Irwin Park

Irwin Park is a residential area park, filled with neighborhood children and families. There are streets and houses all around the park, with two ways to get to it. Traveling west on Barger Drive, you may take a right on either East or West Irwin Drive, both narrow bumpy roads. On East Irwin, there is only a small amount of street side parking and only a bench in front of some flowers to mark the park’s location, whereas off of W. Irwin there is a nice parking lot with a sign stating that this is where Irwin Park is.

The park is kind of divided into two parts.

On one side there is an open grassy area, with a baseball diamond on one side, and big fir trees for shade on the other side. There is also a basketball hoop where there were 3 teenagers playing a rousing basketball game. One boy missed the hoop and the ball went rolling across the sidewalk, where a young girl ran to retrieve it for him. Soon the girl had joined in the basketball game, making herself a new friend.

On the other side of the park there is a very nice play structure, complete with slides and a tunnel and two popular whirls. There is also a teeter totter, a wall-climbing structure, and a swing set that includes infant swings. A water fountain is available next to a covered picnic area that has three picnic tables in it. A sign indicates that the picnic tables can be reserved for special occasions. From the picnic area, you have a full view of the playground, basketball court and baseball field.

Whether you are looking for a place to play a favorite sport with some friends, or just have a picnic where the kids can play in a safe environment, Irwin Park is the perfect place to go.

Written by Sharon Phillips for DiscoverEugene.com

Photos by Sharon Phillips