Eugene has great parks but this is definitely a classic…read more For those in the basketball community this used to be the best park to catch a pickup game any day of the week in the summer. It rivaled the Bean courts and Underbridge as the place to play in town outside. Those who play here simply call it U.P. All the highschool and college players would come down here to play on the modest court that was small enough to run 4 on 4 fullcourt. Halfcourt shots were well within range of some of the guys who filled it up regularly. The wait could be long and would stretch as deep as six games on a good afternoon. But half the fun was hanging out with all the other ballers and watch the sunbathers out in the grass. Sadly, the old wood backboard is gone, replaced sometime in the early 2000's by a ridiculous single stantion, double rimmed metal behemoth. The games aren't as good anymore but you can still catch a game here if you're lucky. Usually just some out of town UO kids or nostalgic South cats. Good luck, and keep running those games.

University Park is a great neighborhood place to take your kids, dogs or even just yourself for…read moresome time outside. They have a playground for kids, basket ball court, large grass area with picnic tables, bathrooms and a baseball field. I always see many different types and ages of people enjoying outdoor activities here and it's located close to Sundance in case you need to grab a snack. There are trees to sit under on hot days and plenty of grass to lay out on. The bathrooms always surprise me that they don't have doors on the stalls! That's definitely something I've had to get used to living in Eugene because I've noticed this as multiple parks. This park is accessible by bus and has a bus stop very close to it. People do a good job of keeping this Park clean and I hope it stays that way. I'm pretty sure some events go on here during the summer but not positive which ones.

My 6 year old son and I love this playcafe. SO much to do from huge play structures to water play!…read moreHonestly he has the time of his life every time we go. And the theming is so fun :) It is always very clean and it was obvious to me that safety was taken very seriously. Which as a mom was top of my list! We booked a party for his birthday last month and it was perfect. So much fun for all the kids and I didn't have to clean or set up! It is a little pricey, but it felt more than worth it to me. The planner and hostess were both great and communication was great for us. Also yummy food and the coffee is good too, all of which was really affordable. Would love more kids meal options! My son doesn't have any allergies but if your kids do there are still lots of options. Highly recommend!! So happy this is now in our community.

I was a bit worried reading mixed reviews, but I'm glad my kids (4y/o) got to experience the cafe…read more The interior is very cute and I could tell a lot of thought went into this play space. You do have to sign waivers for your kids before you play, I do believe you can sign them online if you want to save time. Adults and kids are required to have grippy socks and they have cubbies to place your shoes. Though, there were a lot of adults wearing their shoes through the area somehow.. the first play zone has tunnels and slides. Then you walk into another area with seating booths. Past that there is a dark area with water tables (fishing) and then a blacklight sandpit area. The sandpit is where my kids had a lot of fun, however there really isn't any seating to watch your kids if you need to, so prepare to get sandy too. I believe they have a private breastfeeding area around as well. The last area is very open. It has a baby area, cafe, a nice smaller play structure, and random things. One thing I will say some kids were a little wild on the push carousel, so if you have younger ones I definitely would watch that area. There are no employees that monitor any of the areas, so it is very parent driven. Ventilation is very poor. Cleanliness, pretty decent for having kids everywhere. Food: generic, but my kids ate it and my coffee was good. Came within an hour. Pro tip: bring change of socks for after because most likely you will have sand! My kids definitely didn't want to leave, so I'll be coming back.

Brewer Park has 3 swings (1 baby swing), 2 slides, teeter totter, play structure for climbing,…read morebasketball court, picnic tables, and a large grassy area with lots of trees for shade. The ground covering is wood chips and there is no sand which is a plus if like me you don't like bringing home souvenirs from the park in your kiddos' shoes. The only down side was that the slides are not shaded and can get hot in the summer sun.

Adequate and quiet place to play, but not amazing. The equipment was pretty standard: they have two…read moreregular swings and a baby swing, slides, monkey bars, tunnel, and seesaw. Everything is pretty tall, so I would say it's probably better suited to kids over 8.

One of my favorite parks in Eugene for families! Loads of playground equipment for all ages from…read moretoddler and up, water table feature in the summer, basketball hoops, small skate park, large parking lot and year-round restrooms. What more could you want? The shelter is also available to rent out from the city for more formal gatherings or birthdays.

Bethel Community Park has something for everyone to enjoy:…read more + Playground equipment for the kiddos + Paved walking/running/biking paths + Plenty of grass for the doggers to sniff + Track and football field + Skate park The only downside to Bethel is the amount of feces along the walking paths. Pick up the poop, people!

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.

Laid back. We played frisbee with our dog on an open field and it was a blast. Bathrooms are…read moreunfortunately locked, this travel to the nearby restaurants if you need to go.

Monroe Park is located west of downtown Eugene. This is another one of your average neighborhood…read morepark but it also has basketball hoops and a nice play structure for kids with a sand area. Some of the area has hills and there are plenty of trees to find shade under on a hot day. There is grass for hanging out on and picnic tables for lunch time. This site actually used to be a school in the 60's but is now just a park. You can park on the street and there are also bathrooms for use if needed. What's special about this park is that it has public art for everyone to enjoy which adds a nice touch.

I drive by on W. 1st all the time and would have never known this park was located just a few…read moreblocks away, had it not been for a recent afternoon where I was carting my daughter around with me everywhere on errands and felt like she needed to get some wiggles out! So, I searched for a nearby park and found Sladden. This is a great park with newer playground equipment, a big open field, what looked like a basketball court (?) in the far corner, lots of bench and table seating, and restrooms. Big trees provide some nice shade as well. Will definitely be coming back!

Sladden is terrific, one of the best parks in town.  Few know of it…read more ​ It rests on four acres in the heart of the Rose Garden district just north of Whiteaker and is shaded by a majestic grove of old Douglas firs.  It's restful, covered and offers this:​ ​ -picnic table seating for about fifty​ -a children's playground​ -a tennis court​ -a basketball court​ -frisbee golf course​​ -restrooms with fountain​ -plenty of room to stretch out​ ​ It's half a block fom Maurie Jacobs Park/the Willamette River and a long block fom Eugene's Owen Rose Garden.​ ​ Terrific place for a summer potluck for just you and a few friends or an entire family reunion.​

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!