Need a break? Why not meet up with other parents/ grandparents and enjoy some adult conversation while the kiddos run off all that excess energy?

Here’s a list of  awesome playground in Toledo and the surrounding areas….

Toledo Botanical Gardens

This is where childhood comes alive, where the imagination lives! The Toledo Botanical Gardens is a feast for the eyes, with gorgeous flowers, grasses, & ground coverings, layers upon layers of textures, its beauty is bountiful. It’s a living classroom where kiddos can learn about pioneer times, explore the vegetable gardens, & most recently allow their imaginations to roam freely in the Secret Forest!

Address: 5403 Elmer Drive Toledo, Ohio 43615

Phone: 419-270-7500

Website: https://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/toledo-botanical-garden/

Hours: Open 7 a.m. until dark every day

Admission: FREE

Amenities: Picnic area adjacent as well as restrooms

Kiddos can climb, jump, run, & explore their way through the Secret Forest. As you stroll up it’s reminiscent of a Secret Garden, with just the roof of the treehouse peeking up from the trees below and the wood threshold acting as the gate to imaginary play.

Once one walks through it the magic comes alive! You’re greeted by a multi-level treehouse complete with a suspended bridge, entirely enclosed climbing rope netted tube, and rope bridge with rope netting surrounding it, and an overall atmosphere of adventure!

After visiting the Secret Forest stop off at Schmucker’s down the road for lunch, dinner, or a shake! Located at, 2103 N Reynolds Rd, Toledo, OH 43615 it’s a local piece of history, established in 1948…open daily 5am-11pm & closed Sundays.

Lakeview Park 

Address: 1100 E Perry St, Port Clinton, OH 43452

Phone: 419-734-5522

Hours: Dawn-Dusk

Amenities: Beach Access, Restrooms, Sheltered Picnic Areas, Charcoal Grills  Playground, Basketball Court

Why is this park so amazing?

One word, PLAYGROUND!! Its adorable nautical themed playground which is conveniently located across from the beach will keep your kiddos occupied for days! All the equipment is newer, well maintained, safe, and speaks to kiddos curiosity. Complete with slides, four person teeter-totter, sensory activities, climbing structures, swings, etc. Image all the fun of the old school playground equipment, but with an edgy, new age, face-lift.

The surface of the entire playground is rubber-like material making it easy to roll strollers, wheelchairs, and walkers on it and yet, safe for littles who might get so preoccupied with exploring their next piece of equipment that they misstep, trip, or fall.

The playground is all inclusive. It is ADA accessible with wider openings, there are swings with harnesses, ramps, the equipment is lowered and spaced out nicely.

There’s literally something for every age group which is so refreshing to us mamas that have kiddos that span in age from toddler to tween!

Pack a picnic or grab lunch on your way, because kiddos are going to want to stay. And there’s a lot of shaded/covered picnic areas. Charcoal grills are available if you wish to grill.

And you can’t leave before walking on the beach! Located across from the playground.

 

County Farm Park 

Address: 2230 Platt Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48104

Phone: (734) 971-6337

Hours: Daily 6AM-9PM

Website: https://www.washtenaw.org/288/Parks-Recreation

Amenities: Clean restrooms, picnic tables, shelter area with picnic tables, playground

Brief History 

The land was bought from Claudius Britton in 1836 for $1200. A poor house and insane asylum was built in 1837 and used until 1917 when a brick hospital was constructed and named the Washtenaw Infirmary. The infirmary stood until 1967 when it was ordered to be closed or modernized. In 1972, the infirmary was vacated (and eventually razed) and the site began transitioning to parkland with the creation of community gardens, and over the next couple decades various trails and a perennial garden were created.Since 2000, the park has experienced significant ecological restoration efforts, including the removal of invasive plants, prairie restoration, and the creation of a wet meadow.  (Source)

County Farm Park is 141 acres of woodlands, gorgeous fields of wildflowers (like, seriously, if you’re a photographer or are looking to get pic of your fam/kiddos this is an ideal location…go past the playground and gardens, there’s a hill that’s perfection, and I bet the backdrop only gets better with the changing of the seasons), community gardens, and an amazing playground!

The playground farm theme is adorable with the windmill being the central focal point. The equipment is great for families with children of all ages.

There is a designated space for littles with a barn, slide, etc.

The larger equipment has space below for younger children and above for olders, so mom and dad can literally watch everyone at once.

Ground covering is soft in case kiddos get too distracted by their next destination and trip or fall.

There are swings for all children, including those with special needs.

You could literally spend an entire day at the playground alone!

But do explore beyond the playground…remind kiddos you can always come back! Or better yet get dinner to-go (They have an Olga’s Kitchen , who remembers Olga’s Kitchen? get it to-go, grab it, and go back to the park for dinner!)

Carr Park

Where: Temperance, MI 48182

Phone: (734) 224-7323

Website: http://www.bedfordmi.org/residents/carr_park.php

Amenities: Park offers permanent grills, benches, picnic tables, and an over-hang shelter housing additional picnic tables. The park has a basketball court, two volleyball courts, two tennis courts and a ball diamond.

Fun fact, the property where the six acre parcel of ground is located was originally deeded to the Upton Carr family by President Andrew Jackson in the 1830’s. It subsequently was sold by the Carr Family to the Temperance Rotary Club to be designated as a park.

Farnsworth

Where: 8505 S River Rd, Waterville, OH 43566.

Phone: (419) 779-6052

Website: https://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/farnsworth/

Amenities: Indoor and picnic shelter rental, there is a really nice, new, shelter adjacent (and restrooms too) that is available to rent along with a charcoal and gas grill, fishing, overnight camping and historical WPA buildings and bridges

Imagination Station Playground

If you are touring the Spangler Factory (Dum-Dum Factory) in Bryan, Ohio anytime soon then this playground needs to be on your itinerary! It is literally a hop, skip, & jump from the factory…or better yet, just ask the amazing Spangler worker behind the counter for directions to the playground (they have printouts). Pack a picnic lunch and make an afternoon of it in gorgeous Bryan, Ohio!

Where: 1313 Horton Trail, Bryan, OH 43506

Phone: 419-633-6030

Website: http://www.bryanparksandrec.com/

Amenities: Imagination Station Playground offers kids endless fun! There is a Toddler area, it’s partially enclosed, has a nice variety of picnicking options…picnic tables in sun and shade, restrooms, (no changing stations), it’s near the tennis courts, and is short walking distance from the parking lost…like, literally 10 feet, very close!

 

 

Need a rainy day suggestion?

New Hope has an indoor playground area…a KidZone play area full of exciting things for all preschoolers and elementary children (up to 5^th grade).  A trampoline, tube slide, racing slides, tunnels and obstacles are sure to keep your kids busy while you relax and watch them play.  They even have a toddler area within the room with toys specifically for little ones. Bring socks…no shoes on trampoline, etc.

KidZone Play Area New Hope Church

Address: 15627 US-127, Bryan, OH 43506

Phone: (419) 636-1362

Hours: KidZone is open to the public Monday – Thursday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM (check website for holiday hours)

Website: https://www.newhopecc.org/story.aspx?storyid=324

Imagination Kingdom

Where: 700 E Oak St. Wauseon, Ohio 43567

Website: https://momonthegoinholytoledo.com/2015/07/02/imagination-kingdom/

Amenities: Picnic area, restrooms, enclosed playground

Imagination Kingdom is a handicapped accessible playground located in Reighard Park, in Wauseon, OH. It is the first ever 100% plastic playground in Ohio. (Why plastic? Maintenance isn’t as much, it doesn’t require staining & sealing every year like wooden playgrounds, and as an added bonus parents don’t have to worry about kiddos getting splinters). The playground project was funded, all $250,000, by a committee who solicited area businesses, organizations, and individuals. They also sold engraved pavers & fence pickets which can be seen as you walk up and around the playground. And get this, the playground was no only built by the community, but was entirely staffed by volunteers!! Ah-mazing!!

Wildwood

Address: 5100 W Central Ave. Toledo, OH 43615

Phone: (419) 270-7500

Website: https://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/wildwood/

Amenities: Picnic areas, shelters, restrooms, Manor House, garden, old school house, & playground

Natural beauty and man-made elegance come together as one at Wildwood Preserve, the most visited of the Metroparks. The 493-acre park is the former estate of Toledo’s Stranahan family. Surrounded by natural habit, the stately home, now called the Manor House, played important roles in Toledo—and the park district’s—history.

Thorn Park

Address: 21311 Telegraph Rd, Brownstown Charter Twp, MI 48183

Phone: (734) 675-0920

Website: http://www.brownstown-mi.org/

Amenities: Picnic area, picnic tables, restrooms, splash pad, lockers, & changing area

Thorn Park Splash Pad is located in Brownstown Michigan, roughly 40 minutes (with construction) from Toledo. It is literally a straight shot up I-75, super easy to find. It is like a little oasis of fun! Thorne Park has a sweet playground so be sure to pack a lunch because you are going to want to stay for a while.

Swan Creek

Address: 4659 Airport Hwy, Toledo, OH 43615

Phone: (419) 407-9758

Website: https://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/swan-creek

Amenities: Restrooms, swinging bridge, indoor and picnic shelters, & playgrounds

Pearson Park

Address: 761 Lallendorf Rd Oregon, OH 43616

Phone: (419) 360-9178

Website: https://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/pearson/

Amenities: The lake offers more than just breathtaking views and a therapeutic walk, you can also fish, paddle on the lake with one of the paddle boats, & ice skate in the winter months. Attractions also include baseball diamonds, soccer fields, tennis courts, a playground, sledding, and the Black Swamp Cabin

Each step offered a new gorgeous view; it honestly doesn’t feel like you are in Ohio anymore.

Plymouth Dream PlayScape

Address: 46640 W Ann Arbor Trail, Plymouth, MI 48170

Phone: (734) 453-3567

Website: http://www.plymouthtwp.org/government/departments/parks_and_recreation/index.php

Amenities: 80-acre Community Park with 4 baseball diamonds, a fishing pond, restrooms, picnic, & a kids’ splash pad.

It is huge! There is so much to do for all ages! There are swings and a play area for the toddlers and preschoolers, kids of all ages!! And talk about great exercise, there are so many climbing apparatuses…and the sheer size of the structure barricades any possibility of boredom!

Oak Openings

Where: 4139 Girdham Rd, Swanton, OH 43558

Phone: (419) 360-9179

Website: https://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/oak-openings/

Amenities: Endless…picnic areas, playgrounds, shelters, horseback riding, camping grounds, restrooms, etc.

Trip Advisor has it listed as #8 or 80 things to do in Toledo and I could not agree more! It is home to “the Spot” which has earned quite a reputation amongst Insta-grammers from all over Ohio as well as photographers from Michigan, Washington, D.C., New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Minnesota, California, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. With its sand dunes, bike trails, Tornado Alley, Mallard Lake, campgrounds, Horse trails, picnic areas, etc. it’s the Disney World of Metroparks with endless beauty everywhere you turn just waiting to be explored!

Fort Imagination

Address: 429 E Boundary St, Perrysburg, OH 43551

Phone: (419) 872-8020

Website: http://ci.perrysburg.oh.us/index.php/parks-recreation/parks/woodlands-park

Amenities: Covered picnic area, picnic tables, restroom, disc-golf course, enclosed toddler play area

Know an awesome playground that didn’t make the list? Please share in the comments. And tag/share with friends, a play date at the park is perfect for parents and kids!

Perrysburg Inclusive Playground

Address: Rotary Community Park 26350 Fort Meigs Rd, Perrysburg, OH 43551

Hour: dawn-dusk 

Glass City Metropark and Riverwalk 

Location: 1001 Front Street Toledo, Ohio 43605 

Hours: Open Daily 7 am-10 pm 

Admission/Cost: FREE 

Phone: Contact a Ranger at 419-407-9718

Admission and parking are FREE

Every family is always seeking fun activities and adventures that are both cost-effective and budget-friendly. It doesn’t get any better than free. While some of these amenities offer the option to rent equipment or purchase sustenance, admission to the park itself is entirely free. Therefore, it is the perfect location to meet up with long-time friends, let the kiddos play while the parents catch up on life’s happenings, and then unpack the cooler for a picnic with an epic view!

Prairie and Pollinator Playground 

This discovery playground is perfect for young explorers. Complete with an awesome tire swing, swinging log, hide-n-seek hills, slides, and more! 

Grosbeak Discovery Playground 

You can’t miss this playground with its 41-foot tall winged discover tower. Inspired by the native Blue Grosbeak bird the winged tower contains endless climbing nets, slides, and independent imaginative play. The grounds also include a zipline, hillside slides, swings, and more!

Skating at the Ribbon 

Lace up those skates, no matter the season the ribbon is always waiting! The ribbon is a 1,000-foot loop trail that offers a smooth skating experience for beginners and advanced skaters. Summer season, April through October the roller ribbon is open daily during park hours and is free if you have skates or rollerblades. If you need to rent skates the rental is located inside Market Hall and is open during the week, Monday-Friday 10 am-8:30 pm during the summer. 

The winter season means ice skating! Are you looking for family fun during the winter months? Or a quick date night getaway? There is nothing more romantic than skating the ribbon in the evening with the lights overhead, city view, music, and fire to warm up to! 

For rental information, hours, and fun events throughout the year at the Ribbon click here! 

Adventure Boardwalk 

This boardwalk is unlike any other, the boardwalk encourages all visitors to embrace the child within. Complete with interactive bridges and nets that cradle your body and make you feel like you are floating on the water and benches where you can pause and take in the epic views! It’s just enough adventure to bring out the thrill-seeking in every park guest. 

Kayaking Cove

The Kayak Cove provides a safe space for beginning kayakers to paddle the Maumee River. The dock is ADA-accessible and is a roll-off launch. You can bring your own Kayak or rent one. For details on kayak locker hours and costs click here!

The Garden by Pocco Piatti 

Are you looking for a great place to meet up for lunch? The Garden is open daily year-round and offers a variety of family-friendly menu options that won’t break the bank including, pizza, wraps, bowls, salads, etc. For complete menu options and hours click here! 

Seasonal FUN! Fishing, Sledding & Splashpad! 

No matter the season there is an onslaught of fun activities for families to enjoy including the sledding hill in the winter months, fishing in the spring and summer, and the piece de resistance, the Mini Maumee which is open Memorial Day through Labor Day daily, 10 am-8 pm weather pending.  Complete with a cascade waterfall, mini meandering Maumee river, slide, splash areas, and more! There are changing rooms, restrooms, and storage lockers available in the adjacent Market Hill building and water bottle filling stations inside The Garden.  

Bonus! 

Location location location…the following are literally within 3-25 miles from Glass City Metropark…