The Salt Lake Valley
Join Free
The Salt Lake Valley
Evergreen Guide Issue #9004 · Anytime Guide
← All issues

The valley's best parks for an easy afternoon

Big shade, good playgrounds, and a pond or two, all free.

Good morning, Salt Lake.

A great park is the most underrated amenity in the valley: free, close, and good for everyone from toddlers to grandparents. These are the ones worth the short drive.

📍 30 seconds in the valley⏱️ 4 min read

🌳 Parks worth a lazy afternoon

Best of the week

Liberty Park, Salt Lake City

Eighty acres of the valley's best shade, with two big playgrounds, a pond with paddle boats, a splash pad, and Tracy Aviary inside the gates. The closest thing the city has to a Central Park.
🕐Hours: Daily, dawn to dusk
📍Address: 900 S 700 E, Salt Lake City
💵Cost: Free
Our take
Rent a paddle boat, hit the splash pad, then cool off under the old-growth trees.
⚠️ Heads up: A playground rebuild was underway in 2026; check what's open first.
Free familiesshadefree
Worth it

Tracy Aviary, Liberty Park

The oldest aviary in the country, nine acres and more than 400 birds across 135 species, with free-flight bird shows and hand-feeding. A real outing, not just a walk-through.
🕐Hours: Daily
📍Address: 589 E 1300 S, Salt Lake City
💵Cost: Paid admission
Our take
Catch a bird show; the keepers are genuinely great with kids' questions.
⚠️ Heads up: Separate ticket from the park, so budget for it before you walk over.
$$ familiesanimalsbirds
Worth it

Sugar House Park

110 acres with a big pond, a recently rebuilt playground, a 1.4-mile loop, and a stream the kids treat as a splash zone. The valley's default picnic and kite park.
🕐Hours: Daily, dawn to dusk
📍Address: 1330 E 2100 S, Salt Lake City
💵Cost: Free
Our take
The big west hill is the spot for kites in summer and sledding in winter.
⚠️ Heads up: Closed to setup for the July 4 fireworks; otherwise wide open.
Free familiespicnicfree
Worth it

Wheeler Historic Farm, Murray

A free, central working farm where kids meet animals, roam the grounds, and hit the playground in the southwest corner, with a small-fee wagon and cow-train ride. An easy, low-key morning.
🕐Hours: Daily, daytime
📍Address: 6351 S 900 E, Murray
💵Cost: Free (rides extra)
Our take
Mornings are coolest and the animals are most active.
⚠️ Heads up: Ride and milking-demo hours are seasonal; confirm before you promise them.
Free young kidsanimalsfree

Grab a blanket and claim a patch of shade. The valley’s best afternoons are free.

—
Got a tip, a new opening, or an event? Just reply, we read everything.
Read past issues · Refer a neighbor · Advertise with us