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Local playgrounds featured in Summit County
RICHARD WEINER
Legal News Reporter
Published: November 21, 2011
“Physical Fitness” used to be known as “play,” and, for young folks, the playground is still the place to exercise in the form of having fun.
The Akron area has a number of very fine, safe and challenging playgrounds which accommodate numerous different physical activities. Here are a few.
Hardesty Park (Akron) has a Little League field, play area, picnic area and shelter and plenty of open space on 17 acres. There are three play areas with plenty of slides, monkey bars, etc. There are picnic and walking areas and organized summer activities. It is located off of Wallhaven Court, just east of the intersection of Exchange Street, South Hawkins Avenue and West Market Street in Akron’s 8th Ward.
Goodyear Heights Metro Park opened in 1930, is 410 acres of woodlands and wetlands in the middle of the city. It also includes a large pavilion and play field, ball fields at the Eastwood entrance, with many hiking trails. One of Akron’s very best features. Located at 2077 Newton St. in Akron.
Water Works Park (Cuyahoga Falls) includes a fenced-in aquatic center and many acres of playground and other recreational athletic grounds. The aquatic center has an entry fee, which changes according to age and residence. It features a large lap pool, rentable cabanas, a sand play area, water slides, and numerous other aquatic play opportunities. The grounds, which are free and open to the public, include a baseball field, a soccer field, nature trails, a playground, picnic areas and restrooms, and many other amenities. Located at 2025 Munroe Falls Avenue, in the Falls.
Memorial Park (Tallmadge) is a 14-acre park located off the Tallmadge Circle which houses Tallmadge’s remarkable Little League program. It features a state-of-the-art playground area with two separate units––one for pre-school children, and the other for primary school age. Other park amenities include a 100-seat pavilion and walking paths. Located at 122 Southwest Ave.
Copley Community Park features soccer and baseball fields, as well as hiking trails, two playgrounds, a picnic area, wetlands, picnic areas, and large open spaces. Locals feed the fish in the streams that run through the park. Located at 3232 Copley Rd.
Croghan Park (Fairlawn) has a walking path, playground, sheltered areas for picnicking, as well as tennis, basketball and handball courts. It also has a large open area to run around in. Located at 99 N. Miller Rd. near Summit Mall.
Boettler Park/ Heritage Hill Playground/ Southgate Park (Green). Boettler Park is a 62.5-acre park that features athletic fields, wetlands, woodlands, and the 30,000 square foot Heritage Hill playground. The playground won an award for “best new playground in Ohio” when it was constructed in 2004. The park features over a mile of trails, volleyball, basketball and tennis courts, a soccer field, and horseshoe pits. It also has eight acres of protected wetlands. There is also a huge picnic pavilion. Boettler is adjacent to the 205-acre Southgate Park, which features several lakes, a lodge, and over five miles of nature trails. Located at 5300 Massillon Rd., which is on the western edge of the Akron-Canton airport.
SKiP Park (Stow) is tucked away next to Stow’s municipal building complex. Its 11,000 square-foot, multi-level wooden playground features swings, slides, hiding spots, and other creative play stations, most of which are connected to a sturdy wooden structure. There are also some basketball hoops and picnic tables, as well as a large grassy area. Located at 3700 Darrow Rd.
Ft. Island/ Griffiths Park (Fairlawn) features Native American historic sites and athletic fields. Nine-area Griffith Park was Fairlawn’s first park, dedicated in 1972. It features two basketball courts, four tennis courts, a playground and a number of open areas. Ft. Island (and nearby Beech Island) were home to several Native American tribes throughout history, including ancient peoples and the Woodlands tribe. There are over two miles of trails through this historic area. Located at 461 Trunko Rd.
Akron Skate Park. All would-be X-Gamers can work out here in a park that features 19,000 square feet of skateboard action. The park has a 4-sided stunt pyramid, a 7-foot deep bowl, with a 65-foot snake roll leading down to it, another 5.5-foot bowl, along with stairs, ledges, rails, quarter pipes and more. The park is free, but boarders must be at least 12 years old to use this facility. Located on the old service road for the Rubber Bowl.