Skinner (not Skinner's) Butte Park is the the location of the homestead of Eugene's founder, named…read moreEugene Skinner, and is one of the city's oldest parks. It's a large park right on the banks of the Willamette River and offers a variety of activities. There's the playground, RiverView Discovery Village, which is fairly large and has some pretty cool. It has various structures for kids to play on and around, representing storefronts, a stagecoach, and so on. There's the typical slides and swings and stuff that you'll find at a playground as well. They also have a "splash pad", which is a circular pipe sticking out of the ground about 10 feet, but it does spray so I guess it's something. The park fronts the river, and although the playground is not immediately on the bank of the river it's close enough that you'll want to keep a close watch on your children (every year there are tragedies along the Willamette). There is no fencing or anything around the playground, which seems like a no-brainer in this location but I guess not, and that's why I give the three-star rating instead of four. It's just a really nerve-wracking park especially for parents of small children. There could be more picnic tables around the playground... there's at least three, but that may be it. There's lots of green space for folks to spread out on the grass as well, which several people were doing whilst we were here celebrating my daughter's birthday. There was a drum circle that showed up about 20 minutes before we left as well and that was kinda cool. Part of the general park area are the Columns, remnants of a basalt quarry that existed for a few decades in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and is a pretty popular spot for rock climbing. It's a short distance from the playground area. I went with a class as a middle schooler and was not too keen on climbing myself. Then there's the titular Butte, which one can hike to the top or drive. I've never hiked up myself, but the drive is sometimes closed to traffic when fires are a concern. There are biking trails, a community garden, and the Campbell Senior Center is on the eastern edge of the park as well. There are bathrooms here, and although I didn't go into them my sister and friend did and apparently they're kinda weird--no doors on the stalls. I suppose that must be some sort of safety measure? It's fairly odd, regardless. There's a fairly decent sized parking lot to the east of the playground as well, and parking along the southern end of the park (at the base of the Butte).

It's always a nice time at Skinner's Butte Park no matter what time of year it is. A little colder…read moreon the path by the river, but still a breath of fresh air!

We love Hendricks Park in Eugene. On this visit we took a leisurely walk throughout the…read morerhododendron section and then a drive through the wooded section. If you're in Eugene or visiting Univ of Oregon (Sco Ducks!) be sure to take a moment and visit this park.

A Beautiful Return to a Place Full of Nature and History…read more Both my wife and I had visited this spot before when we lived in the area, so with a little time to spare before lunch nearby, we decided to revisit it with her son and daughter-in-law. Nestled on a forested butte just east of the University of Oregon in Eugene, this area is absolutely stunning. The rhododendron garden is especially beautiful, offering a peaceful and scenic escape that feels tucked away from the city. Beyond its natural beauty, the area is steeped in history. One of the most notable connections is to Steve Prefontaine--a legendary runner and seven-time NCAA champion for Oregon. He trained in and around Hendricks Park and tragically passed away in a car accident on a winding road just below the park. His legacy lives on not only in the running world but also in the early success of Nike, where he became the brand's first sponsored athlete and helped elevate it to global prominence. Whether you're a nature lover, a history buff, or just looking for a quiet place to explore, this area is well worth a visit.

A free garden with a wide variety of roses. We went there mid morning and there were quite a few…read morevolunteers tending to the grounds. They also have some dahlia and a few plants that I've never seen before (I had to look these up). Lots of happy bees here too. Some shaded tables if you want to hang out for a while. Definitely worth a visit if you're in the area.

Wow, I love this place and I'm so happy to have found it during my stay in Eugene…read more What a beautiful, wholesome yet exciting spot! This is indeed too free things to do in town. It is very well maintained and I enjoyed seeing so much variety there. Easy to visit as there are enough parking spot in the lot.

Tugman Park is a nice park in South Eugene. This neighborhood park has a large lawn area and a nice…read moresized playground at the back of the lawn. I like where the playground is situated, as even a runner is unlikely to find its way to the street before a caregiver catches up to them. The playground is has a sawdust surface throughout. There are some toddler swings and a structure that's suitable for small children which I appreciated. They had the "regular" type of baby swing but also combined swing I hadn't ever seen before, on which an older child or adult is on one side and the baby/toddler is on the other so they can swing together. Kind of a cool setup. There's also a sand pit here. I never know whether that's a good or bad thing... I put my little one in it so she could feel the sand and she was not having it. We'd met my friend here and her kids had a lot of fun in the sand until we moved to another area of the park. In addition to several benches scattered around the park, there are flush toilets here too. Parking is on the street only, but there's plenty of it.

Tugman Park is a well maintained neighborhood park in South Eugene. There is a large grass area for…read morepicnicking, easy street parking and a walking trail for a morning or evening stroll. This park does have bathrooms which is very convenient when bringing your kids here. This park has your average play structure along with some old school equipments like metal slide, metal jungle gym and teeter totters. On a hot day those might be too hot for the kiddos but there is a separate play structure and a coupe of benches to hang out on. There isn't much shade here besides one tree in the grass. It stays pretty quiet here which is nice and relaxing. If you need some food you are a short drive to Safeway, Albertsons or even Hideaway Bakery!

Charnel Mulligan Park is nice little park in the Jefferson Westside neighborhood. Though I never…read morehad heard of it growing up it's the closest to where my family lives nowadays. Most parks in Eugene don't have any sort of fence or anything, and this is no exception (the park I grew up with, Tandy Turn Park, is unusual in this regard). Thankfully this one is offset from the road enough that I didn't have to worry too much about my little one. It's a weird name, named after a Eugene pioneer and dedicated in 1984. There's a large green area where some folks were just relaxing, maybe having a picnic, when we were here and then there's the playground on the southwestern end. The playground has much of the typical equipment, including a swingset, teeter-totter, climbing equipment and slides. It's been renovated relatively recently in 2017, and they added some larger playground stuff, a half basketball court, a lot of benches, and a sandbox with real sand. My little one was drawn to that sandbox but I was not really keen to clean sand off her or out of the rental car so maybe another time. I didn't love the tot swings because they didn't really have a way for children to easily hold onto the chain, which was something my kiddo was struggling to do. The terrain of the park is largely grass, but the playground is sawdust. There's no dedicated parking for the park, but plenty of street parking surrounding and if it were a super busy day, I don't know that the church across the street would put up a fight about parking unless they were having an event. They do have a dedicated disabled spot on the street by the park, which is great, and it's worth knowing that the south entrance to the park has a few steps though the east side of the park is all street level without more than a curb step.

Every trip, we try to go on a few hikes and this year one we chose was Skinner's Butte in Eugene…read more It's easy to get to with plenty of free parking in the parks surrounding it. There are easy walking paths and multiple trails going up and down different sides. It was a cloudy day, but pleasant for walking. At the top are different lookout points with benches, picnic tables, etc., perfect for great views as you explore the area. The most fun part was the natural climbing wall on the one side. It has its own dedicated lot as well. Portions are closed, but most have permanent fixture points for climbing rope. Definitely a fun free activity if you're into climbing. This is a great free and active activity on your next trip here.

Skinner's Butte is a neat city park that offers a variety of activities including rock climbing,…read moreshort hikes, and a gorgeous overlook of the city and cokes with sufficient parking by any of the activities. During sunset, you'll find the viewpoint rather busy with all sorts of people hanging with their friends or loved ones eating, drinking, or blazing. A cool part of the city for sure.

Ok seriously, what an adorable neighborhood park! I was walking my dog a couple weeks ago and I…read moredecided to make my way down W 4th street and I am glad I did. This community cherished garden/park is definitely a local treasure. I spoke to a woman who told me that this park was made in the 80's with help from tons of local volunteers which makes it even more special! I love how the Whiteaker neighborhood is really the most community oriented neighborhood in Eugene. There is a nice soft rubber surface under the play structure and paved walking paths which are nice for those who are in wheelchairs or just need a flat surface to walk on. I love the beautiful trees that surround this place as well!

This small park is located high up in the Southwest Hills in a very quiet residential neighborhood…read more It has a big open grass area perfect for lying down in the summer to see the stars. Away from the light pollution of the city, it's the perfect place to see the Perseid meteor showers every August.

Nestled in the hills of Southwest Eugene lies this cute little park, perfect to take the kids to…read morerun around or ride their bikes in. The park is small but it's quiet since it's tucked away in a nice neighborhood. There are some benched and a water fountain but no bathrooms. There's a large grass area if you want to kick the ball around but it's pretty muddy in the winter. You have to park on the street but there are some paved pathways that are good for anyone whose handicap or for kids to learn to ride their bikes. I left a star off because the playground equipment really needs an update. It's geared towards older kids and not really toddler friendly besides the swings. Even the slide isn't accessible unless you can climb a wall. Everyone who was here was very friend and the street doesn't get much traffic because it's a dead end street which is nice. There are a few trees but it's mostly out in the open with a lot of sunlight.