Bob McFarland Park

If you live on the east side of Arlington, you probably already know about this one. Bob McFarland sits right up against some decent wooded trail access, so it feels a lot less suburban than most parks in the area — the shade trees actually do their job here, which matters in a Texas summer. Kids get the usual setup: slides, swings, a climbing structure that holds up well for the under-12 crowd. Bring a ball if your older ones want to shoot around on the basketball court while the little ones play. The walking path is worth a lap or two, especially in the morning before it heats up.