Tower Court Park

If you’ve got kids under 8 and haven’t figured out Tower Court Park yet, you’re missing out. It’s tucked into a quiet residential pocket of Iowa City, and honestly it punches above its weight — splash pad, solid climbing structure, multiple slides, and swings for the little ones who aren’t ready for the big stuff. The shade trees here are legit, and the shaded seating means you can actually sit comfortably instead of melting on a bench in July. Picnic tables make it easy to stretch a trip into a full afternoon, and parents will appreciate how open and visible the layout is. Street parking is easy enough, and the whole vibe is low-key neighborhood park — which is exactly what it should be.