The Largest And Most Inclusive Playground In Ohio Is Incredible
By Sarah McCosham|Published February 05, 2024
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
My youngest brother got married seven years ago, and the wedding was held in Oberlin, Ohio. At that time, I was the mom of three with an infant who hated — HATED — car rides, and the drive from our home in Cincinnati was a rather unpleasant experience as my husband and I took turns sitting in the back seat trying to keep a very tiny, very angry, human happy. We also had two kids under five to contend with, and so, as the minivan crawled up 1-71 and we all needed a break, I hopped off the exit to Westerville, hoping to find a park with a picnic shelter where we could decamp for a bit.
I was looking for a park; a playground was a bonus. What I found, however, was beyond my wildest dreams: the largest and most amazing playground I had ever seen — a place with inclusive features and equipment for all ages, a playground with water components and interactive things I didn’t know existed. It was Millstone Creek Park, and it was a miracle!
A sign for a playground is an exciting sight for parents and kids alike, but truly, the day I first discovered Millstone Creek Park, it was a moment of divine intervention.
We had been traveling in the car a few hours by this point, with my 10-month old screaming most of the way. As we slowed off the exit and followed the Waze app to the nearest park, we had no idea what we were about to happen upon.
Spanning 15 acres in the picture-perfect Columbus 'burb of Westerville, Ohio, Millstone Creek Park is one of the largest and most inclusive parks I'd ever laid eyes on.
The park includes a shelter house with family restrooms, sports fields, a basketball court, and some of the most amazing playground *and* playscape areas in the state.
In fact, the park is the home of an Inclusive Boundless Playground and a nature play area, two features that truly make this park leaps and bounds beyond any other playground in the state.
The playground is designed for people with and without disabilities to learn and play together; the accessible features are seamlessly woven throughout the entire playground in a way that doesn't make it stand out or apart.
The playground features ramps for wheelchair access, swings, slides, activity panels and canopies for shade. There are metal slides which help kids with cochlear implants. Millstone also includes features for music, exercise, climbing, motion play, balance, fossil digging, and the latest electronic Neos sports game.
When we went, my kids immediately gravitated toward the nature playscape. The nature play area provides a place for children of all ages and abilities to explore nature, featuring cattail spinners, a plant tunnel, plus earth, wetland beach and natural object exploration areas. This was such a great way to have my kids burn off energy before resuming our car trip!
Another miracle? After helping my 10-month-old "cruise" around the different toddler-friendly areas, he fell asleep for the rest of the drive to Oberlin. It was the second miracle of the day; the first being, of course, discovering this gem of a playground in Westerville, Ohio!
Have you visited this amazing and inclusive playground in Ohio? Millstone Creek Park is worth the trip no matter where you hail from (and even if you have a car crier like me!), so pack up the car and check it out!
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