What to know: Grafa Park is one of Midland’s many neighborhood parks, tucked south of Wadley Avenue at Midkiff Road and Ma Mar Avenue. It’s a perfect park for the whole family, quick playdates, stroller walks, or a low-key picnic when you don’t want to fight crowds at larger parks.

If you’re new to Midland, it also doubles as part of our flood reservoir system, which is why the big field sometimes holds water after heavy rain.

The big picture: Grafa Park gives kids lots to do. The main playground has climbing areas, slides, and other fun elements that keep kids busy for hours. There are swings and toddler attractions, including a musical play piece, separate from the main structure, which helps if you have little kids and bigger kids at the same time.

There are picnic tables and benches, a drinking fountain, and trash cans, so it’s easy to pack lunch or snacks and stay a while. A paved quarter-mile walking loop circles the open lawn, perfect for strollers, scooters, or dog walks. The big grassy field is great for soccer, tag, and, when it floods, kayaking.

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Go deeper: The playground uses woodchip padding on top of a rubber foundation to help cushion falls. The walking path does run near Midkiff Road, but a tall fence the park from the road. The playground is on the residential side where traffic is lower. The park is usually pretty quiet, and street noise from Midkiff isn’t very noticeable. Parking is street-only, but there’s usually space.

What locals say: Parents usually mention how big the main play structure is. Some say it may be a little tall for younger toddlers, but it’s still easy to supervise. Families love the slides and how much there is for kids to explore.

People also talk about the shady trees and how nice it is for afternoon walks or simple lunch picnics. The park usually has families and dog walkers around, which helps it feel safe and active.

Catch up quick: Grafa Park was created in 1959, named in honor of Barney Gerald Grafa because of his generous contributions as a parks patron. Grafa was heavily invested in Midland’s future through real estate, philanthropy, and community contributions. He was a realtor and developer who developed neighborhoods like Grafaland and the Ma-Mar area.

He helped found Midland First Savings and Loan and served as a director, helping expand homeownership locally. He was also deeply involved in community groups, including the Lions Club.