Get Out! Meadow Park

I love finding a new favorite park! We've been to all the city park playgrounds in Eugene and seen quite a few awesome parks so it's hard to impress me these days. Meadow Park, though, takes the cake.

We've driven past it so many times. You probably have too; it's right along Pioneer Parkway as you're nearing Downtown Springfield. There's a thin strip of park by the baseball field that borders Pioneer Parkway for longer than the rest of the park and until recently my husband, who grew up in Springfield, thought that the small strip of grass was the entire park. No, no it is not. It's actually quite the park.
If your kid gets bored playing with an ordinary playground, definitely try Meadow Park.

First let's talk about the other features besides the playground.
There is so much space to run around!
And really old trees with the most massive trunks that are perfect for a game of hide-and-seek.
There are two basketball courts; one even has adjustable basket heights!
There's a nice little covered area with a few picnic tables under it right next to the small kid (technically I think it's for 2-5 year olds) area that I could just imagine being the perfect spot for a little first birthday celebration in the park or, let's be real, for hiding under when it starts raining and the kids really want to stay at the park but mom doesn't want to get rained on.

Now I just have to gush about the playground! These playgrounds are packed with little features. There are lots of things where the kids have to use their own force to twirl themselves around. Lots of options for swinging, climbing, and sliding. Under the playground there is a "car," "store," matching game, and so much more. My daughter kept flitting around the playground finding new things to play with. My absolute favorite part of this fabulous park is the musical instruments, drums and xylophones. There's even room for several people to play at once to make a band. So fun! I'm definitely impressed by Meadow Park and will be coming back again soon!

Meadow Park
851 Mill St, Springfield

The Essentials
Bathrooms: Yes
Picnic Tables: Yes
Benches: Yes, lots
Water Fountains: Yes
Grass: Yes, lots of open grassy areas
Sidewalks: Yes
Bike Path: Yes
Covered Shelter: Yes
Fenced: Some fencing between nearest street and playground but not entirely fenced
Distance walking from parking to playground: 200 ft

Playground Features:  Small Kid and big kid area, Musical Instruments
Other Park Features: basketball courts, tennis court, baseball field, massive trees with huge trunks

Love/Hate: We LOVE the musical instruments and all the variety of play options. Also love the rubber tiles covering the playground which are a not-so-messy alternative to the usual bark chips or sand. Not so great is parking. If you're lucky, there are a few spots near the playground but there's also an apartment complex right there too with residents parking on the street and quite a few "No Parking" sections of the surrounding streets so when we went we had to park on the other side of the park and walk back around to the playground.

Have fun!