Hello. In a couple months, I'm sponsoring a playdate for approximately 25 girls and their parents. I'd like to meet at a park somewhere in Columbus/surrounding areas that has: 1) large playground that would accommodate 25 girls, and 2) shelter house so that we could have a picnic, 3) bathrooms. Any ideas?
Thank!
MB
I got lots of great suggestions. Tonight I'm going out driving to see Homestead, Alum Creek, and Jeffery Park, as those were the ones that received the "most votes". Thanks to everyone!! What a great group.
Coffman park in Dublin Ohio would work. My son's preschool had their picnic there and it worked great.
I would suggest Homestead Park. It is on Cosgray Rd. just south of Hayden Run Rd. They have multiple shelters and different play areas as well as bathrooms. I would recommend taking your own water. I think they have well water and my kids never like the taste. You could also call Washington Township if you really want to reserve a shelter for just your group.
Lot of fun!
Try Darby Park - have swings and volleyball court too (and bathrooms!!)
I second Alum Creek in Westerville. Another plus is is has quite a bit of shade which is nice if the sun is very warm. I'm assuming you would have quite a few parents, so I wouldn't worry about the size...I don't think the areas are to far apart. This is one of my kids favorite parks. Blacklick metropark in Reynoldsburg also has a nice area. There are shelters and restrooms available, plus a walking path through the woods for those who like to take walks. One of the paths, a short one, takes you to a small pond with a dock. Also in Reynoldsburg is a park area behind City Hall on Main Street, not sure of the name but it has everything you're looking for and gives some shade. Good luck! Debbie
Liberty Park in Powell is fabulous and has all three options that you listed. It is on Home Road and Liberty. There's more than one playground there, but you would want the blue park that's all the way in the back.
I'd also like to place a vote for Homestead Park On Cosgray in Hilliard. Between the water playground section, and the newly renovated larger playground area, as well as the playground for special needs children, this one is always a winner with me. There are multiple shelterhouses and good access to bathrooms. There's also a train car they can climb on and a large pond that you can feed ducks or go fishing on. Add to this the open fields, special rollerblade path, volleyball nets and well, I'd say it sounds like a pretty fun day.
Alum Creek Park on Main Street in Westerville is a great park. It has all the amenitites and it's close enough to downtown Westerville that you could walk to Grater's for scoop of ice cream. And though it's large, it's also contained- some of the parks suggested are spread out, making it a challenge to watch more than one kid if you have several, and hard for a group to spend time together since there are lots of directions to go to play.
M.,
Try Jeffery Park in Bexley. You can reserve the shelter house through the Bexley Recreation Department. If you do it before March 16, you will get the shelter house for free, but you have to put down a deposit which you will get back. If you wait, you have to put down a deposit and pay a small fee. It is a nice shelter with bathrooms and a play ground. Very nice.
M.
Hi M.,
Sorry, I don't have any playground suggestions, but I do have a friend that adopted a daughter from China. I was wondering if your play group is open to other people. I'm sure she would love the idea of spending time with other moms and girls with the same experience.
Thanks!
K.
I would suggest Homestead Park in Hilliard. You might think about the zoo too since they have a huge play structure by the food court.
Coffman park near the Dublin Recreation Center is wonderful! Huge park, and there are actually two large play sets and a shelter house. I am sure you'll get LOTS of suggestions, but hope this helps! You can Google the City of Dublin's website for more info. Good luck!
