Red Hill Community Park

Red Hill Community Park is the city's best all-purpose park day: 48 acres on the Red Hill slope with a half-acre lake full of ducks and turtles, an amphitheater, pickleball courts, and an exercise loop that runs about a mile. Hours are honest and long — 6am to 10pm daily.

Two timing notes. First, the South Beautification Project is underway, so expect construction fencing and rerouted paths in parts of the park until it wraps. Second, in season the park runs free movie nights on Fridays — check the city calendar for the current lineup.

The lake is the draw for small kids, the loop is the draw for everyone's step count, and the whole thing costs nothing. If you're triaging the city's parks, this one and Central Park are the two to know.