Cincinnati Indoor Play Places

The best indoor play centers, cafes, playgrounds and more around Cincinnati to enjoy in 2025

One of the best ways to survive a midwest winter and crazy spring weather with little kids is to spend time at one of the many Cincinnati indoor play places. From play pretend towns to indoor playgrounds, from inflatables and free play places, and from trampoline parks to play cafes designed for the littlest ones in mind, there’s an indoor play place that’s perfect for everyone. Check out our list of Cincinnati Indoor Play Places to check out in 2025 to find the perfect spot for you!



Kid Clubhouse Mason Main Playground - Cincinnati Indoor Play Places - One Little Small Blog

Cincinnati Indoor Play Places

Indoor Play Centers and Cafes

Little Diggers Playspace

New in 2025

Little Diggers Playspace is a brand new play spot perfect for kids who love construction equipment and playing in the sand. Located in West Chester, Little Diggers has one GIANT sandbox, another smaller one to the side, and tons of construction-themed and sand toys. This place is for ages 7 and under only, and is best enjoyed when kids can navigate through the sand on their own (without trying to eat it).

Admission is based on playtime duration. A 30 minute play session is $12/child ($10/sibling). An hour play session is $16/child ($12/sibling & $10/siblings 2+). A 2 hour play session is $21/child ($17/sibling & $10/sibling 2+). Then it’s $5 per additional hour after that. Admission also includes 2 adults per family for free (additional adults are $5 each). My kids (ages 7 & 2) were good with an hour of play time. You do receive a text alert when you have 10 minutes of play time left, and are able to add the additional hour for $5 at that time.

Little Diggers is open 7 days a week from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Little Diggers Playspace is located at 9442 Water Front Drive, West Chester, OH 45069

Green Elephant Play

New in 2025

Green Elephant Play officially opens on June 17, 2025. With a focus on eco-friendly play, Green Elephant is the only indoor play place for kids located in downtown Cincinnati. This is the spot to take your kids to play with really cool toys. Designed for ages 1-8, my 2 and 7 year olds spent a solid 2 hours playing with their friends.

At Green Elephant Play, you’ll find a ton of green (re: not plastic!) toys to play with. My kids loved the doll house, train table, giant blocks, shopping cart, ice cream cart, Lovevery toys, ball pit, a small wooden climbing structure, chalk wall, pom pom pit, reading nook, puzzle wall, and more. There is also a gated playpen for infants.

Daily admission is $10.50/child aged 1-8, and infants under age 1 are free with paid sibling. Socks are required – but if you forget, grippy socks are available for purchase for $1. Hours are Tuesday to Friday from 9:00am to 3:00pm, and on Saturday from 7:00am to 1:00pm. Closed Sunday for parties and Monday for cleaning. Parking-wise, there is a lot of street parking, plus free parking at casino across the street (this is what we opted to do, and it was easy peasy!).

Green Elephant Play is located at 9528 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Chasing Cali Collective

New in 2024

Chasing Cali Collective is a brand new concept to Cincinnati, offering childcare in their play space while parents can work, grab a coffee from their coffee bar, enjoy self care such as the infrared sauna and spa services, or even take a nap(!!!). The childcare services are for babies (over 6 weeks old) and toddlers only. However, there is parent monitored play available on most weekends.

Located in Reading, little ones will enjoy themed crafts and activities at Chasing Cali. Childcare sessions available in increments from 1 hour to 2.5 hours. Parents must stay onsite. You can book a spot online, but walk-ins are also welcome during the week.

The cost for childcare starts at $15 for one hour for one child and goes up to $30 for 2.5 hours for 1 child. They also offer a coffee/play date session for one hour for 2 kids for $27 so you can catch up with your mom bestie uninterrupted while your littles play. The parent monitored play sessions are $10 each. Hours are 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday (so if you want an hour of childcare, get there by 4:00pm), and vary on weekends.

Chasing Cali Collective is located at 418 W. Benson Street, Reading, OH 45215

We Rock The Spectrum Kids Gym Cincinnati

We Rock The Spectrum Cincinnati is a kids gym designed for kids of all abilities to enjoy. The equipment in the gym was designed for children with sensory processing disorders, but the gym is open to all children. Located a few doors down from the new Deer Park Library, WRTS Cincinnati offers both open play and classes. And great news for parents on the other side of the river. We Rock The Spectrum Northern Kentucky opened in Erlanger in 2024.

WRTS is designed for infants up to kids 13 years old. Current pricing for open play is $14/child, with $12 for a sibling. Packages and memberships are available for purchase. Open play hours are generally from 10:00am to 5:00pm daily, but it can vary week to week based on private events and camps

We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym Cincinnati is located at 4060 E Galbraith Rd Unit 17, Cincinnati, OH 45236

We Rock the Spectrum Kids Gym Northern Kentucky is located at 331 Kenton Lands Road, Suite 400, Erlanger, KY 41018

We Rock The Spectrum Kids Gym Cincinnati - Cincinnati Indoor Play Places - One Little Small Blog
Having fun at WRTS Cincinnati

Wonderland Playground

Located in Anderson Township, Wonderland Playground boasts a play area for little kids, a large play area for bigger kids, and a ninja course. This indoor play center was designed for kids ages 1 through 8. Amenities include a nursing room, cafe, and free wi-fi.

Reservations must be made online prior to playing. Pricing for general admission is $16 per child for a 2 hour time slot. Time slots are 9:00 to 11:00am, 12:00 to 2:00pm, and 3:00 to 5:00pm.

Wonderland Playground is located at 8255 Beechmont Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45255

Magic Land Play Café

Magic Land Play Café is a unique play place in Harrison. Designed for kids 7 and under, Magic Land has spaces for climbing, sliding, play pretend, a mess-free sandbox, and more. They also have a human claw machine – something I’ve never seen before in Cincinnati!

Open play admission is $12 per child for 3 hours. Additional siblings are $10 each and babies under 1 year old are free with a paid sibling. Magic Land hours are 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday, and 9:00am to 3:00pm on Saturday and Sunday.  

Magic Land Play Café is located at 10501 New Haven Rd Suite E and F, Harrison, OH 45030

Recreations Outlet 

Recreations Outlet is an indoor play set and equipment showroom that is open for children to play. Located in Milford, this is a great spot to take the kids when it’s raining or too chilly to play outside. Also, it was very clean! Recreations Outlet is great for all ages, and best for toddlers up to big kids. There is a small area for the littlest ones, but kids will have the most fun once they can (mostly) run, climb and jump on their own.

A play pass is $9 per child from Monday to Friday, and $12 per child on weekends & school holidays. Discounted punch passes and annual memberships are also available for purchase. On a budget? Check out the charity play sessions from 9:00 to 11:00am on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings. Charity play sessions are $4 per child for 2 hours, and 50% of profits go to the featured charity of the month. This is what we typically opt for when visiting this spot.

Recreations Outlet is open 7 days a week from 9:00am to 6:00pm Monday to Saturday, and noon to 6:00pm on Sunday.

Recreations Outlet is located at 885 OH-28, Milford, OH 45150

Busy Bees Kids Playhouse

Busy Bees Kids Playhouse, formerly Bee Kind Kids Clubhouse, in Liberty Township is an indoor play space designed for kids under age 10 (older kids are welcome as long as they play gently). This space reopened under new management in late summer 2024. There is a separate spot for babies, as well as a place for parents to work while their children play.

The cost is $10 per child, and $7 for siblings. Infants 8 months and younger are free. Current hours are Tuesday evening from 4:00 to 7:00pm and Friday mornings 9:30am to 12:30pm.

Busy Bees Kids Playhouse is located at 5534 Eureka Dr A, Liberty Township, OH 45011

Creative Play Cafe

Creative Play Cafe in Crescent Springs, KY is a play cafe focused on imaginary play. This space is designed for kids ages 1 to 6, but there is a small area for older siblings to hangout. Timed-entry play date tickets can be purchased on their website.

A 2-hour play date session is $15 per child ages 1 to 6 years old. Babies under age 1 year old are free with a paid sibling. Children ages 7 and older are $10 each, and must stay in the designated area with a STEM activity. Effective 3/1/25, adults will be charged a $2 admission. Memberships are also available for purchase.

Current Creative Play Cafe hours are 8:30am to 4:00pm from Sunday to Thursday, and 8:30am to 5:00pm on Friday and Saturday.

Creative Play Cafe plans to open a second location in Union, KY in 2025.

Creative Play Cafe is located at 2434 High Street, Crescent Springs, KY 41017

For the Littlest Littles

LilyPad

LilyPad is my favorite indoor play spot in Cincinnati for babies who aren’t walking yet and young toddlers (although children up to age 6 will still enjoy it!). There are now three locations – in O’Bryonville, OH, Crescent Springs, KY, and West Chester, OH. LilyPad locations have an open play area with play set, climbing wall, and play pretend section. They also have an area just for crawlers.

LilyPad has many mom-friendly features, such as a nursing room, kitchen and snack-room, and fully stocked changing tables in each bathroom. This is also a nut-free facility – perfect for those with food allergies.

The cost is $10 per child, $8 per sibling, for all day play. Babies under age 1 year old are free. Membership and discount packages are available. The cost is the same at all 3 LilyPad locations.

Current hours are 9:00am to 3:00pm from Monday to Friday. The O’Bryonville and West Chester locations are open 9:00am to 1:00pm on Saturday, and closed on Sunday for private events. The Crescent Springs, KY location is closed on Saturday for private events, and open on Sunday from 9:00am to 1:00pm.

LilyPad is located at 2008 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45208

LilyPad Crescent Springs is located at 574 Buttermilk Pike, Crescent Springs, KY 41017

LilyPad West Chester is located at 7334 Tylers Corner Place, Suite 100, West Chester, OH 45069

PETALS Playhouse & Activity Center

New in 2024

New this year is PETALS Playhouse & Activity Center for children 6 years and under. Located in Paddock Hills / North Avondale, this spot is just down the road from the original Sugar N Spice location.

PETALS Playhouse is a 1900 sq ft indoor play and activity center with 4 specialty theme areas – including a sensory-friendly castle-theme area, arcade, and lego station. What makes this spot special is that they have partnered with Rosemary’s Babies Company for special pricing for teen parents (under 19 years old).

The cost is $20 per child, $10 for 2 or more children, and $2 for 2 or more children for teen parents. Open play hours are 10:00am to 4:00pm on Monday and Tuesday. PETALS Playhouse is also open for private events Friday through Sunday.

PETALS Playhouse is located at 4439 Reading Rd, Suite 107, Cincinnati, OH 45229
Off Avon Avenue, turn in rear lot of the building

Places with Inflatables

Dig ‘N Play 

New location

Although Dig ‘N Play has been around since 2019, this play spot recently moved to a new location in West Chester. The new location boasts a large sand table, a bigger play structure, a toddler play structure, inflatables, and a a play pretend area. Dig ‘N Play is great for toddlers and preschoolers (ages 2 to 6).

Despite featuring a sand table, Dig ‘N Play is one of the cleanest indoor play spots in Cincinnati. All the toys and sand are regularly sanitized. This spot also offers mom-friendly amenities, such a nursing room and changing station.

The cost for open play is $10 for ages 2 and under, and $13 for ages 3 and up. Dig ‘N Play is open from 9:30am to 5:00pm Monday to Thursday, 9:30am to 7:00pm on Friday, 10:00am to 7:00pm on Saturday, and noon to 5:00pm on Sunday.

Dig ‘N Play is now located at 4902 Union Centre Pavilion, West Chester, OH 45069

Dig 'N Play - Cincinnati Indoor Play Places - One Little Small Blog
Having fun in the giant sand table at Dig ‘N Play at the old location

Kid Clubhouse: Indoor Playground

Located a bit north of Cincinnati in the Dayton suburb of Springboro is Kid Clubhouse. This indoor play spot boasts a large playground, toddler room, bounce house and interactive game floor. They also have cool events like Glow Night. Kid Clubhouse is also parent-friendly with a dedicated workstation and nursery with changing tables.

And great news for Cincinnati folks – Kid Clubhouse opened a second location in Mason in July 2024! The Mason location has a huge play structure for big kids, ninja course, gated-in toddler area (with view of big kid area & ninja course), rock climbing wall, small trampoline area, interactive ball maze, hanging carousel, and more. There is also a large seating area with work station for parents, a nursery, and snack bar (that serves coffee!).

Kid Clubhouse is designed for kids ages 12 and under – and I would say it’s great for ages 1 to 12. As long as your littlest one can climb, they will have fun at this Cincinnati indoor play spot.

Admission for all day play is $10 for ages 1 to 2 years old and $13 for ages 3 to 12 years old. Babies under age 1 are free with a paid sibling. 2 adults are included with admission, while additional adults or siblings 13+ are $3 each. Hours at both Kid Clubhouse locations are 9:30am to 8:00pm Monday to Saturday, and noon to 6:00pm on Sunday.

Kids Clubhouse Springboro is located at 865 W Central Ave, Springboro, OH 45066

Kid Clubhouse Mason is located at 3187 Western Row Road #109, Maineville, OH 45039

Run, Jump-N-Play 

Located in Blue Ash, Run, Jump-N-Play is an indoor showroom filled with swing sets and outdoor play equipment with daily open play sessions for kids to enjoy. This indoor play spot boasts swing sets, trampolines, basketball hoops, a toddler area, and inflatables on the weekend. We have enjoyed RJP from the toddler years and up (the maximum age is 15). You can read my full review on Run, Jump-N-Play here.

Open play is $8 for kids ages 5 & under and $10 for ages 6+ on weekdays. On weekends and holidays (when the inflatables are running), the cost is $10 for kids under 36in tall and $13 for kids over 36in tall. Children must be over 36in tall to go on the inflatables. Run, Jump-N-Play is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 9:00pm on Saturday, and 10:00am to 5:00pm on Sunday.

Run, Jump-N-Play is located just off I-71 at the Pfeiffer Road exit at 5897 Pfeiffer Rd Ste B, Blue Ash, OH 45242

Playing at Run Jump-N-Play - Cincinnati Indoor Play Places - One Little Small Blog
Playing at Run Jump-N-Play

Jump & Jack’s

Also located in West Chester, Jump & Jack’s is a large indoor play center with play areas for big kids, toddlers and inflatables. This indoor play spot is best for ages 3 to 11, but can be enjoyed by toddlers with adult supervision.

Admission is $5 for crawlers to 2 years old every day. For kids 3 and up, admission $10 per child on weekdays and $13 on Friday nights and weekends. Hours are 9:30am to 8:00pm Monday to Saturday, and 11:30am to 8:00pm on Sunday. Special hours for their inflatables are posted on social media.

Jump & Jack’s is located at 7102 Office Park Dr, West Chester, OH 45069

Jump & Jack's - Cincinnati Indoor Play Places - One Little Small Blog
The big slide at Jump & Jack’s

Pump It Up

Pump It Up in West Chester is all inflatables, all the time. However, it is a spot primarily for private birthday parties and events, and therefore it is not open daily. Open Jump sessions can be found on their calendar, and spots can be reserved in advance. The cost for open jump sessions is $5 for toddlers under age 2 and $10 for kids ages 2 to 17 years old.

Pump It Up is located at 7724 Service Center Dr, West Chester, OH 45069

Jump!Zone

Jump!Zone in Florence, KY boats 9 large inflatables to enjoy. Like Pump It Up, Jump!Zone is mainly used for private birthday parties and events, and is not open daily. While hours for their Open!Play sessions vary, it is typically open at 9:00 or 10:00am until 3:00pm on weekdays, from 10:00am to 5:00pm on Saturday, and 11:00am to 6:00pm on Sunday. All Open!Play sessions are listed on the calendar on the Jump!Zone website.

The cost for Open!Play is $10 for ages 12mo-23mo and $15 for ages 2 to 12 years old for all day.

Jump!Zone is located at 5765 Constitution Dr, Florence, KY 41042

Scene75 Cincinnati

Scene75 is not your traditional play center, but it does offer a bounce zone with a variety of inflatables for kids under age 12 (but also over 42in tall) to enjoy. Check out their website for other attractions.

The Scene75 Bounce Zone is $10 per child. It is open during regular business hours: noon to 9:00pm Sunday to Thursday, noon to 11:00pm on Friday, and 10:00am to 11:00pm on Saturday.

Scene75 Cincinnati is located at 876 OH-28, Milford, OH 45150

Free Indoor Play Centers

Graeter’s Kenwood Lil’ Pints Play Room

One of my favorite indoor play spots to go when you just need to get out of the house for an hour is the Lil’ Pints Play Room at Graeter’s Kenwood store. Nothing turns around a bad day like a scoop of your favorite treat and running around an ice cream themed play room.

Graeter’s Lil’ Pints Play Room is open during regular store hours: from 6:30am to 10:00pm Tuesday to Thursday, 6:30am to 11:00pm on Friday, 9:00am to 10:00pm on Sunday, and 11:00am to 10:00pm on Monday. There is a large climbing area with ice cream cone slide, a section for the youngest kids, an ice cream truck play house, and more. This play room is designated for kids ages 9 and under, and socks are required.

Graeter’s Kenwood store is located at 8167 Montgomery Road Cincinnati, OH 45236

Graeter's Kenwood Lil' Pints Play Room - One Little Small Blog
Graeter’s Kenwood Lil’ Pints Play Room

The Dungeon at King Arthur’s Court Toy Store

What could be better than a super cool, royal toy store? How about one with a free play room to enjoy? The Dungeon is located in the basement of King Arthur’s Court Toy Store in Oakley. This spot is made up of 3 rooms filled with toys to play with, climb on, and enjoy. Check out my review below.

The Dungeon is open during regular store hours: 10:00am to 8:00pm Monday to Saturday and 11:00am to 6:00pm on Sunday.

King Arthur’s Court Toys is located at 3040 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45209

Playing at the Dungeon at King Arthur's Court Toy Store - Cincinnati Indoor Play  Places- One Little Small Blog
Playing at the Dungeon at King Arthur’s Court Toy Store

Cincinnati Children’s Discovery Zone at Liberty Center

At Liberty Center, you can find a free indoor play spot where kids can climb, slide, build, explore, and more! According to their website, the Cincinnati Children’s Discovery Center is in the Foundry building, between the Food Hall and MidPointe Library Liberty on the second floor.

Liberty Center is located at 7100 Foundry Row, Liberty Township, OH 45069

The Backyard at Newport on the Levee

Did you know Newport on the Levee has a free children’s play area for children ages 12 and under? New in 2024, The Backyard play area is located in The Gallery and open during regular hours. The play area includes a swing set, climbing dome, see saws, outdoor games, and plenty of seating for grownups.

Newport on the Levee is located at One Levee Way, Newport, KY 41071

Little Village at City Gospel Mission

Little Village is a free play spot for children under age 5. According to their website, the Little Village has spaces for science, art, play pretend, tumbling, reading construction, and an area for babies. The play area is open from 9:00am to 6:00pm Tuesday to Friday, and from 10:00am to 2:00pm on Saturday.

Little Village at City Gospel Mission is located at 2420 Harrison Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45211

Community Commons Playscape

Community Commons in Harrison has a free indoor play structure. The building also houses a church and child care center. The play area is open from 9:00am to 5:00pm Monday through Friday.

Community Commons is located at 9850 Carolina Trace, Harrison, OH 45030

Trampoline Parks

Trampoline parks are typically great for older kids, but can also be enjoyable with younger kids at places with designated toddler hours. They are typically more expensive than other indoor play spots, but have more attractions and are open late.

Most trampoline parks also require you to wear special grippy jump socks. TIP: buy the socks once, and keep them in your car for future use.

Urban Air Adventure Park 

There’s a lot to enjoy at Urban Air Adventure Park in Oakley for kids of all ages. This indoor play spot boasts loads of trampolines, an indoor play structure, a warrior course with ball pit, a balance beam with foam block pit, climbing hill, and several ultimate attractions. Hours vary week to week, but they are typically open until at least 8:00pm. Read my full review below.

For those with younger kids, head out to Urban Air during the Jumperoo session. This special session is only for kids ages 2 to 5. Jumperoo runs during the school year from 10:00am to 12:30pm on select dates.

Tickets to Urban Active are $30.99 for Ultimate attractions (which includes everything) and $24.99 for Deluxe attractions (which includes the trampolines, playground, dodgeball, etc. – basically everything that does not require additional workers to operate). For children under 40in tall, tickets are $12.99 each. I believe this is also the price for the Jumperoo session. Additionally, parent pass are available for 50% of what you pay for your kid’s ticket. Monthly memberships are also available.

Urban Air Cincinnati is located in Oakley at 3321 Alamo Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45209

Trampolines Urban Air Cincinnati - One Little Small Blog
Freestyle Jump Trampolines

Nova Trampoline Park

New in 2025

New this year is Nova Trampoline Park in Western Hills. This 50,000 sq ft facility features trampoline, dodgeball court, zip line, toddler court, indoor playground, and more. For little ones, they offer Toddler Wednesday where children under 42in tall can enjoy 2 hours of jump time between 10:00am and 3:00pm for $15.50.

Pricing at Nova Cincinnati is based on height. Tickets for kids over 42in tall start at $19 for 60 minutes and goes up to $34 for 180 minutes. Tickets for toddlers under 42in start at $13 for 60 minutes and goes up to $23 for 180 minutes. Parents do not have to purchase a ticket if they are supervising, but you do if you will be jumping with your kids. Hours are 10:00am to 9:00pm Sunday to Thursday, and 10:00am to 11:00pm on Friday and Saturday.

Nova Trampoline Park is located at 5100 Glencrossing Way, Cincinnati, OH 45238

DEFY Cincinnati

Previously Rockin’ Jump, DEFY Cincinnati is another great indoor play spot to help kids blow off steam. Located in Colerain Township, this spot boasts a jump arena, slam dunk zone, ninja course, and more.

Tickets to DEFY Cincinnati are $23.99 for a 90 minute session and $35.99 for an all day pass. Monthly memberships are also available. Hours are 10:00am to 8:00pm Sunday to Thursday, 10:00am to 10:00pm on Friday, and 9:00am to 10:00pm on Saturday.

DEFY Cincinnati Trampoline Park is located at 8350 Colerain Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45239

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

Another cool indoor play spot to jump your heart out is Sky Zone Trampoline Park in Springdale. This spot has an area for freestyle jumping, foam pit, basketball hoops, and more. Tickets are $22.99 for a standard 90 minute session and $32.99 for all day. Monthly memberships are also available.

Sky Zone is open from 4:00 to 8:00pm Monday to Thursday, noon to 9:30pm on Friday, 11:00am to 9:30pm on Saturday, and 11:00am to 8:00pm on Sunday.

Sky Zone Trampoline Park is located at 11745 Commons Dr, Springdale, OH 45246

Altitude Trampoline Park 

With locations in Mason and Anderson, Altitude Trampoline Park is an indoor play center with a large trampoline area, foam pit, battle beam, wipeout, and more. Altitude offers a Junior Jumpers Jam 2-hour pass for ages 2 to 6 for only $8. This pass is only available on weekdays from 10:00am to 1:00pm. They also offer a Home School Hops pass available weekdays from 11:00am to 1:00pm for $7.

Regular pricing for Altitude Trampoline Park is $21.99 for a 90 minute session and $24.99 for a 120 minute session. Monthly memberships are available for purchase. Hours are 10:00am to 8:00pm Monday to Thursday, 10:00am to 9:00pm on Friday, 11:00am to 9:00pm on Saturday, and 11:00am to 8:00pm on Sunday.

Altitude Trampoline Park – Mason is located at 4786 Fields Ertel Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45249

Altitude Trampoline Park – Anderson is located at 7522 Beechmont Ave Cincinnati, OH 45255

Get Air Trampoline Park 

Next to Jump & Jacks you’ll find Get Air Trampoline Park is another spot for indoor fun in West Chester. This trampoline park offers a foam pit, dodgeball, ninja activities, and of course, lots of trampolines.

For the littlest ones, there is Kiddie Court – a section of the park reserved for kids under 46 inches tall, as well as Toddler Time. Toddler Time is for kids under 46in tall and is available from 10:00am to noon on Tuesday and Thursday, and from 8:00am to 10:00am on Sunday. The cost is $10.99 per child, and one adult is free. Toddler Time is still available when school for big kids is out for breaks, but little ones will be required to jump in the Kiddie Court section of the park.

Pricing for “big air” tickets (for kids over 46in tall) is $16.99 for one hour, $23.99 for 2 hours, and $26.99 for 3 hours. “Little air” tickets (for kids under 46in tall) are $10.99 for one hour, $17.49 for 2 hours, and $20.49 for 3 hours.

Open jump hours are 10:00am to 8:00pm Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday, from noon to 8:00pm on Tuesday and Thursday, and 10:00am to 7:00pm (with extended “Club Air” hours from 7:00pm to 10:00pm for kids over 46in tall) on Friday and Saturday.

Get Air Trampoline Park is located at 7106 Office Park Dr, West Chester Township, OH 45069


Thanks for checking out our list of the best Cincinnati indoor play places to check out in 2025. You’re sure to find the perfect indoor spot for those cloudy and rainy days!


Enjoyed my Cincinnati Indoor Play Places guide? Make sure to check out our Indoor Fun page for all the best indoor places around Cincinnati to enjoy with your kids.









1000 Hands Every Child’s Playground at Sawyer Point

Hands down the best playground under a bridge

While you wouldn’t typically think to look for a playground under a bridge, the 1000 Hands Every Child’s Playground at Sawyer Point is one playground you don’t want to miss. Located under the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge, this steamboat-themed playground is not only great for kids of all ages, but was designed for kids of all abilities.



1000 Hands Playground Sawyer Point Highlights

  • Large, steamboat-themed playground located along the Ohio River front
  • Built for children of all abilities and is wheelchair accessible
  • Lots of shade due to its location under a bridge
  • 8 swings, including an ADA swing and tire swing
  • Has a rock wall with a cool mural of downtown
  • Best for kids ages 2-12

1000 Hands Park Sawyer Point
1000 Hands Park Sawyer Point

Overview

1000 Hands Every Child’s Playground is located at Sawyer Point, along the Ohio River front. There is another, more well-known, 1000 Hands Playground located in Pleasant Ridge. This playground is located directly under the Daniel Carter Beard Bridge (aka the yellow “Big Mac Bridge”), between the sand volleyball court and Sawyer Point Park.

The playground is mostly fenced and is easily accessed by the main entrance across from the sand volleyball court. There is a second entrance along the side of the playground closest to the access road. The ground is solid surface throughout and the playground is built from composite wood. There are many different levels and interactive features throughout this park to keep kids of all ages busy for at least an hour or two. If you need a snack break, you can find plenty of picnic tables along the side of the playground closest to the volleyball court.

1000 Hands Park Steamboat Features
1000 Hands Playground

The playground

There is a lot to take in when you first enter 1000 Hands Every Child’s Playground at Sawyer Point. To the left are monkey bar-type features, and beyond that is a ramp that goes up and around to the back of the playground. To your right is a separate area with an interactive roads sand table and musical toys. Next is the first set of swings, then the little playhouse, second entrance, and another ramp leading to the back of the playground. In the center is a giant playground structure with many different tunnels, ramps, stairs, and slides.

Walk a little further in to see the main steamboat playground structure in all its glory. Steamboat touches can be found throughout the playground. Very fitting, I think, given the playground’s location next to the Ohio River.

1000 Hands Park Steamboat Features
1000 Hands Park Steamboat Features

The steamboat play structure is teeming with nooks and crannies to explore. It can be accessed by one of two playground ramps or the many different types of stairs and ladders throughout. There are two slides – one at each end of the playground. Some of the interactive features on the playground include a giant steamboat steering wheel and a tic-tac-toe board. One of my favorite features is the little rock wall with a mural of downtown Cincinnati.

Swings

There are 8 swings total at 1000 Hands Playground Sawyer Point. Four regular swings can be found not far from the main playground entrance. The other set of swings is in the back area of the playground. Here you will find two bucket seats, one ADA swing, and a tire swing.

Bathrooms

The bathrooms are in their own little building located under the bridge but closer to the river. The doors to the individual bathrooms face the river (away from the playground), and are on their own little path. It’s about a minute walk from the playground to the bathrooms.

Parking

There are several parking lots along Pete Rose Way. The parking lot at Sawyer Point is closest to 1000 Hands Playground, but it does have a parking fee. Free parking is available further down, such as at International Friendship Park, but it’s a bit of a walk to the playground from there.

The not so greats

Not fully fenced. While 1000 Hands Every Child’s Playground at Sawyer Point is mostly fenced, it’s important to be aware that this playground is not completely fenced in. The main playground entrance (facing the sand volleyball court) does not have a gate, but there is a bit of an entryway that makes this spot more manageable.

The spot to be aware of is the secondary entrance along the side of the playground closest to the access road. This entrance is a bit deceiving because it doesn’t look like a way out at first glance, but you can exit the playground via the little playhouse and the ramp next to it. It exits out to the access road and then a parking lot.

Not the cleanest. While I wouldn’t consider any playground to be clean, 1000 Hands Playground is one of the least clean of the playgrounds we frequent. Although the ground is solid surface, this is not the playground I would take a crawling baby. To be clear, this playground is far from filthy, but we do sometimes find trash throughout and the whole area could use a good hose down. Because of it’s location under a bridge, it doesn’t receive a lot of rain that would normally wash away dirt, sand, pollen and the like that has built up on the playground.

No good vantage point. Because 1000 Hands Playground Sawyer Point is so big and has so many levels, it can be tricky to keep up with your kids as they run and play. This is not a playground where you can stand in one spot and have eyes on the little ones the entire time. 

1000 Hands Park Sawyer Point
1000 Hands Park Sawyer Point


Overall, 1000 Hands Every Child’s Playground at Sawyer Point is one of the hidden gem playgrounds in Cincinnati. I love how it honors the city’s history with the steamboat-theme. This playground has so many areas to explore, yet is still accessible for kids of all abilities.

1000 Hands Every Child’s Playground at Sawyer Point is located at 801 East Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground - One Little Small Blog

BONUS: After working up a sweat at 1000 Hands Every Child’s Playground at Sawyer Point, head 5 minutes down the riverwalk to cool down at the Otto Armleder Memorial Aquatic Sprayground.




Dogwood Park

A playground just for toddlers in Mariemont

One of our favorite toddler playgrounds is Dogwood Park in Mariemont. This playground was designed for ages 2 to 5, and is completely fenced-in!



The playground at Dogwood Park in Mariemont - Cincinnati Playgrounds - One Little Small Blog

Dogwood Park

Highlights

  • Best for ages 2 to 5
  • Features include a playground, swings, ride on toys, play house, green space, and more
  • The playground is fully fenced in!
  • Very easy for a toddler to navigate

Enjoying the slides at Dogwood Park in Mariemont - Cincinnati Playgrounds - One Little Small Blog
Baby Ben doing the slides all by himself!

Playground

The playground at Dogwood Park was designed for ages 2 to 5, and it’s very easy for that age group to navigate without too much help. The main playground structure has several levels and slides, all which are connected by stairs – rather than something more difficult like a ladder.

The playground at Dogwood Park in Mariemont - Cincinnati Playgrounds - One Little Small Blog
The Dogwood Park playground

There are several ride-on toys, as well as a row of swings. A cute little playhouse was added to the playground in 2022.

Other Features

On the other side of the playground fence, you’ll find a picnic shelter, a bell tower (where the bathrooms are!), and ball fields. There’s a small parking lot next to the playground, street parking, and another, larger lot further down.

At the back of the playground you will find another gate and steps leading down into the woods. Here you’ll find the old Boathouse that used to house boats and canoes for a lagoon over 200 years ago. You can read more about it here.

The play house at Dogwood Park in Mariemont - Cincinnati Playgrounds - One Little Small Blog
The play house

The Not So Greats

While Dogwood Park is a must visit if you’ve got a toddler, there are a few things I don’t love. The bathroom is all the way in the nearby bell tower, and it isn’t always open (during the winter). There are only a handful few parking spots right next to the playground. There is ample street parking and a larger lot further down, but it’s nice to be right next to the playground when you’re schlepping a bunch of little kid stuff with you.

Also, there is mulch thorough the playground. Mulch isn’t my favorite in general, but especially not with toddlers. And since the playground was designed for 2 to 5 year olds, there’s not much to do for bigger kids or babies.


Overall, Dogwood Park in Mariemont is an awesome playground for toddlers. My son always has a blast on the playground, and I love how it’s fully fenced-in! The playground at Dogwood Park is not too big, but still has plenty of room to run around!

And for more fun things to do with your toddler, check out our favorite toddler-friendly places around Cincinnati!

Dogwood Park is located at 3706 Pleasant St, Cincinnati, OH 45227

The fenced in playground at Dogwood Park in Mariemont - Cincinnati Playgrounds - One Little Small Blog
Trying to escape, but can’t!



Gorman Park

A great park in Sharonville for summer fun

Reopened in May 2022, Gorman Park in Sharonville is a great spot for summer fun with a new playground, a splash pad, picnic shelter, and more.



The playground and splash pad at Gorman Park Sharonville - Cincinnati Playgrounds - One Little Small Blog

Gorman Park

Highlights

  • Good for ages 2 and up
  • There is a large splash pad on one side of the park and a large playground on the other
  • The playground consists of a large big kid jungle gym, smaller toddler jungle gym, and swings
  • The splash pad is open from 10am to 8pm during the summer 
  • There’s a large picnic shelter next to the splash pad with plenty of picnic tables, bathrooms and water fountains 

Playground

The playground at Gorman Park is great for ages 2 and up. There is a large playground for bigger kids with different levels, slides, a rock wall, and ropes course. This part of the playground is nicely shaded.

The swings are located between the big kid playground and the toddler playground, and include an accessible swing and a two-seater swing.

The toddler playground is located closest to the parking lot, and is a smaller version of the big kid playground. It is not shaded, and was not as popular as the big kid playground during our visit. The playground has mulch throughout.

The toddler playground at Gorman Park Sharonville - Cincinnati Playgrounds - One Little Small Blog
The toddler playground

I found that the playground complimented the splash pad well, however, I personally wouldn’t visit this park only for the playground if I wasn’t nearby.

The Splash Pad

The splash pad at Gorman Park is huge, and can accommodate a lot of kids. There are a variety of sprayers, and a large dump bucket in the center. It is easy to see the entire splash pad from one of the many nearby benches, as well as from the large picnic shelter behind it.

Gorman Park splash pad is open from 10am to 8pm from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend. To activate the splash pad, press the Start button in the middle of the splash pad.

For more summer fun, check out my Cincinnati Splash Pads post!

Other Features

I really liked the large picnic shelter, located behind the splash pad. It has plenty of picnic tables, bathrooms and water fountains. The nearby parking lot made it very convenient to get from the car to the splash pad and playground quickly. There is also a walking path around the perimeter of Gorman Park.

The Not So Greats

While Gorman Park has been beautifully updated, there were a few things about the playground that I didn’t love. The entire playground is mulch, and I personally prefer a solid surface or artificial turf ground. I also feel that mulch limits the playground from children who are still crawling or need a wheelchair to get around. The toddler playground did not have much shade, which isn’t great on a hot summer day. And while there there is a barrier between the toddler playground and the road, it’s always nice when a playground is fully fenced in.


Overall, Gorman Park in Sharonville is a really fun park to check out in the summer. Pack a lunch (or a snack!) so you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy both the splash pad and the playground.

Gorman Park is located at 12153 Centerdale Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45246




The Dungeon at King Arthur’s Court Toy Store

A royally fun play spot

What could be better than a super cool, royal toy store? How about one with a free play room to enjoy? The Dungeon is located in the basement of King Arthur’s Court Toy Store in Oakley.



The Dungeon at King Arthur's Court Toy Store - One Little Small Blog

The Dungeon
at King Arthur’s Court Toy Store

Highlights

  • 3 rooms filled with toys to play with, climb on, and enjoy
  • Located in the basement of King Arthur’s Court Toy Store in Oakley
  • Free!

The Dungeon at King Arthur's Court Toy Store - One Little Small Blog
Having fun in The Dungeon!

Overview

The Dungeon is a free play room located in the basement of King Arthur’s Court Toy Store in Oakley. The space is divided into 3 rooms with different toys to play with, climb on, and enjoy. The 3 rooms are connected in a loop layout. The walls, floor and decor are themed like a castle dungeon – which makes this spot even more fun!

The Dungeon at King Arthur's Court Toy Store - One Little Small Blog
Welcome to The Dungeon

The Dungeon

To access the Dungeon, walk down the flight of stairs in the middle of the store. You will see a large sign overhead that says “The Dungeon”. The first room you enter has a seating area with couches, books, and toy tables. The toy tables include a train table, Lego Duplos, and a marble run. On the other side of this room is a climbing structure and two hanging reading pods.

The Dungeon at King Arthur's Court Toy Store - One Little Small Blog
The first room in The Dungeon

The second room, to the right, has some smaller jungle gym equipment, a playhouse, and a zip line. It can be tricky to keep younger ones out of the zip line zone if the play room is a bit crowded.

The third and final room is in the back of the space. This long, narrow room has an archery target and a rope bridge to enjoy.

The Dungeon at King Arthur's Court Toy Store - One Little Small Blog
View of the third room – rope bridge and archery set

Keep in mind

The Dungeon is open during regular store hours. This is a free play room, but is located within a business. It is not monitored by any employees, and there are not any specific areas designated for babies or younger kids.

The toys in the play room do change from time to time. There are also toys on display that are available for purchase.

The restrooms are upstairs, located at the back of the store.

The Dungeon at King Arthur's Court Toy Store - One Little Small Blog
Enjoying a hanging reading pod

Overall, The Dungeon at King Arthur’s Court Toy Store is a fun, free spot to take the kids on a rainy day. Just be prepared to bring home a toy or two!

King Arthur’s Court Toys is located at 3040 Madison Rd, Cincinnati, OH 45209


If you enjoyed this post, make sure to check out our complete list of Cincinnati Indoor Play Places to enjoy.




Run, Jump-N-Play

Located in Blue Ash, Run, Jump-N-Play is an indoor play center where kids can truly run, jump and play. This is one of our favorite indoor play places to blow off steam when it is too rainy or chilly to play outside.

Run, Jump-N-Play is an indoor showroom filled with swing sets and outdoor play equipments with daily open play sessions for kids to enjoy. And make sure to visit on the weekend to enjoy the inflatable sessions.



Run, Jump-N-Play

Highlights

  • Large, indoor space filled with swing sets, trampolines, sports courts, and a toddler zone
  • Toddler zone is great for kids ages 5 and under
  • Inflatable sessions available on weekends and special occasions
  • Concession area with plenty of seating
  • Great spot to run off energy when it’s too cold or rainy for a playground
Run Jump-N-Play Review - One Little Small Blog
Future rock climber!

Overview

Run, Jump-N-Play is essentially a large indoor showroom for swing sets and outdoor play equipment that is open daily with play sessions for kids to enjoy. The space is filled with swing sets, trampolines, basketball hoops, and more.

When you first walk in, the check-in counter is in front of you. One of two bathrooms is located down a short hallway to your left. To your right, on the other side of a half wall, is a large, pirate ship-themed swing set. Continuing right, you will find the soccer area, and then the basketball court.

Run Jump-N-Play Review - One Little Small Blog
The giant pirate ship swing set

Heading straight back from the check-in counter, you will find a row of tables you can use to put your things while you play. The inflatables are housed in a room directly to the left of the tables. To the right is the main play area. In this large space you will find a row of trampolines and a variety of swing sets.

At the back of the main play area is the toddler zone. This area is surrounded on all sides with a padded half wall, with a large, arched entry declaring this space the “Toddler Zone”. To the left of the toddler zone is the concession area filled with tables. At the back of this space is a short hallway to the second set of restrooms.

Main Play Area

The exact layout of the main play area changes throughout the year, but typically consists of several different swing sets and trampolines. This area has been helmed by a giant pirate ship swing set, followed by a the trampolines and more swing sets.

Run Jump-N-Play Review - One Little Small Blog
Enjoying the slides

While the selection of swing sets have changes throughout the years, I have found that there is always been enough selection of features to entertain everyone from toddlers and big kids. With safety in mind, a safety net surrounds each trampoline, and it is restricted to 3 kids at a time.

Sports Courts

Towards the front of the space, next to the pirate ship swing set, are the sports courts. The soccer goal is set on a field of artificial turf. The basketball court is located in a separate space next to the soccer area. There are several different basketball hoop to enjoy.

Toddler Zone

At the back of the main play area is the Toddler Zone for kids ages 5 and under. And while it’s not gated in, this zone is surrounded on all sides with a half wall and only has 1 entrance.

While the features and layout within this space has also evolved, the toddler zone currently offers lots of big, padded blocks for building and playing, as well as a large piano to run across. The walls feature interactive toys, such as tic-tac-toe, puzzles, and a bead maze.

Inflatables

The inflatables run on weekends and special occasions. Children must be 36″ or taller to enjoy the inflatables. Also, be aware that these sessions are more expensive and typically more crowded than the weekday open play sessions.

The inflatables are housed in a separate area along the side and back of the space.

Run Jump-N-Play Review - One Little Small Blog
Enjoying the inflatables

Bathrooms and Concessions

There are 2 bathrooms at Run, Jump-N-Play. There is a single bathroom at the very front of the space. And at the very back of the space, past the concession area, are the men’s and women’s multi-stall bathrooms.

Towards the back of the space, next to the toddler area, is the concession stand. Menu offerings are currently a bit limited due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is ample space to sit down and enjoy your food. And additional seating is located throughout the play area.

Run Jump-N-Play Review - One Little Small Blog
Benny’s favorite swing

Overall, Run, Jump-N-Play is a great indoor play place for toddlers and up to run, jump and play to their hearts’ content. The toddler zone can be fun for kids who are still crawling, but I wouldn’t head to this spot only for that – there are other places around town that are more fun for that age set.

This also is the most ideal indoor play place around Cincinnati if you’re looking for a spot to work while your kids play. While there are plenty of tables, but there is no designated workspace that can be found in other places. Another drawback is that this spot isn’t the cleanest play place around – I would say that it is on par with a typical outdoor playground. But again, if you’re looking for the indoor alternative to an outdoor playground, this is the place to go!

For details on hours, pricing, and special events, head to Run, Jump-N-Play’s website.

Run, Jump-N-Play is located just off I-71 at the Pfeiffer Road exit at 5897 Pfeiffer Rd Ste B, Blue Ash, OH 45242


If you enjoyed this post, make sure to check out our complete list of Cincinnati Indoor Play Places to enjoy.




Washington Park Children’s Playground

A beautiful playground in the gem of OTR

What’s got a water feature, a sandbox, a castle, is fully fenced in, and pays homage to the Queen City’s history? It’s Washington Park Children’s Playground! This playground in Over-the-Rhine is beautifully designed with many features to explore and enjoy for everyone.

And it’s just a stone’s throw from the large sprayground open through October.



Washington Park

Children’s Playground

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

Washington Park Children's Playground entry - One Little Small Blog
The gate

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!

Washington Park Children's Playground - One Little Small Blog
The Children’s Playground

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. 

Washington Park Children's Playground the ruins - One Little Small Blog
Exploring the ruins

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. 

Washington Park Children's Playground nature area - One Little Small Blog
Nature area

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.

Washington Park Children's Playground the ruins - One Little Small Blog
The ruins area

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.

Washington Park Children's Playground musical toys - One Little Small Blog
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.

Washington Park Children's Playground the sandbox - One Little Small Blog
The sandbox

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

Washington Park Children's Playground the sandbox - One Little Small Blog
The sandbox

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.

Washington Park Children's Playground castle - One Little Small Blog
Front of the castle

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 Children's Playground castle - One Little Small Blog
Back of the castle

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.

Washington Park Children's Playground restrooms - One Little Small Blog
Bathrooms

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.


Overall, the Children’s Playground at Washington Park uses a mix of natural and artificial elements to create a space that is both beautiful and fun. This fully fenced in spot hosts a variety of attractions, from water to sand to swings to slides, to capture the interest of every child. It’s the perfect playground to include while exploring Over-the-Rhine with your kids.

Washington Park is located in OTR at 1230 Elm St, Cincinnati, OH 45202




Inwood Park

The new PNC Grow Up Great® Playground is open and ready for play

This newly renovated playground at Inwood Park has one of the largest playground areas for the littlest little ones. And don’t worry – there’s still an area for bigger kids to play too. Designed with input from children and accessibility experts and built with a grant from PNC, this innovative playground is best enjoyed on a cooler morning with a few clouds in the sky.



Inwood Park

PNC Grow Up Great® 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.

Inwood Park Little Kid Playground playhouse- One Little Small Blog
Playing pretend in the playhouse

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.

Inwood Park Playground - One Little Small Blog
View of the playground from the parking lot

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.

Inwood Park Little Kid Playground- One Little Small Blog
Little kid playground, swings in the background

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.

Inwood Park Playground Merry-go-round - One Little Small Blog
Accessible merry-go-round and textured walls

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.

Inwood Park Big Kid Playground- One Little Small Blog
Big kid playground – tower and zip line

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.

Inwood Park Big Kid Playground zip line - One Little Small Blog
The zip line

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. 


Overall, the PNC Grow Up Great® Playground at Inwood Park a nice, medium sized playground with a lot to do for infants and older. There are spaces to climb, explore, and play pretend – not to mention the accessible features so all children can be included. This playground has a lot of cool, newer features you can find at playground hot spots like Makino Park or West Fork Park, but Inwood Park is much less crowded.

Inwood Park is located at 2308 Vine St, Cincinnati, OH 45219. However, use directions to this location to navigate to the playground.




Swaim Park

And the sandbox has a built-in digger, too.

Swaim Park is a lovely, well-manicured park with a nice playground located next to downtown Montgomery, Ohio. This playground is a great spot to take toddlers and primary school aged kids to run and play. Plus it’s got a sandbox with a really cool sit-on digger.



Swaim Park

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.


Swaim Park Map - One Little Small Blog
Swaim Park Map

Overall, Swaim Park has some pretty scenery, is a pleasant spot to take a walk, and has a nice playground with a variety of things to play on. It’s not the latest or greatest, but all around nice. Plus it’s got that cool sit-on digger in the sandbox.

Swaim Park is located at 7650 Cooper Rd, Montgomery, OH 45242




Gower Park

The perfect balance of playground and nature in Sharonville

With a large playground and a cute little creek to explore, Gower Park in Sharonville is a great park to spend a few hours. Gower Park boasts a large playground for big kids, a toddler playground, swings, and new features for this summer. And did I mention there’s a creek right next to the playground? It’s perfect for those who want to take the kids creeking, but aren’t super outdoorsy.



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.

New features at Gower Park in Sharonville Ohio - One Little Small Blog
New features at Gower Park

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.

The playground at Gower Park in Sharonville Ohio - One Little Small Blog
One side of the main playground at Gower Park

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.

The playground at Gower Park in Sharonville Ohio - One Little Small Blog
The main playground at Gower Park

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).

Baby Ben at Gower Park in Sharonville Ohio - One Little Small Blog
Baby Ben at Gower Park

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.

Accessible merry-go-round at Gower Park in Sharonville Ohio - One Little Small Blog
Accessible merry-go-round

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 playground - One Little Small Blog
New features at Gower Park playground

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.

The creek at Gower Park in Sharonville Ohio - One Little Small Blog
The creek at Gower Park

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.

The creek at Gower Park in Sharonville Ohio - One Little Small Blog
The creek at Gower Park

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 bathrooms at Gower Park in Sharonville Ohio - One Little Small Blog
The bathrooms at Gower Park

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.


Overall, Gower Park is a fun playground with a lot to explore and a conveniently located creek. I think you’ll love the new upgrades adding this summer. Just make sure to go to the bathroom before you leave the house to avoid hiking up the hill to go potty.

Gower Park is located at 10997 Thornview Dr, Sharonville, OH 45241