Highlights

• Great for all ages
• Fully fenced in with one entry point 
• Features water play and a sandbox in addition to playground structures
• Parking garage located conveniently underneath the park and nearby streetcar stops
• Beautifully designed and landscaped with a mix of natural and artificial elements
• Manned by 3CDC staff member 
• Nearby sprayground and dog park

Overview

The Children’s Playground is located the southeast part of Washington Park. Designed to honor the rich history of Cincinnati, this half-acre playground is semi-shaded and offers a solid-surface ground throughout. No need to worry about mulch here!

Enter the playground through the large gate to find the canal and a shipwrecked canal boat in front of you. To the left are the restrooms, benches and picnic tables. Further in is the ruins play area with hills and valleys. To the right is a shaded area with swings and more benches. 

Back to the left, a deck walkway borders a nature area. Follow the deck to find the sandbox and musical toys. Continue along this path to reach the castle play structure at the back of the playground. 

There is a large parking garage underneath the park, as well as street parking nearby. You can also get to the playground by streetcar. Two streetcar stops are adjacent to the park.

The canal

At the front of the playground is a small canal that runs towards the front corner of the fence, ending near a canal boat. This feature pays homage to the Miami and Erie Canal that flowed down what is now Central Parkway nearly a century ago. The canal is separate from the nearby sprayground, and is the perfect spot to cool down your toes or watch a leaf boat race downstream.

The ruins area

In the heart of the playground is the ruins area. The highlight of this area is the large structure designed to look like a ruin for kids to climb and explore.

In the center is a large valley that is a blast to run down and up. Large stones designed for climbing or sitting also border the valley. Grippy solid surface rubber coats the ground in this area.

The swings are also in the ruins area. The swings sit under a row of large trees towards the edge of the playground. Two bucket swings and a saucer swing are nestled in their own alcove in an area covered by artificial turf. And look for a little library housed near the bucket swings.

The sandbox area

Take the deck walkway leading to the side of the playground closest to Race Street to find the sandbox. The sandbox is off the side of the deck, right across from the musical toys.

It’s not the largest sandbox, but it’s nicely landscaped with large boulders to play on. A small crew of kids could play here together quite comfortably.

What I like most about this sandbox are the facets stationed next to the sandbox to conveniently wash off sandy fingers and toes.

The castle

Way in the back of the playground is a castle structure for kids to climb and explore. The castle boasts two slides – one dual slide and one spiral tube slide, a rock wall, and a cool staircase.

To reach the castle, you must either scale the artificial turf hill leading up to the front of the castle or journey along the path from the sandbox and musical toys area.

Washington Park Sprayground

Washington Park boasts one of the largest spraygrounds in town. This interactive water park is 7,000 sq. ft. and runs from 10:00am to 10:00pm from April through October.

While the sprayground isn’t within the gates of the playground, it’s only a short walk away. You can find this water feature just up the path from the playground, in the center of Washington Park.

Don’t miss my complete guide to Cincinnati Splash Pads for a full list of places to cool down.

The bathrooms

When you gotta go, look for the family bathroom in the building next to the gate. If the family bathroom is closed, other bathrooms can be found around the other side of the same building, just outside of the playground gates.

The not so greats

The gate may be open. While the Children’s Playground is fully fenced in, the big gate is sometimes open. This is something to be aware of if your kid is a runner.

Few swings. There are only 3 swings at this playground, and there are no regular swings for older kids.

Not a lot for the littlest littles. A baby could happily crawl around in this playground or swinging on one of the bucket swings, but there aren’t any playground structures designed on the ground level for a baby to enjoy. (But don’t miss these other playgrounds that are perfect for baby.)

Big variety, but low volume. There’s a great variety of things to do – from water play to sand to swings to climbing to slides. But each area isn’t very large, and doesn’t keep kids engaged for long. We typically spend about an hour at this playground.

Highlights

• Just opened in August 2021
• Designed with input from local children and accessibility experts
• One of the larger playgrounds for babies and young toddlers
• Cool features include a large climbable butterfly, a ground-level accessible merry-go-round, two playhouses, and a zip line.

Overview

The PNC Grow Up Great® Playground at Inwood Park was designed with inspiration from local children and input from accessibility experts. This playground, reopened in August 2021, features a large playground for little kids, a ground-level accessible merry-go-round, a playground and zip line for bigger kids, and a variety of swings.

The playground is a short walk from the parking lot, just past the picnic shelter with plenty of tables. First is the little kid playground with artificial turf. Here you will find the merry-go-round and playhouses. At the back edge of this area is a small hill to separate the little kid and big kid areas. The big kid playground is distinguished with mulch ground covering and features a large climbing structure, zip line, and swings.

There is not a fence, though the sidewalk goes around the outside of the playground with a few benches throughout. Also, a heads up about the potty situation – there is no bathroom onsite at the playground. The only bathroom in the park is a bit of a hike from the playground.

How to get there and where to park

Directions from a GPS will take you to the lower part of Inwood Park. To reach this playground and adjoining parking lot, you want to go to the part of the park off of Wellington Place. Use the directions from the dropped pin and guide below to navigate to the correct spot.

Turn down Wellington Place from Auburn Avenue. You will see sign for Inwood Park on the corner. There is a new apartment complex on your left. Shortly after the road changes from brick pavers back to pavement, you will see a traffic circle ahead and a small parking lot to your left before the circle. Park in that parking lot and the playground is a few steps away.

Little kid playground

Inwood Park has one of the best playgrounds for young toddlers and children who are still crawling. There is a large variety of things to do for the littlest littles, while also still fun for older toddlers and preschoolers. This area has artificial turf covering the ground and each structure is spaced out enough to provide a clear view throughout the playground. It is not fenced in, but a small artificial hill covered in turf separates this area from the big kid playground.

First, you will see a solid surface race strip with two lanes closest to the sidewalk. Next are the musical toys. You will find drums, xylophone and pentatonic set to enjoy. Behind the musical area is a large, blue climbable butterfly. Further over are the two playhouses, separated by gumdrop steps.

The playhouses are perfect for the youngest kids to explore, with several features on the ground level. But they are also perfect for 3 and 4 year olds, who love to play pretend. I really liked how one playhouse is smaller than the other so it serves a variety of ages, but gives more than one option for kids who aren’t walking yet.

At the far side of the playground is the ground-level accessible merry-go-round. A set of textured walls with different shapes and colors borders the merry-go-round.

Big kid playground

The big kid playground is just over the little hill, where the ground switches from artificial turf to mulch. This area is best for kids ages 4 and up.

The main playground structure consists of a two-story tower with a connected ropes course. The ropes course is cool, but a bit intricate. The tower has several ladders and stairs, 2 slides from the first level, and several interactive toys along the walls.

One thing that stuck out is that there is no slide from the top level, which the kids found a bit disappointing. The only way to get up and down from top level are ladders (1 inside the structure and 2 outside).

The zip line was a cool surprise! It is located along back side of playground, behind the big kid playground structure. My son had a blast zipping back and forth all morning long.

Swings

Look for the swings in the mulch area next to the big kid playground. There are 6 swings to enjoy: 2 regular swings, 1 bucket swing, 1 ADA, and 2 dual accessible swings – plus one disc swing for friends to share.

No nearby bathrooms

There are no bathrooms on site near the playground. It would be a good idea to make sure you have a car potty in your trunk before heading to this playground if you have one.

The Inwood Park bathrooms are located in the lower part of the park, closer to Vine Street, in the comfort station by the lake. There appears to be a path (and quite a few steps) to the lake area that begins at the bottom of the nearby traffic circle. Unfortunately, it does not appear to be a quick walk from the playground to the park potty.

The not so greats

No bathrooms. There are no bathrooms onsite at the playground, and unfortunately, the park bathroom is not a quick walk away.

Not fenced in. There is a fence along the side of the playground that borders the apartment complex, but the playground itself is not contained. For a playground that caters to the youngest kids, it would be a nice bonus to have the playground fully fenced in.

Not a lot of parking. The nearby parking lot is nice but small with less than 10 spots. You can park further up the street on Wellington Place, but I do not believe you can park on the part of the street that is closest to the playground. That being said, the parking lot was never completely full the entire time we were there on a week day morning.

No shade at all. Inwood Park would be a better playground to visit on a cloudier day. The addition of a few shades, particularly over the little kid area, would be a welcomed addition!

The mulch. It would be nice if entire playground was solid surface or artificial turf instead the mulch that covers the big kid area and swings.

More slides! The kids found the big kid play structure to be a bit disappointing because of lack of slide down from the top level. Both my son and my friend’s child asked where the slide was when they got up top. 

Highlights

• The playground consists of 3 main play structures, perfect for ages 2 to 12
• A big highlight is the sandbox with built-in sit-on digger
• Good variety of things to play on throughout the playground
• Cute spot to take a little walk after playing

Overview

Swaim Park is located off Cooper Road, just west of downtown Montgomery, Ohio. In addition to the playground, there is a walking trail, pond, tennis and basketball courts, and sand volleyball. There are two parking lots – one off of Cooper Road; the other off of Zig Zag Road. The playground sits towards the back of the park, closer to Zig Zag Road. This playground is great for toddlers and up.

The playground

The playground at Swaim Park consists of 3 play structures, a see saw, swings, a hanging merry-go-round, and a sandbox. Most of the playground structures are a bit older, but still in good working order. There’s a good variety of things to play on, and enough selection to entertain kids from ages 2 and up. The ground is covered in mulch, so it’s not the best spot for kids who are still crawling.

The 3 play structures are best described in “3 Bears” terms. First, the baby bear-sized play structure is perfect for younger toddlers. My son could easily navigate this play structure at 20 months old. There are a few features on the ground level, but because the ground is covered in mulch, it’s best for kids already walking.

Second, the mama bear-sized play structure is a bit higher off the ground and a bit more advanced. It has two slides, a bridge, handle monkey bars, and other interactive features. It’s a great spot for toddlers and preschoolers to play.

Third, the papa bear-sized play structure is the newest structure on the Swaim Park playground. It’s more open, has more complicated transitions to different platforms, and has a pretty tall slide. The playground states that it is designated for kids ages 5-12, but my son is able to hold his own at (almost) 4 years old.

The sandbox

A big highlight of the Swaim Park playground is definitely the sandbox with the built-in sit-on digger. It’s a small sandbox, but it’s the digger that makes the sandbox such a big hit. The digger can be a bit cumbersome to operate. At 3.5 years old, my son can just about maneuver it by himself. The sandbox itself can fit about 6 kids with clearance for the digger.

The sandbox is the most shaded spot on the playground. There are also two benches nearby – making this a great spot to sit down and watch the kids dig around in the sand.

The swings

Towards the back of the playground are the swings. Swaim Park has four swings total – 2 bucket and 2 regular swings. There is also a tire swing, which can be found along the side of the playground nearest to the tennis courts.

The not so greats

Bathroom not close to playground. While it’s great that Swaim Park has an all-seasons bathroom, the bathroom itself is located on the opposite side of the park from the playground. The bathroom sits next to the Cooper Road parking lot while the playground sits closer to the Zig Zag Road parking lot. Not a dealbreaker, but not convenient either.

Not shaded. While there are many trees throughout Swaim Park, the playground itself is not shaded, except for a small corner where the sandbox is located.

No fence. The playground is not fenced in, but it is located far from roads and traffic, and is boarded by houses in the back.

It’s got mulch. The playground is covered in mulch, which frankly, isn’t my favorite. Mulch gets into sandals and shoes, and it makes it difficult for the youngest children who aren’t walking yet to participate in the fun.

It has a pond. Swaim Park is also home to a mid-sized pond. While the pond isn’t right next to the playground, it isn’t too far either. Again, not a dealbreaker, but something to keep in mind.

Trampolines

There are SO many trampolines to choose from at Urban Air Cincinnati. First, you’ve got the freestyle jump – a big trampoline field made up of smaller rectangular trampolines, some that go up the side of the wall, and two that curve up to form a little hill in the center. This is where my child comes to run trampoline laps and it is awesome.

Next door is a single tumble track that is netted off for safety. Nearby are two basketball hoops on their own smaller tumble tracks. This is lots of fun if you’re awesome at air balls, like me.

There’s also a dodgeball trampoline area further to the back. This spot is great if your child enjoys running around, jumping and throwing things at the same time.

Indoor Play Structure

My kiddo loves a good indoor play structure, and the one at Urban Air Cincinnati does not disappoint! It is three stories tall, has two slides, several entry points, and lots of foam things to climb over or crawl under. This play structure pretty easy to navigate. I do not think it’s appropriate for an infant, but a young toddler can get around with a little bit of help. There are some Ultimate attractions that are attached to the play structure, but they cannot be accessed by a child through the structure on their own.

Do be aware that the big yellow slide goes REALLY fast. So if you have a smaller child, you’ll want them on your lap and not going down this slide on their own.

Warrior Course

In the center of Urban Air Cincinnati is the warrior course. It’s basically an obstacle course over a ball pit. There are four lanes with varying degrees of difficulty. While fun to try, I’ve found that most of the obstacles on this course are pretty hard! My toddler likes to try the different obstacles, but definitely cannot navigate the course on his own.

We do have lots of fun using this area as a ball pit. It is about 3 feet deep, so keep your eye on shorter kiddos!

Balance Beam

Between the trampolines and warrior course is the balance beam over a foam block pit. There are two large padded “swords” to use the beam as a battle spot, but these aren’t often used by younger kids.

Just like the warrior course, the main attraction for younger kids is what’s below. My son loves the big foam blocks – using them as building blocks instead of their intended use as padding.

Jumperoo

We loved going to Jumperoo this spring! We were there at least once a month to run off some steam. I really like how Jumperoo is designated for children ages 2-5, so I didn’t have to worry about my little guy getting knocked over by big kids. All basic and most deluxe attractions are open during this session, which is perfect for this age group. This includes the trampoline, indoor play structure, climbing hill, and warrior course with ball pit.

Jumperoo at Urban Air Cincinnati runs from 10:30am-12:30pm on Tuesday and Thursday during the school year. Although there are no Jumperoo sessions during the summer, it will return in the fall.

Urban Air Cincinnati fall 2021 hours beginning August 15, 2021

• Monday – Thursday: 4pm-8pm
• Friday: 4pm-9pm
• Saturday: 10am-9pm
• Sunday: 10am-8pm

Jumperoo returns on August 24, 2021, and will take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:30am to 12:30pm during the school year. Jumperoo is designated for children ages 2 to 5.

Passes are available per day or by month, and vary based on the level of attractions you select. A full pricing list can be found on Urban Air Cincinnati’s website. Special trampoline socks are required for all jumpers and can be purchased at the front desk.

Gower Park

Highlights

• Great playground for early walkers to bigger kids
• One of the bigger playground structures around for older kids
• Cool new features for 2021
• Cute little creek to explore next to the playground

Overview

Sharonville’s Gower Park is located across the street from the city’s rec center and library. In addition to the playground and creek, Gower Park has a walking path, picnic tables, gazebos, ball fields and tennis courts. Parking is available next to the rec center or on the other side of the tennis courts.

When you first enter the park, you’ll see the newly updated area of the playground. Gower Park recently debuted updated swings, wheelchair accessible merry-go-round, teeter-totter and a climbing dome. Next to this area is the toddler playground. Lastly, you’ll find the main playground structure, including a large rock wall. The playground is partially fenced in, with openings on the sides of the playground and a large opening to a path leading across the street to the rec center.

Further back from the street and next to the playground, you will find a patio area with picnic tables and access to the small creek. The closest bathrooms are located in a building across a bridge from the playground.

The playground

There is so much to explore on the main playground at Gower Park. First, the large 3-story playground structure boasts two slides (including one from the top level), several staircases and ladders, and interactive toys at every level. There is also a cool internal ladder to reach the top floor. Next is a two-story playground structure with a ladder and slide. A cool tunnel attaches this structure to the bigger structure. Rounding out the main playground is a rock climbing wall and rope wall.

There are a lot of little features I like about this part of the playground. Our favorite feature is the bug scavenger hunt, where you search for pictures of different bugs hidden all over the playground. On the ground level you will find a pretend storefront, kid-sized picnic table, and more interactive toys. Having these playground features low to the ground is awesome for kids who are still mastering walking.

I also really like how there are features for a variety of skill sets. For example, there is an easy staircase to access the third level of the playground structure, but there is also a more challenging vertical ladder too. That being said, you’ll likely want to stick close by a young toddler exploring this part of the playground. But by age 3, my son can manage exploring on his own without me worrying (too much).

Toddler playground

The toddler area at Gower Park includes a dinosaur climbing structure and two vehicle spring rider toys. The dinosaur structure is pretty low to the ground, and can be easily navigated by a young toddler. Most of this area of the playground is covered in mulch, so it is best for kids who are already walking.

Gower Park recently added to the toddler playground area, which is detailed below.

New for 2021

I was pleasantly surprised to walk into the playground at Gower Park this summer and find some cool new features and swings.

New to the toddler playground is a small climbing dome, a 4-person teeter-totter, and a wheelchair accessible merry-go-round. My son loved playing on the merry-go-round, and I loved how the base is at ground level and includes a spot specifically for wheelchairs. This area of the playground is also solid surface rubber – another element making this playground accessible for all children.

Gower Park also updated all their swings. The playground now features two saucer swings, two regular swings, one bucket swing, and one ADA swing. The saucer swings are so much fun, and a nice upgrade from the tire swings.

The creek

What I love about the creek at Gower Park is that it’s right next the playground. You don’t have to venture deep in the woods to find it; it’s just a few yards from civilization.

Look for the stairway down to the creek behind the swings and next to the patio area. There is an opening in the fence where the stairs begin. It’s very easy to miss – but the view from the walking path on the other side of the creek can show you exactly where to go!

The creek isn’t very large, but there is still plenty to explore. There is a waterfall, lots of rocks to climb on, and fossils to find.

Bathrooms

Head over the bridge closest to the main playground to find the main bathrooms in the Lovitt Building. If these bathrooms are closed, keep following the walking path up the hill to find the second bathroom.

The bathroom by the ball fields is essentially a fancy outhouse. It’s a bit smelly in there – be prepared for your toddler to loudly announce that the potty is very smelly before you go.

The not so greats

While there is a lot to love about the playground at Gower Park, there are some not so great aspects to be aware of.

Only partially fenced in. Gower Park is only partially fenced in, and unfortunately is also close to a busy street. A fence runs most of the length of the side of the playground near Thornview Drive, but there is a large opening to a path leading across the street to the rec center. The sides of the playground are also not fenced in, and there is a large opening in the fence along the back side of the playground that leads to the creek below.

Lots of mulch. Although the newer parts of Gower Park have solid surface rubber covering the ground, most of the playground is covered in much.

Bathrooms not super close or convenient. Having to leave the playground to go to the bathroom is never fun, but it’s even less ideal when the bathrooms aren’t located nearby. Having to cross a bridge, and then walk up a big hill to find a bathroom is definitely not so great.

Highlights

• Large playground with solid surface ground
• Separate play area for toddlers
• Both a splash pad and man-made creek to cool you down
• Still pieces from the prehistoric theme dating back from our childhood

Overview

When you walk through the large entrance at Sharon Woods Harbor, the first thing you will see is the long, man-made creek stretching before you just in front of the side of the boathouse. To your left, picnic tables stretch down to the end of the creek. The creek ends just before an overlook with a view of Sharon Lake. One set of restrooms is also located nearby at the back of the boathouse.

On the other side of the boathouse is a large overhang with a snack bar and plenty of picnic tables. Behind the picnic tables is a stairwell leading down to the lake. If you have kids who like to wander off, make sure to keep an eye on them in this area.

Next to the snack bar area is the splash pad. Moving forward towards the parking lot is the toddler playground, the rock formation (complete with a big-toothed kitty), the main playground, a smaller picnic shelter and then a building with individual unisex bathrooms and a changing area. Closing the loop, you’ll find the beginning of the creek next to the big playground.

The playground

The main playground at Sharon Woods Harbor is one large play structure. Part of this playground is designed to be wheelchair accessible, with a large ramp running down the center and back to the left of the playground. The ramp ends at a set of monkey bars and a slide, but there are several interactive features to play with along the way.

The other half of the play structure is a higher platform with several slides and a rock wall to climb. This section can be accessed from a tunnel located about midway up the ramp or by a set of stairs next to the ramp. The ground is made of solid surface rubber, and there is a lot space to run around and play in this playground area.

On the edge of this playground is a large, man-made rock structure that acts as a wall to separate this playground from the toddler playground. Kids love to climb across and over the rocks, but what they really love is to sit on the back of the saber-toothed tiger that sits atop the highest rock. I know this because as a kid, I loved sitting on top of this saber-toothed tiger, just as my kid does today (and if you’re counting, yes, that does make this part of the Sharon Woods Harbor playground pretty old).

The toddler playground

Sharon Woods Harbor has a cute toddler playground for the not-quite-so-big kids. The toddler playground consists of a smaller playground structure, 2 bucket swings, and a rock wall tunnel. It isn’t a huge area, but it’s a nice spot for an early walker to explore and play.

What I like about the toddler playground structure is that there is one way in and out. The steps are easy to climb or crawl up, and the slide isn’t too steep. Little ones would have more fun crawling through the rock wall tunnel than climbing over it. It’s great that there are swings in this area, but unfortunately, these are the only swings in the entire Sharon Woods Harbor playground.

The splash pad & creek

The water feature at Sharon Woods Harbor consists of a splash pad next to the playground and a man-made creek that runs along the side of the boathouse. Both water features are operating for summer 2021.

The creek is fed by a little bubbler near the playground, then runs the length of the boathouse. There are metal casts of fossils to discover throughout the creek. The water never gets more than a few inches deep, so this is a perfect space for little ones to explore.

The splash pad is located next to the toddler playground. It’s a mid-sized splash pad consisting of circles of different sized fountains shooting water from the ground. It’s not a huge splash pad, but it compliments the creek nicely.

The not so greats

No shade. Although there are trees galore in Sharon Woods, there are very few in Sharon Woods Harbor. The ground and playground equipment can heat up quickly in the summer sun.  

Not much for crawlers. Although the ground in the playground area is solid surface rubber, Sharon Woods Harbor is not the spot for crawlers. There’s is not much on this playground to explore on the ground level and as I mentioned, ground heats up quickly – which can hurt little hands and knees.

Not many swings. There are only 2 swings at the Sharon Woods Harbor playground. Both swings are bucket swings, which means there are no regular swings for bigger kids or ADA swings.

Not fully fenced in. There is a fence that separates Sharon Woods Harbor from the parking lot, walking path and lake. However, there are some big gaps in the fence that made me nervous when my son was younger. The entrance way from the parking lot is quite large and does not have a gate. There is also a stairway by the snack bar area (and close to the splash pad) that leads down to the lake. These are the two biggest spots to be aware of if your kid has the tendency to take off running (we’ve all been there).

While the playground and splash pad at Sharon Woods Harbor are free, a Great Parks Annual Motor Vehicle Pass is required to enter the park. More info can be found on the Great Parks of Hamilton County website.