- Huge playground with multiple play structures
- Great turf surrounded by large grassy area
- Zip lines
- Toddler playground
- Shelter house
- Walking trail
- Restrooms being constructed, hopefully operational late summer, portable toilets available
River Front Park Miamisburg, 1 Water St., Miamisburg
- Close to shopping and dining
- Ping pong tables (bring a quarter for a ball)
- Nice bathrooms
- Zip lines
- Climbing play structure
- Paved paths
- Family swings with a great view of the river
- Musical play area
- Splash pad for summer
- Shelter house
Russ Nature Reserve, 2380 Kemp Road, Beavercreek
- Huge nature playscape with endless possibilities
- Climbing pit
- Plenty of shade
- Sandbox
- Good trails surrounding the play area
- Open bathrooms year round
- Shelter house
Owen’s Place Park,2260 Dayton Xenia Road, Dayton
- Designed for children of all abilities
- Huge accessible tree house play set
- Slides and swings for all abilities
- Plenty of room to play
- Shelter house
- Restrooms
Gentile Nature Park, 915 Peach Orchard Road, Kettering
- Nature playscape
- Multiple climbing structures and swings
- Two zip lines
- Toddler playground
- Paved paths around play area
- Portable toilets
Forest Field Park, 2100 E. Centerville Station Road, Washington Twp.
- Playground with multiple structures
- Nature playscape
- Sandbox
- Nice turf with plenty of room to run
- Large field surrounding
- Musical play area
- Shelter house and nice bathrooms
Shoup Park, 1341 Meadow Bridge Drive, Beavercreek
- Large two story slide
- Large grassy area
- Unique play structure
- Multiple swings
- Shelter house
- Small sandbox
- Parable bathrooms
Children’s Discovery Garden at Wegerzyn MetroPark, 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton
- Unique nature play scape
- Habitat areas and whimsical themed gardens to explore
- Sensory garden
- Music maze
- Sandbox
- Fossil cave
- Water features great for summer
- Portable bathrooms currently available
J.F. Kennedy Park, 5073 Bigger Road, Kettering
- Shelter house
- Full service restrooms
- Splash pad
- Large farm themed play structure
- Swings
- Toddler playground area
- Somewhat fenced in
- Surrounded by fields/grass
Orchardly Park, 343 Wonderly Ave., Dayton
- Large sandbox
- Large playground
- Interactive splash pad/water features
- Basketball court
- Tennis court
- Shelter house
- Grassy area for running/picnics
- Restrooms
I contacted all the area parks departments and the majority of parks that have full service restrooms should be opening by the end of March or first week of April. I have listed features I find helpful as a parent of young children but each park has a multitude of additional features that can be seen on the various park department websites.
This list is in no way complete so if you do not see a park you love please add your favorite parks in the comments or email me details so I can include them in future columns.
Happy playing!
Pamela Chandler is a local mom who writes the Gem City Family column for the Dayton Daily News. Reach out to her at thechandlercrew3@gmail.com.
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