Sir Cumference Playground

One of the quieter corners of City Park, and honestly that’s exactly why locals with younger kids keep coming back. The climbing setup — rope tower, wall, the works — gives the 4-and-up crowd plenty to do without the chaos you get at the bigger park spots. Toss in some musical equipment and you’ve got a solid mix that keeps things interesting. Shade trees do real work here on hot New Orleans afternoons, and having restrooms and free parking on-site makes it way less of a production. The bike track and walking path nearby mean you can easily stretch the outing if the kids still have energy left.