Juniper Park

Locals in this part of Bend know Juniper Park is worth the trip, especially in summer when the water feature becomes basically mandatory for anyone under ten. The climbing structure and musical equipment are newer additions that have held up well, and kids tend to bounce between all of it without you having to redirect them much. Shade trees actually do their job here — the seating areas stay cool even on hot Central Oregon afternoons, which is not something you can say about every park in town. There’s a soccer field and open grass for older kids or anyone who needs to burn off more energy, plus a walking path that connects nicely to the trails nearby. Bring lunch, because the picnic tables fill up fast on weekends.