Payson Park Playground

Right off Back Cove, this playground punches well above its weight for a neighborhood spot. The fenced-in play area means you can actually relax while the little ones run loose — huge deal when you’ve got a toddler who has no concept of self-preservation. When it gets warm, the water feature becomes the main attraction, and fair warning: your kids will not want to leave. Parking is genuinely easy to find, which isn’t something you can say about most Portland parks, and the Back Cove trail is right there if you want to tack on a walk before or after. The pond views don’t hurt either.