The best parks near The Green on Campus Drive include:
- Scera Park, with its disc golf course and outdoor theater
- Nielsen’s Grove, Utah’s oldest park
- Hillcrest Park, with 12 lighted pickleball courts
- Lakeside Sports Park, with its fields and walking loop
- Mount Timpanogos Park, on the Provo River
- Palisade Park, home of the Orem Splash Pad
The closest of these are only about a mile from The Green, which sits at 499 W 960 S, right across Campus Drive from UVU.
After a day at the park, you can come home to The Green’s own outdoor spaces. The community has a pool, three hot tubs, a sunbathing deck, a sand volleyball court, outdoor ping pong, and fire pits for evenings with friends. With furnished studio, two-, three-, and four-bedroom apartments steps from UVU, you spend less time commuting and more time outside.
The Green on Campus Drive Guide to Parks Near UVU
Orem has an extensive city park system, and many of its best parks sit within a short bike ride or drive of UVU. Some are built for pickup games and pickleball. Others are better for a quiet walk, a picnic, or studying under the trees. Because The Green is right next to campus and central to south Orem, residents can reach most of the parks below in under 10 minutes. Mount Timpanogos Park at the mouth of Provo Canyon is the farthest, at about 15 minutes away.
Which Parks Are Closest to The Green?
These three parks are about a mile or two from The Green. They’re easy to reach for a quick break between classes or a weekend afternoon outside.
Scera Park Has Disc Golf and an Outdoor Theater
Scera Park, at 600 S State St, is about a mile from The Green and is one of the most varied parks in Orem. Highlights include:
- 25 acres of open space
- A nine-hole disc golf course, the only one in Orem’s park system
- The Scera Shell Outdoor Theatre, which hosts summer performances
- The Scera outdoor pool, open seasonally
- A 1.31-mile walking path
- Pavilions with BBQ braziers for group cookouts
If you want one park that covers a little of everything, start here.
Nielsen’s Grove Is Utah’s Oldest Park
Nielsen’s Grove, at 1931 S Sandhill Rd, is considered the oldest park in Utah. Danish immigrant Jorgen Nielsen started it in 1880, and Orem restored it in the early 2000s. Its 21 acres include a pond with a fountain, European-style garden design, historic structures, and about two miles of walking paths. Each spring, roughly 24,000 tulips bloom across the gardens.
The park is quieter than most in Orem, which makes it a good place to walk, read, or take a study break. The pond is home to ducks and geese, but posted signs ask visitors not to feed them.
Hillcrest Park Has 12 Lighted Pickleball Courts
Hillcrest Park, at 650 E 1400 S, is one of Orem’s newest parks and was built on the site of the former Hillcrest Elementary. It’s known for its 12 dedicated outdoor pickleball courts, which have permanent nets and lights. The park also has three playgrounds, a half-mile walking path, a large grass field, and timber poles for slacklining and hammocking.
Between disc golf, historic gardens, and lighted pickleball courts, the parks closest to The Green offer a lot of variety within a couple of miles of campus.
Where Can You Play Sports or Run Laps Near UVU?
For pickup soccer, softball, or a longer run, Lakeside Sports Park is the best option near campus. Located at 1850 W 400 S, about a mile and a half northwest of The Green, it’s one of the largest parks in Orem. It’s built around organized sports, but plenty of open space remains for casual games.
Here’s what Lakeside offers:
- 55 acres of fields and open space
- Eight soccer fields
- Five lighted baseball diamonds with grandstands and a snack bar during games
- A 1.76-mile walking path loop around the park
- One large pavilion that seats 180, plus six smaller pavilions
The 1.76-mile loop is long enough for a real workout without driving to a trailhead. That makes Lakeside a solid option for a morning run before class.
Which Parks Near Orem Are Worth a Short Drive?
Two more parks stand out when you have a little extra time. They’re farther from campus but offer features you won’t find closer to The Green.
Mount Timpanogos Park Connects to the Provo River Parkway
Mount Timpanogos Park sits off US-189 at the mouth of Provo Canyon, about 15 minutes from The Green. It has large grassy areas, pavilions with grills, and views of Mount Timpanogos. The paved Provo River Parkway runs right alongside it, so you can walk or bike along the river for miles.
The park is also home to the Orem Dog Park and the Orem Bike Skills Trail Park. The bike park has beginner, intermediate, and advanced mountain biking features. Ride the Provo River Parkway a few miles up the canyon and you’ll reach the base of Bridal Veil Falls.
Palisade Park Is Home to the Orem Splash Pad
Palisade Park, at 1313 E 800 N, is a 22-acre park built on the site of the former Cascade Golf Course. Its main draw is the Orem Splash Pad, open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. between Memorial Day and Labor Day, with a snack shack nearby. The park also has soccer fields, two tennis courts, and a walking path just under a mile long.
The extra drive is worth it for river trails, a mountain bike park, or a summer splash pad.
Which Orem Park Is Best for What You Want to Do?
With this many options, it helps to match the park to your plans. Here’s a quick guide:
- For a quick study break: Nielsen’s Grove, for its quiet paths and gardens
- For pickleball: Hillcrest Park, with 12 lighted courts
- For disc golf: Scera Park’s nine-hole course
- For running: Lakeside Sports Park’s 1.76-mile loop
- For pickup soccer or softball: Lakeside Sports Park
- For biking or walking with your dog: Mount Timpanogos Park and the Provo River Parkway
- For cooling off in summer: The Orem Splash Pad at Palisade Park or the Scera pool
Whatever you’re in the mood for, there’s a park near UVU that fits it.
Orem’s Best Parks Are Minutes From The Green
Parks near UVU cover everything from disc golf and pickleball to historic gardens and river trails. The closest options at Scera Park, Nielsen’s Grove, and Hillcrest Park are only about a mile or two from The Green. Lakeside Sports Park, Mount Timpanogos Park, and Palisade Park round out the list with sports fields, river access, and a seasonal splash pad.
The Green on Campus Drive adds to that with its own pool, three hot tubs, sunbathing deck, sand volleyball court, outdoor ping pong, fire pits, and a theater room, all directly across Campus Drive from UVU. Choose from furnished studio, two-, three-, and four-bedroom layouts with private locking bedrooms. There’s a setup to fit however you and your roommates want to live.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the closest park to UVU?
Scera Park, at 600 S State St, is about a mile from The Green and UVU’s campus, with disc golf, walking paths, an outdoor theater, and a seasonal pool.
Where can you play pickleball near UVU?
Hillcrest Park, at 650 E 1400 S in Orem, has 12 dedicated outdoor pickleball courts with permanent nets and lights.
Is there a disc golf course near UVU?
Yes. Scera Park has a nine-hole disc golf course, the only one in Orem’s city park system.
What is the oldest park in Utah?
Nielsen’s Grove in Orem is considered the oldest park in Utah. It was started in 1880 by Jorgen Nielsen and later restored by Orem City.
Is there a dog park in Orem?
Yes. The Orem Dog Park is located at Mount Timpanogos Park near the mouth of Provo Canyon, alongside the Provo River Parkway.
Where is the splash pad in Orem?
The Orem Splash Pad is at Palisade Park, 1313 E 800 N. It is open Monday through Saturday from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
