Robert L. Smith Park

If you live on the west side of Charlotte, you probably already know about this one. Robert L. Smith Park got a brand-new playground not too long ago, and it’s a solid spot for kids aged 2 to 10 — slides, swings, good shade from the trees, and enough open grass field that the older ones can actually run around while the little ones do their thing. There’s a half-mile loop for bikes and scooters that gets a lot of use on weekends, plus a basketball court and soccer field if your crew needs more than just the playground. The forest edge gives it a quieter feel than a lot of Charlotte parks, and families hang around longer than you’d expect — partly because of the low-flying planes that pass over, which the kids go absolutely nuts for.