Dayton area families know that there is no shortage of parks and playgrounds in the Miami Valley but sometimes you need a new one to check out and take the kids to.
10 Amazing Playgrounds around Dayton
Here is a list of our top ten area play spaces for your kids to burn off some energy
Russ Nature Reserve, Nature PlayScape, 2380 Kemp Rd., Beavercreek, OH 45431
Located in Greene County, the Lovely Nature Playscape at Russ Nature Preserve offers the chance for kids to really get into nature. Nearly all of the playthings and structures at the park are created from sticks, logs and stumps. It is a simple idea for a park and that is what I think makes it so special.
Owen's Place & Tree House Village,, 2338 Dayton-Xenia Rd., Beavercreek, OH 45434 Within Beavercreek’s Victory Park(accessible through Rotary Park) lies the area’s newest playground - Owen’s Place. The newly completed Tree House Village is a universally accessible for children of all abilities and connects several treehouses using a boardwalk so no matter how muddy the ground might be your kids won’t be mud-covered when you leave.
Nature Sounds & Butterfly Playgrounds at Countryside Park, 895 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd., Washingtown Township, OH 45459
This park is a great combination of nature park and playground! Tucked behind the Washington Township Recreation Center, Countryside Park offers two play areas, plus walking trails, ponds and an authentic log cabin. The "Nature Sounds" musical playground includes a large xylophone, hand drums, and 9-feet tall chimes for kids to have fun with, while the "Butterfly Playground" is a brightly colored and bug-themed playground, making it hard to miss, and hard to pull your kids away from!
Archeological Zone, Carillon Park, 1000 Carillon Blvd., Dayton, OH 45409
Your budding archeologist is going to love this one! Let your kids dig and discover various treasures from long ago and then head over to some of the longest slides in Dayton! Nestled in the woods that border the park are two tunnel slides that send you zooming through the trees and down the hill - fun for those young and not so young.
Stubbs Park, 255 W Spring Valley Pk., Centerville, OH 45458
This park offers a ton of ways for your kids to burn off some energy! Stubbs Park boasts four separate playgrounds, walking trails, ponds, an inline skating rink/basketball court and a newly finished disc golf course. Oh, and they also have an amphitheater your little ones can run around on and hear their voices project across the lawn. This park is also dotted with sculptures and memorials to stop and take in along the way.
Patricia Allyn Park, 7256 OH-48 Springboro, OH 45066
A nice drive down OH-48 brings you to Patricia Allyn Park in Springboro; from the road, it may only look like soccer fields but once inside you find one of the nicest parks in the southern Miami Valley. To accommodate the younger set and older set, there are two play structures all atop a cushy mat-like surface. There are also clean restrooms, which what parent isn’t thankful for? The park also has a paved trail and a hiking trail, as well as an additional play area and a pond.
Schoolhouse Park, 1875 Nutt Rd., Centerville, OH 45458
Named for the old schoolhouse that used to stand across from the entrance, Schoolhouse Park is home to several Centerville community sports teams but also offers a playground, walking trails, restrooms (woohoo) and a Little Free Library, which makes it probably the only park in the area where you can also pick up a book!
Hills & Dales White Oak Camp, 2606 Hilton Dr., Kettering, OH 45409
Dubbed as an ‘urban forest’ this is a worthwhile family destination for those who want to get out in the woods but don’t necessarily want to drive far. The White Oak Camp within Hills & Dales Metropark houses a unique play area complete with a sandpit surrounded by tree stumps that your kids will likely play in for hours, luckily there are restrooms nearby to clean up in. A short hike into the park and you will find a small pond where, if you are lucky, you will spot a bit of wildlife.
Orchardly Park, 336 Orchard Dr., Oakwood, OH 45419
This park is truly a hidden gem and is jam-packed with things to play on, and in! At Orchardly Park, there are play areas for smaller ones, bigger ones and everything in between. There is also a huge sandbox complete with tools and a water table. During warmer months the park also has a splash pad. It is a perfect park to pack a lunch and spend a lazy afternoon. Plus, there are bathrooms.
City Park, 35 Parkwood Drive, Tipp City, OH Looking for a park north of town? How about City Park in downtown Tipp City? Adjacent to the Tippecanoe Family Aquatic Center, City Park has a two play structures, complete with an old-school spinny thing and plenty of trees for shade.
Don’t see your family’s favorite spot on the list? Do you know of an amazing playground we missed? Let us know!
