green space without trekking out of the city. The play area has slides, swings, a tire swing, and a climbing structure — enough to keep a 4-year-old busy while you actually sit down for five minutes. It’s properly enclosed, which makes a difference, and there’s shaded seating so you’re not baking in the sun while you watch them. Picnic tables, open grass, a walking path — it’s got the basics covered without being overcomplicated. Locals with younger kids tend to rate it highly, and honestly it’s easy to see why when it’s this central and this spacious.