Grove City is home to a variety of parks that are perfect for families, nature lovers, and anyone looking to enjoy the outdoors all year round. Whether you’re exploring innovative playgrounds, taking in historical sites, or enjoying eco-friendly features and sensory-rich environments, Grove City parks have something for everyone. Let’s dive into the fun and see what each park has to offer!

First, a few notes:

• Parks are open year-round, from dawn to dusk, to the public unless otherwise posted or while being used for sanctioned events.
• Water to shelter restrooms and drinking fountains is turned off October through April each year to protect against freezing
• You can learn more about the parks in Grove City on their Parks and Rec website.

Gantz Park

Gantz Park in Grove City is like an old friend, especially since my nanny days! It’s changed a bit over the years, but the best upgrade happened in 2019 when they jazzed up the playground.

There are two main structures catering to different age groups, along with swings, climbing structures, a nature-inspired play area, towering slides, and more!

Oh, and practical stuff too – a bit of shade for hot days, a spot to picnic under cover, and bathrooms so you’re not caught short.

But wait, there’s more! Behind the playground, there’s a little creek to explore, and the Gantz Gardens are a total treat for the eyes. Seriously, they’ve got three different gardens, each demonstrating a wide variety of gardening styles and all gorgeous. #gardengoals

• Address: 2255 Home Rd., Grove City, Ohio 43123
• Parking Lot
• Bathrooms: Yes

Beulah Park

• Address: 3846 Mystic Wy, Grove City, OH 43123
• Parking Lot
• Bathrooms: Not sure! I did see porta-potties, but they are still under construction in the area, so i assume they will have them at some point!

Henceroth Park

We tried to visit this park last year, but when we arrived, there was nothing there! We soon realized they were getting ready for a complete remodel. Henceroth Park is a 22-acre eco-friendly park in Grove City, which is pretty cool! With a wooded nature trail, solar lighting, and playground equipment made entirely from recycled materials, Henceroth is committed to going green. A walk/run/bike path with exercise equipment, a butterfly garden, and bluebird boxes are also noteworthy features. Henceroth Park is also home to several military tributes, including the Purple Heart Memorial Walk. The playground isn’t large but has some really fun climbing features. We all liked the slide because at the end, it has a side part where you can get off safely and out of the way if someone slides down right after you!

• Address: 2075 Mallow Ln., Grove City, Ohio 43123
• Parking Lot with short walk to the playground. You won’t see the playground from the parking lot!
• I don’t think there are bathrooms!
• No wood mulch, but it is a rubber type mulch. It was actually very comfortable!

Windsor Park – Dream Field

Have you been to The Dream Field Playground in Grove City? You’ll find this innovative playspace at Windsor Park. The “baseball-themed” Dream Field playground was designed to meet the needs of the whole child. It is a beautiful and bright sensory-rich environment with activities that appeal to a variety of interests while supporting cognitive development, intuitive play, and opportunities for social interaction.

This is awesome ➡️ To achieve this design, the playground equipment and configuration were focused around the 7 Principles of Inclusive Playground Design®, as outlined in Me2®, a program developed in partnership with PlayCore and Utah State University’s Center for Persons with Disabilities.

It is one of Ohio’s National Demonstration Sites and offers ADA ramps for all users, along with several different types of play activities, sensory wave climbers, a roller slide and roller table, and various climbers and slides.

Bonus: It also offers plenty of shade and has a covered area with picnic tables!

• Parking Lots around the Park
• Bathrooms: Yes
• Address: 4414 Broadway, Grove City, Ohio 43123

Fryer Park

Fryer Park in Grove City has undergone a fantastic transformation, and we are absolutely thrilled with the results! If your kiddos love climbing, this place is an absolute gem. There are climbing opportunities aplenty for all skill levels, along with some seriously fun slides.

One standout feature that first caught our attention is the enormous tower in the middle. The inside is not only impressive but also very welcoming to climbers of all ages. There are multiple climbing levels, including one inside with shorter ladders that take you to different platforms until you reach the top – which made even our most cautious climber feel at ease. We also loved the bright colors! Plus, there’s an added bonus of shaded areas over the picnic spots and swings!

Extra Features of the Park: The 110-acre park features Century Village, a turn-of-the-century historic area complete with a renovated one-room schoolhouse, a log cabin, barn and more. The park also boasts eight softball diamonds with a concession stand, a preserved wooded area for bird watching or nature walks, a one-mile recreational trail for walking or biking, and a sledding hill. Rotary Lake at Fryer Park is an ideal location for scenic picnics or fishing. No fishing license is required, but all fish must be immediately released.

But the best bonus feature might just be the space-themed splash pad – free to the public, of course!

• Address: 3899 Orders Rd., Grove City, Ohio 43123 
• Parking Lot
• Bathrooms: Yes

Scioto Grove Metro Park

Scioto Grove Metro Park is one of our Columbus Metro Parks. This 620-acre park along the Scioto River features mature forests and scenic bluffs overlooking the river. The park offers trails, two picnic areas with shelters, tables, grills, a kids’ play area, and several overlook decks.

The play area is unique as it features mostly net climbing structures with a slide at the top. I’ve had to go up a few times to “rescue” the girls, but once they got the hang of it, they were good to go. If your kids don’t like heights or climbing, this isn’t the park for you! They have added a more toddler-friendly section with a small bridge, slide, and digging area. You’ll also find swings. However, there’s not much shade, so it can get pretty hot! We tend to stick to this park in the fall!

Don’t miss the rope bridge! On our last visit, we finally found it, and it was surprisingly easy once we knew where to look. Park at the Grove Lodge in the back, then head towards the lodge and veer right towards the observation platform. Look for the marker indicating the Mingo Trail—that’s your path! Follow it until you reach the bridge. It’s not too far of a walk; even all five kids made it without complaining about their legs falling off!

• Address: 5172 Jackson Pike, Grove City, OH 43123
• Parking Lot
• Bathroom: Yes

There are more playgrounds throughout the neighborhoods, but these have been our favorites so far! Keep an eye on this blog post because as we adventure on, I will be sure to update it with more playground finds. I hope to see you around town enjoying these fantastic parks!