As your kids grow, you might be thinking your days at the park are behind you. Think again! The Oklahoma City metro is blossoming with new park features and community spaces designed especially to help tweens, teens and adults enjoy active fun.
Editor’s note: Some of the following amenities may have adjusted hours or programming. Please check with each venue directly to verify.
Energy Assist Futsal Courts
Various locations
Futsal courts have been popping up all over the metro as part of an initiative championed by Energy Assist Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the OKC Energy FC, in partnership with the U.S. Soccer Foundation, Fields & Futures, OG&E and 7-11. Organizers have opened 14 courts so far, many at Oklahoma City public middle schools, and there are plans to add 10 more.
In addition to the courts, Energy Assist is organizing Soccer for Success programming, which will help students in Title 1 schools with equipment needs and character and skill building. Students can attend camps and play alongside OKC Energy players.
Courts are open to the public. Hours vary by location. To find a futsal court near you, visit metrofamilymagazine.com/futsal
What is Futsal? Futsal is a variant of soccer played on a smaller, fenced court, usually on a hard, low-maintenance surface.
This fast-paced, freestyle soccer game is played by teams of five instead of the traditional 11-on-11.
Together Square in OKC
Sheridan Ave between Hudson & Walker Ave
Together Square, an Energy Assist project, was built through a partnership with OG&E and Team Griffin Foundation in an effort to provide more green space downtown. The project was recently awarded the 2020 Community Spirit Award from OKC Beautiful.
Adjacent to Myriad Gardens, the side-by-side basketball and futsal courts are open for public use daily between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. The Myriad Gardens Foundation coordinates reservations and rentals of the grounds for private events, and organizers host workshops and other special events throughout the year. To learn more, visit myriadgardens.org/
Nearby, another community basketball court sits at the southwest corner of Hudson and Reno Avenues. The court is home to The Cage basketball league and is open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.
Dream Court at Parmele Park
1308 N Janeway Ave, Moore
The Moore community celebrated the opening of a Dream Court this past fall in grand fashion with country music star and Moore resident Toby Keith and Nancy Lieberman in attendance. A basketball hall of famer and friend of Keith, Lieberman has helped build 86 Dream Courts across the nation to further the mission of providing kids a place to play. The Moore project is her foundation’s latest contribution. Families can challenge each other to a game of hoops on the high-performance, college-size court during regular park hours.
Creekside Bike Park
2217 E Lindsey St, Norman
Creekside Bike Park opened in September 2019 in response to residents’ requests for a close-to-home option to make the sport more accessible to kids. The 12-acre park was designed to offer families a progressive way to test their bike skills on features ranging from basic to advanced, including hills, a drop zone, jump line, a technical skills area and children’s biking playground.
Midtown Bocce Ball Courts
NW 9th St & Hudson Ave
An unused parking lot turned community gathering space, the Midtown Bocce Ball courts offer residents and visitors an active hangout. The two full-size courts are open year round and are free to use. Organizers have provided all the supplies needed for a friendly game, including an eye-catching mural detailing the rules of the game, an especially nice feature for beginners.
Kerr Park
123 Robert S Kerr Ave
Kerr Park underwent two recent renovations adding art pieces, a pavilion and a ping pong table. Designed to act as a backyard space for downtown residents, Kerr Park is a popular destination for photographers as well. The city provides paddles and balls for visitors’ use, and there is plenty of space for a round of bocce ball or Frisbee on the spacious lawn.
— Other parks great for tweens & teens —
• Wheeler Park Ferris Wheel & Riverfront Plaza, 1701 S Western Ave
• Perle Mesta Park, 1900 N Shartel Ave
• Oklahoma River Trails, access at 15th St and Portland Ave
For even more parks with features for tweens & teens, check out our round-up of skate parks & disc golf courses.
