I had a reader today ask me about parks in Columbus. We are new to the park scene this summer and still discovering Columbus’s parks and playgrounds.
Last summer, the munchkin was too small for parks.Now, we love a good park. With a 19-month old, my criteria for a good park is a good playground.
One of my favorite parks is Goodale Park located in Victorian Village. Goodale Park has two playgrounds – one for younger kids and one for older kids. The playground for the younger kids has baby swings – a must in our park criteria.
Goodale Park also has a lot of open space for the pumpkin to run around in and sidewalks that cross through the park.
Another favorite park is Homestead Park near Hilliard. Homestead has one of the largest playground areas that I’ve seen in Columbus, and is in three separate areas inside the park. The toddler area has baby swings and a sand-area that is perfect for the little ones. It is located near the front of the park.
The second playground area has a section for younger kids with baby swings and smaller equipment, and an area with larger equipment for older kids. The two areas are connected together, which is good for parents with kids of different ages.
The third area in Homestead Park is a waterpark. Again, there are two areas for the waterpark – one for older kids and one for younger kids. The water area for younger kids has faucets the children can turn on that flow into metal basins. My daughter enjoys this area. She is too young to turn the faucets on herself, so I do that for her. The waterpark for the older kids is called Fort Washington, and both times we’ve been there this summer, kids are running around spraying each other with water guns.
Both parks are great, and we are frequent visitors. In addition to these parks, we also love Slate Run Metro Park and Farm and the fountains at Ballantrea Park.
Locations: Goodale Park is located one block west of High Street at W. Goodale Street and Park Street in the Victorian Village. Homestead Park is at 4675 Cosgray Road, Hilliard, Ohio 43026.
What other parks are great in Columbus?
For young kids who don’t mind staying in the stroller or for older kids who can keep their hands off the flowers- a walk in the Park of Roses in Clintonville is beautiful. I enjoy it more than the kids. From Omaha to DC, I haven’t found another rose park as lovely.
Their website said the peak time is from mid-June to mid-September. The park also has a library, a rec center, and a playground, but I have not been to those.
http://www.clintonville.com/parkrec/rosegarden.html
Great suggestion! We’ll have to check out that park! Thanks.
I will add playground near the Park of Roses, especially for kids who are old enough to enjoy sand. We also like to to take a kid-friendly hike at Highbanks. OOh, and don’t forget about Inniswood Metropark. We were there for the Big Bugs exhibit last year and it was beautiful.
Thanks for the suggestions. I’ve never been to Highbanks or Inniswood. We’ll have to check those out!
Hi all,
I love these suggestions- I’m sort of new too.
I’ll add Ballantrae Park in Dublin as a sweet place for kiddos – big and small- to cool off for the summer. just know limited shaded seating, big rocks to sit on but its all sun exposed – i hate that but nothing to do about it- dont forget sunscreen and big floppy hat. opens dawn to dusk, and take a camera, priceless shots!
Yes! I love Ballantrae Park in Dublin too. That is a great water park for the summer.
The author above listed excellent choices – I am a huge park junkee with the kids; it’s the best way for me to focus on playing with the kids away from the phone and washer. Another great park for kids of all ages must be listed — it’s on Rt.23 3/4 mile north of Polaris Mall Rd. (coming from Polaris, turn rt. at Dairy Queen) and go 3/4 mile north. It’s in the neighborhood at the light behind fire station and library. It has a wonderful sandbox area with water running thru and a huge playarea and a smaller one for littler kids. (you will definitely love it) We bring a car or two and a little few boats. It’s behind their huge pool. It also has a wonderful shelter for lunch. The other great one is in Powell behind the old railroad area. This one has tons of water hoses the kids run under and thru. it’s really neat and has a large play area too. But Holmstead is the neatest no doubt. If you are in Gahanna area, Friendship Park has a nice playground; a bit older, but fun, but Gahanna has the neatest thing: Creekside. A beautiful creek play area where kids are really safe to wade in water (bring buckets and nets) and we make our own boats and picnic; my kids love this place too. Enjoy and email more great parks; I am always looking, but these are our favorites.
Oops.. I know I am sharing too much, but I know any mom looking here wants good park information.. I forgot to mention for everyone; NOT ENOUGH MOMS KNOW..about Slate Run. I have a 10 year old and didn’t hear until about 2 years ago; I wish I had;..all kids love this. It’s a free metro park. An old working farm with amazing animals and tons of farmhouse where the kids get to help and work. The staff is dressed and are wonderful. We go monthly. Check it out.!! Wonderful place. Each of my kids from 10 to 8 to 4 to 2 year old love it.. Look for Bubba’s Snowballs on the way to it on the corner.. best snow cones ever!!! A great 3 hour adventure.
Natalie, you can never share too much! Thanks for all the suggestions. We love Slate Run too. It is such a great park. I’ll have to check out Creekside next year with my daughter. That sounds like a great place.
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just to add info to natalie’s post’s above, the playground off 23 is the Orange Township Aquatic Center play area and the the water area in Powell is the Powell Splash Pad. I have never been to the water park in Dublin (am planning a trip) but I take my two boy’s to the Splash Pad in Powell and love it. It is basically a foam pad with fountains, jets, water guns, over head buckets that spill water and some tubes that have jets that spray out. Next to it is a dry playground that is pretty fun too. It can get crowded but there are picnic tables and shade so it is worth a trip. And we too love Slate Run, I used to go as a kid and forgot about it till this summer, the kids loved it especially because there were lots of baby animals! I have a friend who was just telling me about Creekside and I am eager to take the boys there for some creeking fun, a cool park in Westerville is the Huber Village park of Huber Village Rd. Westerville just redid it this year and it is wonderful, there is a older area, preschooler area and a toddler area. But not lots of shade so bring cover!