Orem Utah’s newest park also happens to be one of the best parks in all of Utah County. This park is packed with fun amenities, sports areas, an incredible play areas for the whole family. The park was recently completed in the Spring of 2024, and it’s worth planning a visit there as soon as you can.
About Hillcrest Park
Hillcrest Park was created where the former Hillcrest Elementary once stood. It’s located at 650 East 1400 South in Orem. The first phase of the park opened in the fall of 2023, and the remaining areas opened in the spring of 2024. The park is most easily accessed by car from 1400 South in Orem, however, there is a pedestrian walkway that makes it walkable from University Place Mall in Orem as well.
Playgrounds at Hillcrest Park
The playgrounds at Hillcrest Park are absolutely fantastic. There are several different play areas that are designed for different types of play and for different ability and difficulty levels. On our recent visit, We had several friends with us, and 7 kids ranging from age 6-12 and they all had a fantastic time.
The large play structure is very tall and is fantastic for kids with lots of energy. We love that it has several different slides off of it and that it can accommodate a lot of kids. There were tons of kids playing there on our last visit and our kids said it never felt crowded on the inside. The massive twisty slide was a huge hit with our older boys.
The pretend play area, was great for younger kids. There are several little houses for pretend play and they are perfect for letting your imagination run wild.
For kids who love wild climbing, there are several excellent places for that. The immediate draw will be the giant cargo rope climbing area, however, there are also several areas with logs and beams that are perfect for climbing and balance as well.
Kids who like to swing, will appreciate the large swingset as well. There are regular swings as well as toddler swings and even a great adaptive swing.
We also love that there is a smaller, separate playground with smaller playground equipment that’s more suitable for younger kids. This makes it so much easier for little kids to play without getting run over by big kids, AND for older kids to have space to play hard too. Right in between the two play areas is the large covered picnic pavilion, so it’s easy for parents to keep an eye on all of the kids on the playground equipment, regardless of their ages.
Splash Pad at Hillcrest Park Orem
When we recently visited, it was about 85 degrees, and the splash pad was such a hit with the kids. While it’s nothing fancy or elaborate, the fountains were perfect for cooling off and running around in. Around the splash pad, there are several tables and chairs with shade coverings over them.
The biggest downside to the splash pad is that it’s pretty far removed from the playground and there’s a manmade berm in between the two. Our kids love running back and forth between the playground and the water area, but it was difficult here. This made it hard for a parent to keep an eye on kids who were at the splash pad, while others wanted to be on the playground. It’s not a deal breaker, but you’ll probably need to segment your time between the playground and the splash pad areas.
Picnic Areas at Hillcrest Park
Hillcrest is a fantastic park for a family picnic. Not only are there plenty of areas with tables and seating, but there are lots of large grassy areas to throw down a picnic blanket as well.
If you’re looking for seating, you’ll first want to check out the area behind the gym on the west side of the park. There’s lots of casual seating here that is perfect for eating and relaxing for a while.
Our other town favorite spots to eat at Hillcrest are at the large, coerced pavilion by the playground, or at the tables and chairs around the splash pad (though there are not a lot of them, so grab one if you see it). You’ll also find several stand-alone covered picnic tables throughout the park.
Sports areas at Hillcrest Park
We love that Hillcrest has integrated sports areas into the park, making it a great place to hang out for families with young kids, teens, and adults. The large open grassy area is great for playing catch, frisbee, or kicking a ball around. Our kids were especially drawn to the pickleball courts, which dominated the northwest side of the park.
On the north side of the gym, you’ll also find some outdoor ping-pong tables, which are so much fun. We didn’t use them but were told that you can get balls and paddles to use from inside of the gym.
Restrooms at Hillcrest Park
Someone always needs the restroom whenever we visit a park, so we were so grateful to find that not only does this new Orem park have restrooms, but they are actually very nice!
The restrooms are located on the north side of the gym, next to the splash pad, accessed from the outside. We appreciated that not only were there both men’s and women’s restrooms but there were also 2 large family restrooms to use as well.
Hammock and Slackline Area
Another area that we saw at the park that could be a lot of fun is the hammock and slackline area. It’s right next to the pavilion and there are several places where you can anchor your own hammock or slackline too (hammocks and slacklines are not provided).
Overall Impressions of the New Hillcrest Park in Orem
We were incredibly impressed with everything about Hillcrest Park, and our kids are already begging to go back. There is a little bit of something for everyone from playgrounds and sports equipment to areas to relax and have a picnic. This new Orem park is so easy to get to, and we think it’s one of the best parks in Utah County!