Margaret T. Hance Park
Downtown Phoenix’s Margaret T. Hance Park is a true urban oasis. The 32-acre park features plenty of green spaces, fountains, playgrounds, walking paths, a volleyball court in addition to dog parks designated for small and large canines. The park is also home to the Japanese Tea House and Friendship Garden, where visitors can stroll through lush gardens, fountains, a koi pond, and even a tea house. If you spend enough time in Phoenix, you’re bound to go to an event at the park. The Hance Park is home to some of the city’s top festivals including the McDowell Mountain Music Festival, Phoenix Pizza Festival, and the Phoenix Festival of the Arts.
[tweetthis]#Phoenix is full of public parks. Have you visited all 5 of these top outdoor spaces? [/tweetthis]
Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt
The “Greenbelt” is Scottsdale’s crown jewel. Park-goers can enjoy 11-miles of parks, lakes, paths, and golf courses. Highlights include the kid-friendly McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park featuring train rides, carousel, tables, model railroad exhibit, and playgrounds. The Water Mark is one striking example of public art. These striking silver colored horses spew water and make for one gorgeous site. Just taking a stroll down the Greenbelt is a great way to pass an afternoon.
For a more detailed look at the park, check out this interactive Google map.
Encanto Park
Forbes magazine put Central Phoenix’s 222-acre Encanto Park on its list of “America’s Best City Parks” and for good reason, too. The water-attraction filled park features an impressive list of amenities including a playground, handball/racquetball court, a lagoon, a boat house, swimming pool, tennis and volleyball courts, nature trail, urban fishing and two golf courses. And it feels somewhat retro too. Kids ages 2 to 10 will dig the Enchanted Island Amusement Park. The park includes classic rides like a small train, a carousel, and bumper boats.Tempe Beach Park
Since 1920s, the 25-acre Tempe Beach Park has been a central part of Tempe. The park is a gateway to Tempe Town Lake and makes it a great place where you can kayak, stand-up paddleboard or rent a boat, and enjoy the sights that Tempe has to offer. If you’d rather not play in the water, you can run, walk, and bike on the wide paved paths that wind around the roughly five-mile circumference of the lake.
Veterans Oasis Park
Chandler’s 113-acre Veterans Oasis Park is one of Valley of the Sun’s most gorgeous public spaces. The park’s centerpiece is a stunning lake where visitors can snap gorgeous shots of the mountains and surrounding desert landscape. You also can get in a fishing session too. Park visitors also can work up a sweat on 4.5 miles of hiking trails, check out a butterfly and hummingbird environment, a playground, an outdoor amphitheater, and a picnic area.
For more information about adventuring in Phoenix, check out this post about the city’s top hiking trails. 
