Some days, you just don’t feel like going to a public pool.
Don’t get us wrong – our Columbus and Hilliard pools are great. But between getting the kids through the entrance queue, staking out a beach chair, and keeping everyone safe, happy, and fed, it’s amazing how quickly your whole day can be consumed by what you’d expected to be a fun, stress-free family outing.
For today’s entry in Summer ‘17, we’re outlining some truly spontaneous ways you and the kids can find relief from the summer heat while avoiding the hassles that go along with visiting outdoor swimming pools.
Columbus spraygrounds
Spraygrounds
Barnett Sprayground
1184 Barnett Rd.
Columbus, OH 43227
(614) 645-3065
Indian Mound Sprayground
3901 Parsons Ave.
Columbus, OH 43207
(614) 645-3224
Blackburn Sprayground
263 Carpenter St.
Columbus, OH 43205
(614) 645-7670
Opening Day: May 27
Hours: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Daily
Your kids are sure to have a blast at one of Columbus’s spraygrounds. Operated by Columbus Recreation and Parks, these “large outdoor water-themed playgrounds” are perfect for families looking to beat the summer heat.
Columbus operates three spraygrounds – one each at the Barnett Community Center, 1184 Barnett Road; the Blackburn Community Center, 263 Carpenter Street; and the Indian Mound Community Center, 3901 Parsons Avenue.
Spraygrounds will open for the summer on May 27 and operate daily between 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. You’ll need a Columbus Leisure Card to visit a sprayground.
Bicentennial Park and the Scioto Mile Fountain
Make a day trip downtown and you’ll find that walking along the Scioto Mile toward John W. Galbreath Bicentennial Park will lead you to a wonderful treat – the Scioto Mile Fountain.
Scioto Mile Fountain
at Bicentennial Park
233 Civic Center Dr.
Columbus, OH 43215
Sun.-Thur.:
9 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
Fri./Sat.: 9 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Interactive Fountain:
10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Daily
This fountain should be on everyone’s summer fun to-do list. The centerpiece of Bicentennial Park – which itself spans 4.66 acres and also features a performing arts pavilion – the fountain offers a 15,000-square-foot, 200-foot-long aquatic playspace with just over 1,000 spray nozzles and “five stainless-steel halo structures” that contain “1,100 fog nozzles”.
The Scioto Mile Fountain season runs during the summer from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Children are welcome to play in the fountain between 10 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. daily.
North Bank Park
Stroll in the opposite direction along the Scioto Mile, toward the Arena District, and you’ll find yourself at North Bank Park, a cozy retreat built atop what was once the Ohio State Penitentiary’s pumphouse.
North Bank Park
311 W. Long St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Hours: 7 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Open Daily*
*Unless closed for special events.
The upper level of the nine-acre park features a spray fountain for kids and a patio with plenty of seating and unbeatable views of the downtown skyline. The park walls, which are made of stones from the now-demolished penitentiary, will be of special interest to history buffs.
North Bank Park is the perfect spot on which to sit back and take in the regrowth occurring along the shores of the Scioto River. While open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., it’s important to note that the park is often closed for private events. Park reservations can be reached at (614) 645-3335.
Hilliard Station Park
There’s plenty of splashy fun to be had closer to home, as well, with a visit to Station Park, 4021 Main Street, in Hilliard.
Hilliard Station Park
4021 Main Street
Hilliard, OH 43026
Hours: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Fountains: May – Oct.
Station Park features a spray pad along with public restrooms and an amphitheater. Kids will love the park’s architecture, which pays homage to the site’s historical significance as the place where Main Street and the local railroad station once met.
Station Park is open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily; the spray pad’s fountains run from May through October. Information on parking is available from the City of Hilliard.
That’s all for now. We hope you’ll join us Monday for the start of a two-day discussion of swimming lessons offered by both the Columbus and Hilliard recreation departments.
And don’t forget to check out our previous Summer ‘17 posts:
- Cool off at one of Hilliard’s two municipal pools
- Your Columbus “Leisure Card” is a passport to fun
- Dive into one of Columbus’s outdoor swimming pools
Have a great day!
Posts
