Nestled along the riverfront in Yeatman’s Cove is one of Cincinnati’s best kept summertime secrets – the Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground. This sprayground is huge, there is no entry fee, and it is rarely super crowded. And its location gives it one advantage over others – a cool view of the Ohio River.
Unfortunately, as of May 2022, this sprayground will be closed for the 2022 season due to on-going maintenance issues.
Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground
Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground Highlights
Located along the Ohio River front in Yeatman’s Cove
Huge sprayground area with many different sprayers
Open daily from 10:00am to 9:00pm for summer 2021
No entry fee or reservations required
Otto Armleder Sprayground
Overview
The Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground is located along the Ohio River in Yeatman’s Cove. It is just back from the Serpentine Wall and east of the Taylor Southgate Bridge. For more kid-friendly landmarks, the sprayground is located between Smale Riverfront Park and 1000 Hands Every Child’s Playground.
There are many places to park along the riverfront, but the Sawyer Point parking lot is closest to the sprayground. The sprayground has two entrances – one off of the street where US-52 meets E. Pete Rose Way and one from the park, facing the Ohio River.
For summer 2021, the sprayground is open daily from 10:00am to 9:00pm.
Otto Armleder Sprayground facing the seating area
The water
The Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground has a huge surface area of sprayers that can accommodate a lot of kids (and parents). The sprayers are arranged in a large bullseye with an inner and outer circle of sprayers. This provides a large area to run around and through the water.
Different sized sprayers shoot water at different heights throughout the water area. It does not, however, have any fancy water cannons, spraying hoops to run through or any sort of theme. This sprayground is more akin to a giant sprinkler.
If you grew up in Cincinnati, you may remember Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground as the spot where you could play on the big concrete steps as water rushed down. Although those steps are now fenced off, this sprayground is still a lot of fun and is a great spot to cool down on those hot Cincinnati summer days.
Otto Armleder SpraygroundOtto Armleder SpraygroundOtto Armleder SpraygroundOtto Armleder Sprayground
The facilities
The Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground is completely fenced in, except for the 2 entrances – one on the park side and one on the street side. There is a ramp and a set of stairs leading in from the park side; there is no incline from the street entrance.
The men’s and women’s restrooms are located along the back wall of the sprayground. Although there is no specific changing room, there is a family restroom type set-up located in the same space as the women’s restroom. And guys, be prepared to get wet – there is really no way to avoid getting sprayed by water when walking to the men’s restroom.
The sprayground has plenty of seating, with a large concrete bench and stadium seating to the side of the fountains. There is also a big lawn area outside of the sprayground with an awesome view of the Ohio River that makes the perfect spot for a picnic.
Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic SpraygroundView of the Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic SpraygroundOtto Armleder Sprayground Rules
Overall, the Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground is the perfect spot to cool down and soak up some beautiful views of the Ohio River this summer. This classic sprayground is huge, and is so much fun if you love running around in the water with your kiddo. And BONUS – the sprayground is only a 5 minute walk from the super fun 1000 Hands Every Child’s Playground at Sawyer Point.
Summer is flying by… but are you already running out of things to do with the kids? Check out One Little Small’s summer bucket list with 10 cool places in Cincinnati to check out with your little ones.
10 Best: Cincinnati Summer Bucket List 2021 from One Little Small
Cincinnati Riverwalk
The best way to explore the riverfront area is to spend the morning exploring the Cincinnati Riverwalk path. Known by several names, this path runs from Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park (next to Montgomery Inn Boathouse) down to Smale Riverfront Park.
Your best bet is to start in Friendship Park (where parking is free) and make your way west to Smale Riverfront Park. Along the way you’ll pass 1000 Hands Every Child’s Playground at Sawyer Point – an amazing playground under a bridge, Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground – a large sprayground, public art, tennis and volleyball courts, and amazing views of the Ohio River. When you reach your destination, you’ll find that Smale Riverfront Park is packed with things to do and see, from two splash pad areas, a large playground, a maze, and porch swings facing the river. The Cincinnati Riverwalk is one of the prettiest areas in the city and has so much for all ages to explore.
The Cincinnati Riverwalk path is bookended by Smale Riverfront Park and Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park.
Picture this – sitting down and enjoying your ice cream in peace while your kiddos have the time of their lives in the ice cream themed play room of their dreams. Sounds pretty sweet, right?
The new Graeter’s Kenwood store features a Lil’ Pints Play Room. This play room, designated for kids ages 9 and under, features a large ice cream cone slide and two climbing areas, a smaller area for crawlers and younger kids, and several interactive features including puzzles and color-changing touch boards. I don’t like to play flavorites, but I can guarantee you’ll like this spot a waffle lot.
Did you know that Cincinnati is home to the first professional fire department? At the Cincinnati Fire Museum, you can learn all about the history of professional firefighting, see lots of fire trucks, climb into a cab of a real fire truck, slide down a fire pole, and learn about fire safety. This museum is the perfect place to extinguish any feelings of boredom. There is enough to see, do and touch at the Cincinnati Fire Museum to spend about 2 hours there.
The Cincinnati Fire Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:00am to 4:00pm (closed Sunday and Monday). Children age 6 and under are FREE with the purchase of an adult or senior ticket. Current ticket prices can be found on their website.
I’ve been wanting to tie dye some t-shirts with my little guy, but that’s one activity I don’t think I can tackle on my own. So I’ve been dying to check out a local tie dye studio that opened up this winter. Located about 5 minutes from Kenwood Towne Center, Kaleidoscope Color and Co. is a DIY tie dye studio that can accommodate artists of all ages.
Reservations can be made online and the reservation fee is then deducted from your studio purchase. Hours are based on reservations.
Located within Glenwood Gardens, Highfield Discovery Garden is a magical spot with a giant tree and playhouse to explore, a little tea house, a miniature train, a small pond, curated walkways, and several gardens to explore. We love to watch the little miniature train zoom over bridges and through tunnels and look for the little fairy garden tucked away near the rope bridges. Highfield Discovery Garden is such a special place; there is truly else nothing like it in Cincinnati.
During the summer, Highfield Discovery Garden is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30am to 5:00pm and on Sunday from 12:00pm to 5:00pm (closed on Monday). Admission is $5.25 per person and kids under age 2 are free.
The City of Mason opened its brand new outdoor leisure pool this summer, and it’s the perfect spot to both splish and splash. The Mason Municipal Aquatic Center leisure pool was designed with kids in mind. It’s got a big splash pad away from the pool area, with a little river, several sprayers and water cannons, dump buckets, spraying water rings, and more. The pool has a large zero depth entry area with built-in water table, large dump bucket, and water cannons. In the deeper area, you can find basketball hoops, the lazy river, and two water slides for bigger kids. And although it’s a popular spot, it’s a huge space with plenty of chairs and shade for everyone.
The Mason Municipal Aquatic Center leisure pool is open daily from 11:00am to 7:00pm through August 15, 2021. The extended season will begin on August 16, but exact dates and times have not yet been announced. Pool passes are included with some community center memberships and pool memberships are still available. Daily passes can be purchased for $10. Children under age 3 are free.
What could be cooler than getting ice cream from a giant ice cream cone building? I remember going to The Cone as a kid, and I’ve been wanting to take my son there for a cone (or two!). The Cone offers soft serve ice cream in many different flavors, including their famous orange sherbet, and more. There is plenty of indoor and outdoor seating at The Cone, as well as a family-friendly game room and a drive thru.
The Cone is open Tuesday through Thursday from 12:00pm to 9:00pm and Friday through Sunday from 12:00pm to 9:30pm (closed on Monday).
Nestled in Devou Park, the Behringer-Crawford Museum is a gem of a museum that explores the history and culture of Northern Kentucky. The museum has hands on exhibits with trains, cars, and steamboats, which is what attracted us to check out BCM. The first floor of the museum explores the impact of railways in NKY, with streetcar you can walk through and a large model train display. The second floor explores life after WWII, complete with 1950s play kitchen and drive-in movie experience. The top floor features a large replica of a steamboat to explore, along with special exhibits and more. We took our families to BCM for our son’s second birthday and we easily spent two hours there exploring and playing.
In addition to the super fun museum space, the Behringer-Crawford Museum also has a handicapped-accessible naturescape play area called the NaturePlay@BCM. The NaturePlay area is located next to the museum’s parking lot, is free of charge and is open daily from dawn to dusk.
The Behringer-Crawford Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00pm and Sunday from 1:00pm to 5:00pm (closed Monday). Wednesdays at BCM are Grandparent days where one grandchild is admitted for free with each paying grandparent. Full details on admission prices can be found on their website.
Did you know that there’s a local park dedicated to fossil hunting? Trammel Fossil Park in Sharonville was created specifically for little fossil hunters to dig their little hearts out. The park consists of a large, rocky hill that is teeming with fossils. At the bottom of the hill is the parking lot, a porta-potty, and a display area where kids can learn all about area fossils. The hill Trammel Fossil Park sits on is pretty steep and can be tricky to navigate, so this outing is best for kids age 2 and up.
Trammel Fossil Park is open daily from 9:00am to 8:00pm. Don’t forget to put together a “fossil hunting kit” before you head out. Items like a bucket, shovels, brushes, spray bottle, and a magnifying glass can make this experience so much more fun.
Catch a Reds game – and check out a playground at GABP
Love going to a Reds game, but dread the thought of getting your kiddo to sit through all 9 innings? Well, your worrying days are over! Thanks to not one, but two, play areas at Great American Ball Park, a day at the Reds game can feel like a walk in the (ball) park.
GABP features two separate areas for kids to enjoy – a 3-story play set located in the Fan Zone at the Terrace Level and a large Family Zone located up in the View Level. And I’ve got all the details you need to know on my GABP Playgrounds review below.
Thank you for reading One Little Small’s Cincinnati Bucket List for summer!
Toilet Paper Roll Fireworks Painting
What’s more festive for the Fourth of July than fireworks? Here’s an activity to create some patriotic artwork with your little one this Independence Day.
Toilet Paper Roll Fireworks Painting
Supplies
2-3 Empty Toilet Paper Roll Tubes
Red, White, and/or Blue paint
Paper plate (to put paint on)
Scissors
Steps
Make the firework stamps from the toilet paper roll tubes. Take toilet paper roll tube and cut about a third of the way up. Repeat, cutting strips all the way around the circumference of the roll. The strips can be as thick or thin as you’d like!
TP Roll with strips cut
Fan the pieces out from the center of the roll, creating the firework shape.
TP Roll ready for painting
Repeat for each roll. 2-3 rolls are ideal to create a variety of fireworks.
Squirt paint on to paint, tray or anything with a flat surface. Add glitter and mix into paint for some extra pizzazz.
Paint + Glitter
Then let the kiddos paint their little hearts out.
TP Roll Fireworks Painting
This activity can also easily be modified to make spiders, suns, flowers, stars and more!
