Firemen’s Park

Tucked into one of Monona’s quieter neighborhoods, this little park is basically built for the under-5 crowd. There’s a sandbox and swings — nothing flashy, but honestly that’s all toddlers really need to stay occupied for an hour. The shade trees make a real difference on hot afternoons, and the picnic tables are well-placed if you want to set up lunch while keeping an eye on the kids. The open grass field gives bigger siblings room to run around without getting in the way of the little ones. Locals use it for small gatherings and community events too, so it has that laid-back neighborhood park feel that’s getting harder to find.