Allen Station Park

If you live in Allen and have kids under 8, this place probably already has a spot in your weekly rotation. The play train is a genuine hit — not some sad little prop bolted to the ground, but something kids actually climb on and make their own. On hot Texas afternoons, the misting feature earns its keep, and the shaded seating means parents don’t have to suffer through it. The walking and bike paths are well-kept, the restrooms are clean (which, honestly, you can’t say about every park around here), and the pond nearby gives the whole place a calm feel that’s hard to find this close to town.