O’Fallon Parks & Recreation

The splash pad alone makes this place worth the trip, especially on a hot Illinois summer day when you need somewhere the kids can actually burn off energy. O’Fallon Parks & Rec has clearly put real money into updating things — the playground renovation shows, and the restrooms are genuinely clean, which isn’t something you can say about every park in the area. There are separate play areas for younger kids and older ones, so nobody’s getting bulldozed by a ten-year-old on the swings. The soccer facilities are well-kept, and the staff actually seem to care about the place. Bring a lunch, grab a picnic table, and plan to stay a while.