Albert “Ray” Massey (Westside) Playground

If you’re on the west side of Gainesville and need a solid park that actually has its act together, this one delivers. The whole thing is fenced in, which makes a huge difference if you’ve got little ones who like to wander, and the shade trees keep it from turning into a miserable sweat-fest by 10am. Kids go nuts for the tunnels built into the turf mounds — it’s not your standard cookie-cutter setup. There’s also a merry-go-round, swings, clean restrooms with a baby changing station, and enough picnic tables that you can actually find a spot. With a bike track and walking path near the tree line, it works for the whole family, not just the toddler crowd.