Shaded Parks and Playgrounds in Phoenix

If you look at a printed map of the Phoenix area, you see that we have some huge parks. Don't get your hopes up, because most of them are desert hillsides with sparse vegetation. The classic Eastern city park, with shaded paths and cool green lawns, is harder to find. However, here are a few I have visited recently. I can testify that the trees and grass are really there.

Tips for Surviving Phoenix Area Parks

Almost any park, even the desert ones, will have shaded picnic tables under "ramadas", large open-sided shelters so you can eat without dying of sunstroke. A typical ramada will also have a nearby barbecue area if you don't mind grilling your lunch at 105F.

Most parks open just after sunrise and close at 10PM or later. Go early in the day and have breakfast in the park, or go after sundown. Wear sunscreen. Wear lots of sunscreen. Bring your own drinking water. Bring spray bottles filled with water to mist anyone who is getting too hot.

The Shady Side of Phoenix Area Parks

Central Phoenix's Encanto Park is the park we all remember from summer weekends as teenagers. It has mature trees, grassy lawns, picnic areas, and lagoons. It's full of birthday parties, flirting teens, and rampaging toddlers. WARNING: The lakes and lagoons are not for swimming. Keep your eye on small children.

Address: 2605 North 15th Avenue 15th Avenue and Encanto Blvd

Scottsdale's Indian Bend Wash isn't really a park. It is a grassy, tree-filled flood control channel disguised as a greenbelt that wanders along the western side of Scottsdale and connects to the Tempe Town Lake park area. It may fill with water after a heavy rain, but is drains quickly. There are paved paths along the edge of the wash connecting four parks: Vista Del Camino, Eldorado, Indian School and Chaparral.

Scottsdale's Indian School Park: This park has mostly sports fields, but the park area west of Hayden Road has trees and a lake. As usual, it has ramadas for picnics, and they can be reserved for large groups.

Address: 4289 N. Hayden Road, Scottsdale, AZ 85251

NOTE: Don't confuse this park with "Steele Indian School Park" at 300 East Indian School Road in central Phoenix. That's a great park with lots of grassy area, but there are very few trees.

Tempe's Town Lake is surrounded by park space. There isn't much grass but the walking trails are becoming nicely shaded by the native trees.

Address: This park is unlisted. I couldn't find an address for it, but the website gives directions to parking areas.
http://www.tempe.gov/lake/transportation/directions-parking.htm

North Scottsdale's McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park is a great park for kids, because of the trains. The park is free, but some of the exhibits and rides have fees. The park has train exhibits, train rides, a xeriscape plant garden, and ramada picnic areas.

Address: 7301 East Indian Bend Road, Scottsdale, AZ
http://www.therailroadpark.com/

Glendale's Velma Teague Branch Library is also known as "Murphy Park" for the person who donated the land in the last century, this is a good park for sitting and reading, watching old guys argue over chess, and letting small children run around a bit. If you get too hot, the library in the middle of the park is air conditioned.

Address: 7010 N. 58th Ave, Glendale, AZ 85301

Glendale's Sahuaro Ranch Park: On the site of an old ranch, this park has trees, grass, picnic tables, and peacocks. Beware of the peacocks, because they are greedy beggars and will mug toddlers for food.

Address: 9802 North 59th Avenue, Glendale, Arizona 85302
http://www.glendaleaz.com/parksandrecreation/sahuaroranchpark.cfm