Kick Off Tomorrow at Homestead Park!

Tomorrow is our kick off to the Columbus Playground Tour 2011! We will be meeting at Homestead Park in Hilliard at 11:00.

This year I am overwhelmed by the amount of response! The downside of it, I do not know everyone! So this year I have made up a "Passport" for the tour! Every week, I will be there with the passports and a stamp. Each kid will get a passport and then every week they will have the opportunity to have their passport stamped! This way, I will have the chance to see who is all part of the tour!

At Homestead Park, I will do my best to claim the picnic table to the west of the main playground. It is between the playground and the shelter house with the restrooms.

If your kiddos are into water, there is a water area. There is a separate area for the littles and another fort type area for the bigger kids. There is also a sand play area too.

The weather is predicting rain.... but, I am always optimistic with the weather and realize we do live in Ohio so we will make our best effort to be there. Keep an eye on the blog and/or facebook if I do decide not to be there.

More Information:
http://www.wtwp.com/parks-and-recreation/facilities/the-homestead-park/

Emerald Fields Playground in Review

Although many people had a hard time finding this out of the way park, everyone agreed it was wonderful. Located off of the section of Emerald Parkway that is north of Hard Rd in Dublin, this playground has something for all ages.

In the forefront is an electronic lights and sound game. Many kids stopped here to play for a long time. Who needs slides and swings when there are lights on poles? Beyond the light game is a very large climbing and sliding structure.

Accessible by ramps, this structure features several slides from tall and curvy to small and gentle for the littlest. A variety of ladders and other climbing challenges, in addition to steps and ramps, lead back up. Several games and activities can be found underneath.

There is also a large swing set. Besides the standard big kid swings, there are also several baby seat swings and two special needs swings.

Beyond the main playset, there are a variety of musical play toys: drums, chimes, push sounds. There is also a couple of spin seats for those that like to go round and round.

A pavilion and indoor restrooms and water fountains are nearby.

Overall, this is a beautiful and fun new park. If you didn’t make it out last week, it is worth checking out sometime this summer.

This week, we will be visiting Millstone Creek Park in Westerville.



*Thank you Kathy for this entry! :)

Playground Schedule

Well, here it is! The final schedule for 2011 Columbus Playground Tour! I hope to update the info with each playground weekly as the time gets closer.

Remember- we meet at 11:00 each Thursday! I will plan on being there as early as I can and we typically stay most of the day (or until the boys tucker out!) I will also post a couple of events on other days as I come across them.

Join us on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Columbus-Playground-Tour/109826292432156


Columbus Playground Tour 2011 Schedule



May 26th- Emerald City Playground- Dublin
http://dublin.oh.us/recreation/parks/emeraldfields.php



June 2nd-Millstone Creek Park- Westerville
http://www.westerville.org/Portals/0/Millstone.pdf



June 9th- Liberty Park- Powell
http://local.yahoo.com/info-42875021-liberty-park-powell



June 16th- Summer Kick Off Party- Homestead Park- Hilliard
(more details to follow!!)
http://www.yelp.com/biz/homestead-park-hilliard



June 23rd- Olde Sawmill Park
http://www.recreationparks.net/OH/franklin/olde-sawmill-park-columbus



June 30th- Schiller Park- German Village
http://www.yelp.com/biz/schiller-park-columbus



July 7th- Fancyburg- Upper Arlington
http://www.yelp.com/biz/fancyburg-park-upper-arlington



July 14th- All Children Playground- Worthington
http://www.worthington.org/services/cityparks.cfm#parks1&2



July 21st- Huber Village Park- Westerville
http://www.westerville.org/Portals/0/Huber%20Village.pdf



July 28th- goodale Park- Columbus
http://friendsofgoodalepark.org/



Aug 4th- Selby Park- Worthington
http://www.worthington.org/services/cityparks.cfm



Aug 11th- Scioto Audubon Park- near Downtown Columbus
http://metroparks.net/ParksSciotoAudubon.aspx



Aug 18th- Carriage Place- Columbus
http://www.active.com/community-facility/columbus-oh/carriage-place-park



Aug 25th- Park of Roses- Columbus
http://parks.columbus.gov/Facility.aspx?id=25948

Emerald Fields Playground- May 26th

On May 26th we are going to check out the new Emerald Fields Playround!

We will arrive by 11 am and pack our lunch in the hopes to hang out there most of the day. I know a lot of older kids will still be in school, but some of the preschools are already out.

There is some information about the new playground here-
http://dublin.oh.us/recreation/parks/emeraldfields.php?utm_source=e-News+from+Dublin%2C+Ohio&utm_campaign=b9a0abf50f-Emerald_Fields_Playground&utm_medium=email

Metro Park Preschool Classes

I have blogged about my love of the Metro Parks here in Columbus before, but in case you have not checked them out before, please do so! www.metroparks.net

Below are a couple of classes we are attending for sure as of now. Feel free to join us! These classes do not require registration ahead of time. Sometimes they do, and classes fill up early!

Friday, April 29th- Battelle Darby Creek Park
11 am- Preschool Class- Buzz About Bees
http://www.metroparks.net/parksbattelledarbycreek.aspx
We typically pack a lunch and play on the playground for a while afterwards depending on the weather too!

Thursday, May 19th- Slate Run Park
10 am- Meet the Sheep
http://www.metroparks.net/parksslaterun.aspx

Thursday, May 26th- Slate Run Park
10 am- Preschool Class- Fishy Fun
http://www.metroparks.net/parksslaterun.aspx

Longing for Nice Weather!

As I get glimmers of spring in the future, I am starting to plan all of the stops on the tour for the summer! Similar to last year, there will be a big launch at the beinning of the summer. This year, I am hoping to start the tour as soon as nice weather hits and then those with older kiddos can join us once they are done with school.

For those new to the tour, here is the scoop:

*Each Thursday around 11, we all gather at a different playground on the tour. A lot of people bring blankets, food, etc. Some people stay an hour, others (like myself) make a whole day out of it!

*You do not need to be a part of the group to join us! This is open to EVERYONE! Friends, friends of friends, families, care givers, anyone!

*One goal of this group is to connect people. Maybe you work from home? Maybe you need a babysitter? Maybe you just need some new friends? This is what we want to accomplish. Networking. Last year I feel like we succeeded. I met some friends that I did not know when the summer began and my life if fuller because of it.

*I also hope to post activities that are around Columbus for kids as well. Rainy day activities, fun events, free places maybe you have not discovered yet, etc.

*All of the information can be found on this webpage. If there is rain, weather is too hot, etc. There is also a facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Columbus-Playground-Tour/109826292432156


I hope to post the summer schedule by the end of the week and then possible earlier dates we can play outside as well!

Thanks and I hope to see you on the tour!

~Jaylene