by When I decided to write articles and then a book honoring and ranking the best parks and playgrounds in Parma, I knew it would be a large undertaking, but one with plenty of fun involved. I quickly learned I was correct as Parma has some of the nicest parks on the West Side. Little did I ever think it would actually get published into a book form, but here we are – Northeast Ohio’s Best Parks and Playgrounds: Vince McKee: 9798896831068: Amazon.com: Books
As a high school sportswriter, I am gone a lot between the months of late August and the very end of May; this makes me value summertime more than I can ever begin to explain. Having a vibrant wife along with two healthy and energetic children makes my summers a lot of fun, filled with wonderful memories.
A few years back my family made the resolution to try and go to as many local playgrounds as possible each summer. In Northeast Ohio, you must make the best of the nice weather because you never know how long you’re going to have it for, and my family does just that!
As we began going to all of these playgrounds, I began to notice some were much better than others and also realized that it was smart to make notes in case we came back. Most of these notes were simple things such as the bathroom situation and if there were any places parents could sit in the shade and still have a clean vision of where their kids were.
Some parks were clean; some, not so much. Some offered indoor plumbing, and others didn’t. I learned to greatly appreciate the nice soft rubber some have for their ground and begin to disdain that nasty mulch wood mix most use. Was the park easy to find, and once we arrived, was there enough to do? These were all things I looked out for.
All these items may seem small, but adding them up and sometimes assigning grades helps you plan your visit.
Some were pleasant surprises, such as Grannis in Fairview, and others may have been a bit of a letdown, such as Skip Park in Stow. Each summer we rank them from best to worst and instantly start planning for the next year. This led to the inspiration of this book, as I wanted to help out as many parents as I could. If you want to spend time outside with your kids, then I want to help you! I hope everyone not only enjoys the book but also finds it helpful.
YOU CAN PURCHASE THE BOOK HERE – Northeast Ohio’s Best Parks and Playgrounds: Vince McKee: 9798896831068: Amazon.com: Books
Here are the parks that stood out the most in Parma, one of our favorite cities to explore!
Parma
James Day Park
Location
11828 W. Pleasant Valley Rd., Parma, OH 44130
About the Park
What a tremendous park James Day Park in Parma is. It has so much to offer and features 3 different playsets for every member of the family. A large pavilion that was super clean, and a nature walk around the park which is also clean of any bird poop, in the shade and offers mini challenges along the way.
This is a park you can spend several hours at, also, be sure to bring your putter as it offers a mini golf course for free! It has a pool, two massive pavilions, indoor plumbing and even workout equipment! This park is a must!
Access to the park
Hop off the freeway on 71 at Bagley, and head on down for a good 10-13 minutes. Keep your eyes on the left side of the road if you are coming from 71, it will pop up on your quick. It does have a massive parking lot with plenty of room to park.
Things to do
3 huge playsets with 3 drastically different themes
One traditional playground themed set complete with slides and swings
One American Nija Warrior style playground
One workout based playground set, complete with a spot for a 40 yard dash
Beautiful and scenic nature walk around the entire park on paved cement
Swimming pool
Tree House
Rock Wall
Tunnels
Free mini-Golf
Baseball diamonds
Places to sit
One medium sized pavilion with 4 picnic tables set up closest to the main playground. This is the only drawback of this amazing park. As you cannot keep an eye on your child at the two furthest playgrounds.
Ground
Mulch at the first playset
Artificial turf at the second playset
Cement at the third playset
Bathroom
Indoor plumbing
Best part of the park
The entire thing is a gem! It may sound like a cliché, but there is truly something for every member of the family. I love the three vastly different themes amongst the playgrounds, and honestly, who doesn’t love mini golf.
John Nagy Park in the Metroparks
Location
3900 John Nagy Boulevard, Parma, OH 44144
About
Brookside Reservation has been a center for sports and recreation since the early 1900s. As one of the oldest neighborhoods in Cleveland, this 132-acre reservation offers baseball fields, picnic areas, walking paths and cycling trails. It provides an escape from busy city life and allows you to soak up the fresh air and sunshine!
Access to the Park
It has a large parking lot to service the sizable number of cars parked because of the many activities all going on at once. It’s also only a few minutes away from Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. Honestly, it is to the point where you can park there and walk over to the zoo if you choose.
Things to do
The Playground has the following features
Monkey bars
Walkthrough bridge
Double slide
Single curvy slide
Firepole with twist
Tic Tac Toe Board
Jim Thome All Star Complex
Places to sit
There are plenty of stands for the baseball fields but not many spots in the shade anywhere in the park, including the playground. There is a small bench, but it is directly in the sun near the playground. If you want to stay cool and still be near the playground with your kids playing, grab a folding chair and set it up under one of the trees.
Ground
The Playground is the standard wood chip mulch while the rest of the area is grass cement and dirt.
Bathroom
Indoor plumbing, nice and clean too!
Best part of the park
The Jim Thome promotional team did an incredible job with this one as the par truly has a big league feel to it.
