November 21, 2024

PARK REVIEW: McGovern Park in Brookpark

We quickly realized that this park was in need of some serious TLC and had seen better days.  However, despite the cosmetics, lack of parking, and obvious wear and tear, this park was great and my daughters had a blast!  I recalled going there over 30 years ago as a kid, and it brought back a lot of fond memories. We felt at home there and had the park all to ourselves as we didn’t realize the other 99% of Middleburgh Hts / Brookpark were at the parade going on at the exact same time two streets over. (oops)

Regardless, McGovern Park became stop 18 on the 2023 Summer Park Tour, so we enjoyed it and let’s get to the grades!

Don’t forget, ENJOY THE FULL PHOTO GALLERY ON PAGE TWO

Access to the park

Grade – D

Well, it is easy to find, sure, but there is no parking.  You have to park on the street and when you have little ones, that is not the most ideal.

 

Cleanliness

Grade – D

Rust, Rust and more Rust. Mixed in with the perfect amount of chipped paint, and some more rust. If you get past that, you’re good to go. We also saw a dirty diaper under the one slide.

 

Things to do at the park

Grade – A

This playground had all the access, and if you were there at the right time, you could even catch a real live train flying by. Depsite no parking lot, the playground is so far away from the street, that safety is not a concern at all. It had numerous slides and plenty of things to climb on and under.  It had my personal favorites too, the tunnel slides!

 

Places for parents to sit

Grade – C

Well, there are plenty of benches, but the problem remains the rust on the benches, and their location directly in the sun with no shade.  On the plus side however, the playground and the benches are set up perfectly so you can see everything you need to see all at once.  Also, they have a great pavilion area still in working order.

 

Bathroom Situation

Grade – A

Indoor working plumbing, clean, and easy to locate.  That gets you an Ace every time.

 

Best part of the park

It has a great vintage feel.  Like, I said, it brought back ALOT of memories for me.

 

Would we go back?

Yes.  We loved it!  I know the cosmetics are not ideal, but we felt at home.  We’ll be back.

 

ENJOY THE FULL PHOTO GALLERY ON PAGE TWO

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Vince McKee

Vince is the Owner of KEE On Sports Media Group. A company built on the very best in sports coverage and broadcasts of High School Sports, Boxing, NPSL Soccer, and everything the sports fans of Northeast Ohio want to know about. He is the play by play man for Ohio Boxing, as well as Cleveland SC of the NPSL. Vince is also a 12x published author who has interviewed everyone from Jim Thome & Austin Carr to Bill Belichick and Frankie Edgar.

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