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.
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 5th 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!
