John Ball Park playground

The slides and swings here are solid for kids anywhere from toddlers up through the grade school years — nothing flashy, but everything actually works and gets used. Those old trees do a real job blocking the afternoon sun, which matters a lot during a Vancouver summer when you’re trying to outlast a five-year-old at the park. Grab one of the picnic tables and you’ve got a pretty decent setup for a low-key family lunch. The basketball court draws older kids and adults, so there’s usually something going on beyond just the playground if you’ve got a mixed-age crew.