Outdoor activities in Provo winters are kind of hit or miss; the weather will either permit it or not. Here is a list of our favorite parks in the Provo area where running, tossing, eating, cooking, swinging and duck-feeding make it worth it to leave home when the sun is out.
1. Nielsen's Grove Park, Orem. Nielsen's Grove is a newer park with several acres of lush grass fields dotted with Italian picnic tables.
Attractions: Duck pond, grass field, children's playground, 50-foot swing, picnic tables, large table for big gatherings, greenhouse, flower gardens (mostly tulip), two large paved parking lots
Access: Parking lot from Sandhill road, alternate parking lot from 2000 South
Close to: Thai Evergreen, IHOP, Wal Mart
2. Rock Canyon Park, Provo. Rock Canyon Park provides pits and grills for cooking, and sloped hills make it great for sledding.
Attractions: Picnic tables with cooking facilities, restrooms, soccer fields, sledding hills, disc golf course
Access: Parking lots on 2620 North and Foothill Drive, street parking on Iriquois Drive
Close to: Day's Market, Ripple's Drive Inn
3. Harrsion Arboretum, Provo. Harrison Arboretum and Botany Pond is where science and landscaping meet at BYU. The park has a wildlife pond filled with ducks and turtles, and provides benches beneath the tall tree canopy.
Attractions: Duck pond, benches, small field, paved walking paths
Access: Parking on 800 North
Close to: The Brick Oven, J Dawgs
4. Springville Industrial Park, Springville. Zip down the freeway to exit 261 and you will arrive at the largest duck pond in the area.
Attractions: Duck pond, carp stream, walking paths, light traffic
Access: Street parking on Mountain Springs Parkway and Spring Creek Place
Close to: McDonalds
5. Kiwanis Park, Provo. Kiwanis Park is a favorite among BYU students for its great tennis courts and several acres of open fields.
Attractions: Tennis courts, outdoor basketball courts, soccer fields, softball field, two playgrounds
Access: Parking lot on 1100 East, Aspen Avenue parking lot off Birch Lane for tennis courts, Wasatch Elementary parking lot off 900 East
Close to: BYU Creamery on 9th, Subway