Magnolia Park: splash pad, courts and room to run

Magnolia Park is one of the easier Hillsboro parks to visit with children of different ages, because it does not ask everyone to want the same thing at the same time.

The splash pad is the draw for toddlers and younger primary-age children. Water play holds attention in a way playground equipment often does not on a hot afternoon, and because there is nothing to climb and fall from, it is one of the few features where a parent can sit slightly further back.

For older children there are basketball and tennis courts. That combination is what makes the park work for a family spanning several ages: a nine-year-old with a basketball and a two-year-old in a splash pad can both be happy within sight of the same bench.

What to think about before you go. Splash pads are seasonal, so check whether the water is running before you build an afternoon around it. Bring a change of clothes and a towel even if you think you will not need one — children who did not intend to get wet usually do. Shade varies across Hillsboro parks and it is worth arriving with a hat rather than hoping for a tree.

Best for: mixed-age families, hot afternoons, and short visits that can end whenever the youngest has had enough.