Gahanna, Ohio is a great city for families. Just off the northeast corner of Columbus’ I-270 beltway, it has beautiful little parks, community festivals, quiet streets, and friendly people. However, it can be difficult to discover all of Gahanna’s quiet gems if you are new to town. When your children are climbing the walls inside, you need to know where you can find a good local playground. These three sites represent the best of Gahanna’s playgrounds.
Woodside Green Park, Gahanna, Ohio.Located at 213 Camrose Court, this Gahanna park has a small offering of equipment, but its quiet safe location makes up for a lack of flashy equipment. In the summer of 2006, the park’s shredded tire groundcover was replaced with mulch, making the playground a much cleaner place to play. The equipment is in very good condition and contains a single climbing structure with several different slides, a ramp, and a set of monkeybars. There are several bucket swings and a large tire swing too. The playground is a perfect space for toddlers, but older children might get bored with the limited equipment options. The park also has a big field where kids can play tag, frisbee, or ball. It is also home to a duck pond, a softball field, and a shelter house with restrooms. It is a clean, safe playground whose entrance is tucked into the back of a quiet Gahanna cul de sac.
Friendship Park, Gahanna, Ohio. Located at 150 Oklahoma Avenue, this Gahanna park was renovated in 2005 and opened in 2006 with a lot to offer families. It has a large, clean, brand-new pair of climbing structures. The smaller of the two is built with toddlers in mind and offers a small, yellow, elevated plastic house with a few slides and climbing entrances. The structure is age-appropriate and would normally intrigue toddlers; however, since it is located next to a two-story, bright orange climbing structure rife with ladders, curly slides, ramps, and more, there is just no way toddlers remain focuses on the smaller structure. The large structure is incredibly dynamic. This new Gahanna playground also offers a climbing wall for big kids and a half-cylinder with climbing footholds for smaller children. Swingsets contain bucket swings, regular swings, and a handicap-accessible swing. The surface of the playground is a poured rubberized surface surrounded by mulch. A gazebo and picnic tables make it convenient to pick up lunch in downtown Gahanna and have lunch at this park. There are restrooms near the parking lot. This Gahanna playground is a popular locale on the weekends and holidays, but on a typical weekday, it is a quiet, safe, clean place for children to play.
Blendon Woods, Gahanna, Ohio. Located at 4265 E. Dublin-Granville Road, this 654-acre northeast Ohio metro park offers two playground sites. The one on the far side of the park is for younger children and features an elevated plastic climbing structure with slides, ramps, and tunnels. It is a clean site and a perfect playground for young climbers on the weekend. The side closer to the entrance is for older kids. It features a larger plastic climbing structure with a curly slide, ladders, poles, and ramps. There are swings positioned between the two playground sites. There is no restroom nearby, so make sure your children go before you leave the house. The metro park is located just north of the Gahanna border, but is a favorite for many Gahanna residents. It features miles of walking trails, several different shelter houses, and a variety of programs for children throughout the year. The northeast Columbus metro park is particularly beautiful in the fall when the leaves are changing colors and that beauty makes it well-worth the visit. The only downside to these two Gahanna-area playgrounds is that during the week, they don’t have a lot of visitors; any family playing there can feel isolated. Instead, visit the playgrounds at this metro park on the weekends or evenings.
Even the best backyard playground equipment can get boring. Get out of the house and take your children to visit one of these Gahanna playgrounds. They will love the chance to explore new equipment and the fresh air will do everyone good.
Reference:
- Parks & Rec Department information found on the City of Gahanna: www.gahanna.gov/departments/parks/parks.asp
