Franklin Park — Attraction in Provo

Pros:

It's pretty, clean, and well kept.

Cons:

Very awkward way to get to it. The first time, the Google Maps Pin threw me off at least a couple of blocks north of it, and I thought the park didn't exist any longer.

I have never seen a playground with something else that is not "Sand" to the least. Not only does it look weird, but unappealing. And I don't know if that black thing is mulch, and if it is, I wouldn't take my children there: a) for the danger of getting a splinter - b) kids need to feel nature under their little feet, dirt, sand, to strengthen their legs and their little muscles!! They need to do "earthing," and how in the world are they going to experience that in this park?? 🙄

• Public Parks are "Not just" for looks they have multiple health functions for the city dwellers, but if they are going to take away the very thing that they should promote, "Nature," they are missing...

In the warm weather months, which is much of spring, all of summer and some of fall in Utah, this playground is much too hot to play on. There is no shade except for the pavilion, but that only covers the tables and not the playground. From 10 am to 6 pm it can be very hot! I recommend only coming if there weather has been rainy or cloudy or if you're coming early in the morning or late at night. Other than that, it's a fantastic playground, especially for...

I want to like Franklin Park, I really do.

But it's just too hot. There's no shade, the rubber playground surface is black and the playsets are made of dark colored plastics as well. There are only a few trees, and they're all at the edges of the park. It's right next to the railroad tracks, so I'd hesitate to leave kids there by themselves. Restrooms were clean though, so...