Our family loves to visit Jordan Valley Park! We mostly visit the park in the summertime when the kids can go and play in the fabulous water fountain. The water fountain aside, there are so many fun things that you can go and do in other months. There is a hockey league that your older kids and adults can participate in, ice skating for the family, a paved outside walking trail, or you can catch the local university's hockey team game. The park is located in mid-town Springfield near many fun dining establishments and is across the street from the Springfield Cardinals ballpark. Our family usually packs a lunch and tries get a spot under the park's lone shade tree. Be prepared to bring something for shade just in case you don't get there early enough to secure a spot.
Pack a picnic lunch and an extra set of clothes and go play in the park in downtown Springfield. The kids won't be able to resist the fountains of water and man-made stream. However, there isn't a playground so that limits the activity to an extent. There is also an ice skating rink if you'd prefer an alternate way to cool off.