Best Parks for Families in Columbus, Ohio
The Biggest and Most Diverse Outdoor Fun in the Columbus Area
As the summer rolls on and kids have visited the same parks over and over, they tend to get a little bored. Shake up your old routine and head to these exciting parks in the greater Columbus area. Besides awesome playgrounds, they also offer a wealth of amenities that can occupy your family all day.
Gardens at Gantz – 2255 Home Rd, Grove City, OH
Gantz Park is located on 27 rolling acres. A paved path for walking and biking winds around the park, over the creek, and through the woods. Kids love to take walks here, especially over the bridges! A white gazebo in the middle of the park makes for a very picturesque scene.
The large playground has swings, tunnels, platforms, and a variety of slides. Another children's favorite is going down to the bank of the creek where they can wade, throw in rocks from the bank, or try to cross on stepping stones (don't worry – the creek is only a few inches deep!)
To one side of the park, there is the Gardens at Gantz Farm, which is a public herb garden. On site brochures for self-guided tours of the Garden of Yesterday, the Garden of Today, and the Garden of Tomorrow are available.
The Gardens at Gantz also has ample parking, a large covered shelter with new picnic tables, two tennis courts, and bathrooms.
Schiller Park – 1069 Jaeger St, Columbus, OH
Schiller Park is located in the historic German Village area of downtown Columbus. Paved walking trails take visitors around the 23-acre park, highlighting the statue fountain, stocked fishing pond complete with bridge and resident ducks, and of course the playground.
There are two playgrounds at Schiller Park, one for children under 5 and one for older children. A variety of equipment keeps them challenged and entertained as they explore and play. Taking a walk afterward to see the "umbrella girl" fountain and beautifully landscaped gardens is great fun for children, mostly because the trails are so popular for neighborhood dog-walkers and kids can see dozens of unusual breeds during a walk around the park.
Schiller Park is also home to an outdoor amphitheater (free Shakespeare performances every weekend for the grownups in the summer), a recreation center with bathrooms, plus basketball and tennis courts.
Fryer Park – 3899 Orders Rd, Grove City, OH
Fryer Park is located behind the Grove City YMCA and is often called the "YMCA park" or the "space park." The reason for its unusual name is the unique equipment on this playground that can't be found anywhere else. The futuristic-themed playground has a spaceship, spinning "pods," and a huge sand area with bright purple sand.
If kids ever get tired of the one-of-a-kind playground, Fryer Park has a lot more to offer on its 110 acres. Besides amenities available at the YMCA, it also features Century Village. This 1900s historic area features a renovated one-room schoolhouse, a log cabin, a barn, and more.
Other points of interest for families are Rotary Lake (a stocked lake that is great for fishing or feeding ducks), a one-mile walking trail, and a wooded preservation area.
Whetstone Park of Roses – 3923 North High St, Columbus, OH
Situated on 136 acres of land in central Columbus, there is a lot going on at Whetstone Park to keep a family busy all day. The park has miles of walking trails, creek access, fishing on the Olentangy River, a casting pond, loads of picnic areas, 14 sports courts, and wide open fields for sports or running off energy.
The rose gardens at Whetstone Park are world-renowned for their size and quality. Each summer, the park holds a Rose Festival during peak blooming time (usually mid-June.) Aside from the 11,000 rose bushes with 350 varieties of roses, there are 13 acres of manicured gardens, herb and perennial gardens, and a daffodil garden with over 1,000 varieties.
The large playground at Whetstone park features the tallest slide children may ever encounter and a sand area complete with bucket and pulley system. Parking is free, and visitors can also take advantage of the community center and public library touching the park.
These Columbus area parks have more than just playgrounds to keep your kids entertained. Parents and children can keep their minds and bodies active this summer by visiting these four great parks.
For more information on Columbus family fun, see "Family Attractions in Columbus" and "Indoor Activities for Kids in Columbus."
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