I am adding to last month’s blog on magical playgrounds, as the grandkids and I have discovered several other unique and fun playgrounds here in Northeast Ohio that I really had to share.
The Marquardt playground is located in Brooklyn and you can drive to it via
Brookhigh Drive off of Biddulph Road. Parking is on the side street. Marquardt is a small park, but is a nice quiet place to let the kids run. It has recently undergone a $300K renovation, adding trails, a pavilion and new playground equipment. The park also has an all-purpose path for biking or walking around its perimeter, which is perfect for the children to ride their bikes or scooters. The highlight for us in this park is its unique climbing structure; the first one of its kind in Ohio. Resembling a space ship, it forces the kids to use their imaginations and critical thinking skills.
The Dora Lee Payne Park in Berea is also known as the Rocket Ship Park. This huge rocket provides loads of climbing fun and also spurs imaginations for space play! There is a big, open field area that is great for lawn games or flying a kite. The rocket ship area has wood chips below, so make sure your grandkids wear closed-toe shoes to play.
We cannot forget Lakewood Park as one of our favorite unique playgrounds. This stunning 31-acre lakefront park was renovated a few years ago and the playground area is huge, including a large variety of equipment (toddlers through teens), as well as unique pieces not found at other parks. The most unique is its large ropes course. Our kids will stay and play on this section for over an hour! The walkways are paved and include a path that runs by the lake. We love to hear waves crashing on the rocks! There are plenty of benches and swings along the way to rest and enjoy the views. The Solstice Steps have been built where you can sit to see Lake Erie, and watch boats and gorgeous sunsets, along with awesome views of the skyline of downtown Cleveland. They have been termed “Solstice Steps” because on the summer solstice, the sun will set directly upon the central node of this project.
In Middleburg Heights, you can find the Lake to Lake Trail prehistoric play pit. If your grandkids like dinosaurs, this is the place to visit! Dinosaur lovers can climb on plus dig for dino bones. This park is a part of the Big Creek Reservation and located off Eastland Road. The trail is a five-mile out and back all-purpose one that also includes the Lake Isaac loop. The prehistoric play pit features a life-sized mastodon! The pit is filled with a foot of sand, therefore burying some of the bones. Kids can then experience what it is like to be an archeologist and search for dinosaur bones as if on a real dig site. The grandkids can also climb and play on the mastodon skeleton. Lake Abram is the largest remaining glacial wetland in Cuyahoga County. A quarter-mile boardwalk offers very scenic views of this expansive wetland complex and connects the two lakes.
Cascade Park in Hudson includes 75 acres. Playground equipment is separated into two areas for small and older children. It is the larger one that is unique, with its large multi-curved tunnel slides and bear bridge. Two ¾-mile picturesque trails will take you into the cool, shady woods and include a stream with waterfalls.
Such a diversity of playground themes and equipment to discover and enjoy with the grandkids!
Photos by Karen Shadrach
