Buford M. Watson Jr. Park

A beautiful park with 2 play structures (one gated for little kids) in downtown Lawrence! I love that it is very kid friendly--pesticide free, baby & regular swings, picnic benches/tables, a basketball court, and lots of room to run. I love that the playground has rubber ground instead of the tanbark or sand or little tire pieces (babies just pick them up and eat them). There aren't any bathrooms except for in the pool area or across the street at the library. My daughter loves it here and she is only 12 months old.

Great little park for the kids... A good amount of stuff to play on with slides and swings and standard park goodies. Nice area for a park, and right across the street from the library. Also,in the summer the water park is next door and down a block or so is the train park.
We had a great time ❤

This is one of my favorite parks in Lawrence, KS. I spent 4 years in this city for college and recently moved back full time last May. I have been to most of the parks in the city and have definitely been to all of those with an outdoor basketball court and this park is one of the best. If only we could get some lights down there at the basketball court! This park would be number one!

Buford M. Watson Jr. Park is the site of many community events throughout the year. It seems like most summer weekends can be spent here enjoying some sort of free, outdoor entertainment. Whether it's music, sports, shopping, or culture, the events are totally worth attending.

Everyday amenities include a medium-sized playground that features swings and a jungle gym. A basketball court can be found sunken into the landscape between the playground and Tennessee St at 7th. There are tall trees in this area that provide great shade. A wooden picnic table sits next to the basketball court.

To the south is the community pool. To the north there is a mostly open field and old-timey locomotive engine. A sidewalk circles everything and even cuts through in a few places.

This park is a great place to take the family, play pickup basketball, frisbee, attend community events, and much more. I've even played croquet here!

The people are really nice too. Overall this part of Lawrence has a strong community feel. Anyone recently moved to the area should definitely check it out. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

It's tragic that people can't respect public spaces. The train is entirely fenced off now, complete with warning sign, locks and chains. Other than not being able to have nice things, it's a quaint park. Grassy and shady.

Great park in the middle of downtown Lawrence. The old steam locomotive is cool for kids and adults! In the winter months the city floods a portion of the park for ice skating.

Impressive engine nice quiet location

Love it here. Always beautiful and clean. I even had some wonderful people return a lost cell phone a few months back at this park

Nice park and walking trail throughout

Well maintained open field park close to the library. Had our daughter’s school’s field day here and it was a blast!

The city takes such good care of the parks..great place to take the kids to let them run and play

Beautiful, spacious, park! It's also right across the street from the lawrence aquatic center! Double win.

Perfect. Enough equipment to entertain all kids, and enough tables for plenty. Great park.

Nice quiet park, I read here with some regularity. Nice passerby trickle with the soft, or loud, sounds of traffic going by.

Nice clean place good for family’s and in the summer time a pool is open

Lawrence has some beautiful parks. There are lots of pretty trees and hills and the landscaping is nice.

Great place to walk around or just hang out. Nice and peaceful with a lovely gazebo.

Very nice park, nice soft rubber floor on the play area.

Got great pics of train lite up for Christmas. People taken video of family playing while icey ground

The train was great my son loved it big fields to run and a good playground

I like the open view of the intersection at the same time the privacy of very few have knowledge of its existence.