JOHN DAY — Go outside and play! Isn’t that what Mom and Dad always said?

And before you say it’s too cold, icy or snowy to venture anywhere right now, there are ample opportunities to commune with nature and still not be far from civilization.

Thanks to efforts by the city of John Day and John Day-Canyon City Parks and Recreation, an extensive park and trail system in the town of John Day welcomes locals and visitors to stretch those muscles, get some fresh air and lose those holiday pounds without making a big deal out of it.

Need spectacular scenery? Most of the trails and parks hug the John Day River which meanders right through town.

Perhaps the “hub” of the system is the Seventh Street Complex at the north edge of town.

The expansive complex has grown over the years and now offers a vast array of recreation facilities: baseball and softball fields, playgrounds, bike and skate parks, pickleball, tennis and basketball courts, a disc golf course, a summer splash pad, cross-fit equipment, picnic areas, and restrooms and showers.

A mile-long paved pathway — the Jimmy Allen Trail — encircles the complex. Plenty of commemorative benches along the trail provide a break to relax and rejuvenate, if that’s what you need.

Grab a book while you’re at it from the Little Free Library near the trail’s sign in the parking lot.

Whew!

Oh, and of course, the pond! Stocked with trout by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Trafton Pond has a dock for fishing and ducks to feed, and is a popular attraction year-round.

Two smaller neighborhood parks have been added to the system in recent years — Davis Creek, off Valley View Drive, and Hill Family Park at the new cul-de-sac end of Northwest Canton Street.

Davis Creek, on the north side of the John Day River, has several hiking and biking trails, scenic overlooks of John Day, bird watching and a seasonal stream. There’s a small graveled parking area at the trailhead.

Hill Family City Park sits along the south banks of the John Day River and features an open green space, picnic areas and a few graveled walkways. A paved looped parking lot can accommodate just about any sized vehicle. Both parks have lots of shade, restrooms and trash service.

A footbridge over the John Day River from Hill Family Park connects with trails leading to Davis Creek, as well as pathways and sidewalks to the Seventh Street Complex. Folks can also cross over the river on Northwest Bridge Street.

In fact, between the trails, paths, sidewalks and bridges, pedestrians can navigate to the Grant County Fairgrounds and RV Park, the Kam Wah Chung Interpretive Center, downtown John Day and most residential areas of town.

Even more recently, improved sidewalks and bike paths on South Canyon Boulevard (Highway 395) now provide convenient access south of John Day to Grant Union High School.

Past that point, bike lanes on the highway lead all the way to Canyon City.

So if your New Year’s resolutions include a more active lifestyle and spending more time outdoors, what are you waiting for?

Just remember to bundle up — and for goodness sake, grab the kids and the dog, too!