This is my absolute favourite park in Brisbane. Shady trees provide hours of entertainment for…read morechildren and their monkey-childlike fathers as they run around playing games and seeing who can climb the highest. Situated next to a park with play equipment such as see-saw boards, swings, a train, climbing pirate ship complete with climbing rope net, fireman pole and slide, and so much more. Fully fenced with plenty of bench seats and covered seating areas for those who are past the climbing stage and inclination to swing around the play equipment like a three year old aka mums. You can stop in here for a quick play or a longer adventure, with the beach a stone's throw away. Not the best for building sand castles but all you need for a splash in the waves on a warm day. Being situated so close to the beach means on warm days, you barely notice it thanks to the constant cool ocean breeze. If you're coming in winter, bring your jacket and your beanie, that breeze has a bite. However, these aspects are not why this is MY favourite park. Sand and climbing trees are not enough to woo this caffeine lover over, despite happy girlies tuckered out after hours of play with me enjoying the blissful silence and peace that comes with happily entertained children. It is the fact that a walk over the road opens me up to a world of great coffee shops, sandwich 'bars', fish and chip shops and other similar take away options. It makes it a full day adventure for them, and me.

Outside of my own sentimental affection for this park (I used to sleep under it's trees on long…read morewalks home from the Valley), Bradshaw Park is actually a lovely little park to go and have a picnic while in the 'burbs. It's got a barbeque there if you want to put some snags on, and it's got plenty of shade provided by the grove of trees there. The park is also big enough for you to have a game of cricket or footy if that's your thing. The Kedron Brook bike path runs through Bradshaw Park, giving cyclists a nice place to rest alongside the waterway.

This was certainly quite a lovely park, and the fact that it is somewhat away from the hustle and…read morebustle of the main shopping districts certainly does add to the charm of the place. Mind you, it is also pretty difficult to get to, especially since the bus that happens to come this way doesn't pass through here all that often. Still, the park itself is really rather pleasant, and a nice place to relax.

Bowden Park is the home of Paul O'Brien Oval which hosts regular Little Athletics events and…read morecarnivals. The park includes a running track and facilities for long jump, hurdles, shot-put and other athletic activities. There is also a small playground, BBQs and toilets open from 6am-7pm. Dogs are allowed in the park, but should remain on a leash. However, it is very common to see people bring their dogs here and take them off a leash if they are trained.

What a great little park…read more Firstly there is a sheltered kids playground which caters for all ages. Just next to that is a barbecue area complete with tables, benches and gas barbecue which is also covered. On the other side if the playground is a dog run. And what a dog run for pooch. The fenced outer circle is an obstacle course for Fido. The inner fence circle is a mini oval which is the off-leash area. All of this is next to the Woodside rugby and soccer oval. Whoever planned this deserves five stars!

Murray Duus park and skate bowl is on Edinburgh Castle Road, Wavell Heights and has lots of…read morefacilities nearby. The Wavell Heights Community Hall, Bowls Club, Scout Group and Kung Fu and Karate clubs share the park area, and the park itself has BBQs, seating and a small playground. There is also a skate bowl, which has a small concrete bowl for skateboards and BMX for juniors. Murray Duus park also has a fenced, 'off leash dog' area, opposite the Wavell Heights Bowls Club. There is a dog poo bin, water tap and seats in the area.

If Leslie Knope were indeed a real person, I feel like her and the Pawnee Parks Department would be…read moredarn proud of a park like Teralba Park. It's got everything - sports fields, free gym equipment for a basic weight resistance workout using your own body weight, open fields for running the kids out of energy and cycle / running paths that take you all the way through to Alderley. As a local to the area it's a space I've not fully appreciated until recently and I feel incredibly lucky that this area is on our doorstep. With such a great and expansive areas this will become a firm picnic favourite for Sunday afternoons laying in the park.

This is a pretty good park to take the family to. Perfect for locals in the Mitchelton area with…read moreall the family friendly playing group and play equipment. There are tables and benches scattered throughout the park for those having picnics and resting spots for runners and exercisers. Not only is it a good park for the family to hang out in, it is one of the selected venues for the Queensland Running State Athletic Clubs Association Inc. Here, this association has developed a running track for recreational runners to compete. There are tracks in different distances including, 500m, 1000m, 1500m and 2000m. Good sized parks for both family and running purposes.

George Willmore Park holds a tiny bit of a soft spot in my heart because I grew up around here. The…read morepark has changed a lot over time, owing mostly to the standard overhaul all Brisbane parks received a decade or so ago in order to meet safety standards (the old uneven bars and slippery slide are gone; plastic jungle gyms are in). There's also more constant maintenance of the park, which now has neatly designated bark features in place of what used to be just dirt. Then again, I kind of preferred it dirty. Those were the days of Christmas fireworks at George Willmore Park, where I would grab the other kids and lie down beside the mortar itself, watching the fireworks despatch. (I was a good influence on others.) Those were also the days before the boom of public group exercise. Now, George Willmore Park holds boot camp sessions. My little park's all grown up. Those interested in boot camp sessions here should contact Conrad's Performance Personal Training. If you work up a sweat after a class you can always duck in the neighbouring Ferny Hills Pool, if it's summer.