The first thing we noticed about Hillside (1) Park was the horrible parking situation. We could not find any street parking near the play structure. We ended up parking across the street in a residential area, which truth be told doesn’t have a lot of parking to spare on it’s own. You can imagine how we felt about that.
The play structure is varied. There is only one slide, which is not very exciting. The are does offer four regular swings, two infant swings and two tire swings. If your kids enjoy swinging more than they enjoy climbing on a structure, this is the park for them. There is a picnic table next to the play structure. There is a half basketball court, with a metal net that is in disrepair.
The basketball court also sported a nice size puddle, which our son enjoying running around and stomping in. The play structure did not interest him at all, but this puddle entertained him for over a half hour. Kids, right?
The park area also supports are large area with grass and trees.
The impressive gem of this park its it’s dog trails. There is an extensive off leash area there. I spotted at least 2 doggie stations in the park itself. I am certain there is more than three, as this map above suggests. The play structures proximity to the off leash areas did give my husband and I some slight concern. We are dog people, and we love dogs. We also know the potential for dogs and kids to not get along. It might just be the helicopter parents in us, or the fact that our son is not a fan of dogs.
Ratings:
(A scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is the least desirable and 5 is the most desirable)
Size: 5
Condition: 3
Amenities: 4
Safety: 3
Fun: 3.5
Overall Score: 3.5
If there is anything that could drastically improve this park it would be a parking lot. As a parent with a child who does always stay near me, or want to hold my hands, I would gladly sacrifice part of the spacious open area for a small parking lot. My husband and I also noticed that the play structures look older. The basketball hoop is metal and coming apart. The grounds, of course, are in excellent condition. Although this park does not get high scores for family fun, your dog will absolutely love this place. The extensive on and off leash trail system is sure to wear your pooch out. You can visit the Bend Parks and Rec website for this park, here.
Bend Family Park Tour 