Oak Grove Park

Honestly, Oak Grove Park is one of those spots in Iowa City that locals keep to themselves — and for good reason. The shade trees alone make it worth the trip on a hot Iowa summer afternoon, and there’s always a picnic table free if you want to eat lunch while keeping an eye on the kids. Swings cover the younger crowd, and the basketball court gives older kids something to actually compete over. It stays clean, it stays quiet, and the open grass field means there’s room to spread out beyond the equipment. Good community park, full stop.