A local park with a playground, running loop, and museum.

I may not actually have moved my family to our town because of Heckscher Park, but it wouldn’t be a stretch to say that it was a big factor. We first discovered this park and playground when we lived 45 minutes away and considered it well worth the drive for an afternoon of play or exercise.

The playground itself is fantastic. Divided into two adjacent areas, one for ages 2 to 5 and the other for ages 5 to 12, you can easily supervise children in both without having to move a muscle. The little kid area will engage imaginations with a walk-in train (featuring a bell to ring), a merry-go-round, and animal figures to ride on.

Big kids can test their daring-do on bouncing ramps, rock-climbing walls, and more. There’s also a sandbox area, so bring along a pail and shovel!

Bonus points: the restrooms and changing tables are a stone’s throw from the playground, and they are kept reasonably clean.

Should your kids tire of the playground structures, there is no shortage of things to do in the park. The pond is always full of ducks, swans, and geese, and a walk around the water is doable for even the littlest legs. It’s also an even surface perfect for bringing your jogging stroller and doing a few laps.

The park also hosts free events throughout the year, including an art “draw out” in the spring, fall festival, musical concerts and events, and a family-friendly series of evening shows during the summer months.