McClemans Park

If you’ve got a toddler or a kid under 8, this Brookings park is honestly one of the better spots in town. The large slide is a legit hit — kids make a beeline for it every time — and the cushioned ground underneath means you’re not hovering quite as anxiously. The enclosed play area gives you a little breathing room too, especially if you’ve got a runner. Bring the dog, because the fenced dog park here is well-kept and even has a separate section for small dogs, which not every park bothers with. Parking is easy, the bike and walking paths loop around nicely, and the whole place just stays clean — which, if you’re a regular, you know isn’t something you can take for granted.