Elm Hill Park

If you’re dealing with an Akron summer and need somewhere that won’t cook your kids alive, this park delivers. The big shade trees actually do the work — you’re not squinting into full sun the whole time you’re there. There’s a fenced-off area for the little ones (2-5 crowd), which parents with toddlers will appreciate more than they expect, plus a separate setup for the older elementary kids so nobody’s getting bowled over by a nine-year-old. The metal slide is old-school in the best way, and the picnic tables under the trees make it easy to stretch the visit into lunch. Pack a cooler, hit the walking path after, and you’ve got a solid few hours without spending a dime.