Two months and three weeks!!! Ask any child and they could probably give you the time and their exact location when they heard the news that playgrounds were officially closed. March 22, 2020, Gov. Mike DeWine closed all public playgrounds in Ohio in order to limit the spread of the coronavirus. The next day playgrounds everywhere looked like crime scenes, with yellow caution tape draped where kiddos once climbed, slid, & swung. And for the next two month and three weeks we’d walk past the playgrounds at parks fondly remembering endless hours spent at play and longing for those days to return! And return they have, playgrounds opened today!  And we didn’t waste a second……

 

PLAYGROUND HOP

We got up early and hit as many playgrounds as we could!

First stop, Swan Creek!

As we walked up the hill towards the playground I literally thought my youngest might burst from enthusiasm! But once she was face-to-face with the playground she froze for a moment, looked back at me for reassurance, &  I gave her the “go for it” nod, and she climbed up, ran over, slid down, and repeated before the rest of us even officially made it all the way up the hill, lol!

We were the only ones at the playground for a while and then another mother and her daughter joined us. The kiddos ran, climbed, laughed, jumped, swung, you could literally feel the joy in the air. I sat on the picnic bench and for the first time in months I can honestly say it felt like pre-pandemic time, it felt amazing, it felt normal!

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, picnic shelters, & playgrounds

 

Next stop, Oak Openings!

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.

Secor was our next Playground!

 

Secor

Address: 10001 Central Ave, Berkey, OH 43504

Phone: (419) 360-9179

Website: https://metroparkstoledo.com/explore-your-parks/secor-metropark/

Amenities: Restrooms (one next to the playground has been removed), picnic areas, sheltered picnic area, window on wildlife (not open yet)

 

Stopped off for Ice Cream before heading for our last Playground…

Last playground….

Toledo Botanical Gardens Secret Forest

This was the perfect last stop of the day, we had the secret forest all to ourselves, it was so beautiful and peaceful.

Toledo Botanical Gardens 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

Amenities: Picnic area adjacent as well as restrooms

 

And them home to cool off & play on the water blob….

Today was a great day!

Click here https://momonthegoinholytoledo.com/2018/04/22/10-awesome-playgrounds-in-nw-ohio-se-michigan/ for a list of some more awesome playgrounds to take the kiddos to this summer (please note, some are located in Michigan and may not be open yet).

Did you visit any playgrounds today or have plans to in the near future? Do your kiddos have a favorite playground they are excited to visit?