If you were asked this question — “Which are your five favorite city parks?” — how would you answer? With close to 300 from which to choose in Colorado Springs, it might not be an easy task to narrow your list to just five.

For me, parks go in and out of favor. I’ve added Panorama Park to my top five. Of course, Garden of the Gods and North Cheyenne Canon make the cut. I love Nancy Lewis Park because of the playground and pond. Rounding out my list is Memorial Park.

The city recently invested $4 million-plus into Memorial Park with more improvements coming. Gates, lights and cameras have reduced vandalism and illegal activity. The grounds and surrounding sidewalks look better. New benches, picnic tables, improved bathrooms and a parking lot near Swing High Playground are welcome changes.

Did you know there are great horseshoe courts in Memorial Park? Or a cricket practice site? Not to mention the skate park with a resurfaced vert ramp and a new, soon-to-be-installed aeration system in Prospect Lake to keep blue-green algae under control. And that’s only the beginning.

Other activities include swimming, fishing, kayaking, a velodrome open to the cycling public, ice skating, tennis courts, basketball courts, a fitness course plus sports fields. I’m guessing you had no idea all that was available in one park.

On the city’s southwest side, if you like playgrounds, check out the new one at Oak Meadows neighborhood park. It has universally accessible play equipment, and the slides are especially impressive. TOPS dollars, Office of Accessibility support and neighborhood donations made it possible.

Plenty of other city playgrounds are waiting for “their turn” to be improved.

In Denver, parts of two neighborhood parks recently were closed due to criminal activity. The playgrounds, dog park and sports fields remain open, but children are now forced to play in a partially closed park.

One way to keep Colorado Springs’ parks looking great and staying safe is to use them. When families fill parks, kids use sports fields and residents of all ages are enjoying play, picnics and physical activity, those who would destroy or damage parks go elsewhere.

Rediscover Memorial Park and don’t forget your horseshoes.

Davies is the executive director of the Trails and Open Space Coalition.