Best Nature-Themed Playgrounds in The Cleveland Area (2025)

We love a good nature-themed playground! They’re such a fun way to play and enjoy the great outdoors we have here in Northeast Ohio. Over the last few years, more and more nature-themed playgrounds have been popping up, so we compiled a list of our favorite nature plays around town.

  1. ROCKY RIVER NATURe PLAY
    24000 VALLEY PKWY, NORTH OLMSTED, OH 4407

The Rocky River Reservation in North Olmsted has another new addition—a nature play! The nature play has a rock wall, balance stumps, and a balance beam.

It’s not a huge area, but our kids really enjoyed it. To get to the new nature play, walk across the bridge right past the nature center. The nature play area is located on the other side of the bridge, to the right.

The Rocky River Reservation also has so much to do and explore that we usually spend hours here when we come.

Other things to do at the Rocky River Reservation:

🌳 Nature Center (one of the best in the area. Includes an indoor treehouse!)

🌳 Storywalk

🌳 Fort Hill steps (155 new stairs that our kids love climbing😮 )

🌳 Creek walking spot in the summer (right across the street from the parking lot)

🌳 Trails with boardwalks and cobblestone steps.

The Rocky River Reservation is absolutely one of our favorite places to spend a family day. We are so blessed to have the Cleveland Metroparks!

2. ANDREW'S NATURE PLAY
9000 CHIPPEWA RD, BRECKSVILLE, OH 44141

I really love the layout of this playground! It's open and spacious, but not so much that I can't keep a safe eye on my kiddos while they play. There's balance equipment, swings, a fun slide, a climbing tree, and lots of room for the kids to run around and have fun.

There's also a large pavilion and a good number of picnic tables, so you can pack a lunch and enjoy the day.

PLAYGROUND FEATURES & MUST KNOWS:

  • Balance Equipment

  • Swings

  • Slide

  • Large Pavilion & picnic tables

  • Public Bathrooms

3. KAREN’S WAY PLAYSPACE
28492-28648 LAKE RD, BAY VILLAGE, OH 44140 BAY VILLAGE, OHIO

The Cleveland Metroparks has done it again! Karen’s Way Play Space at Huntington Beach in Bay Village. This is exactly what this space was missing! The new space features nature-inspired play and interactive elements.


PLAYGROUND FEATURES & MUST KNOWS:
💜 Two zip lines
❤️ Water feature
💙 Double-person swings
💚 Climbing obstacle course
💛 Music play

There is no large structure, so the space is very open and easy to keep an eye on the kiddos.

2. COVENTRY PEACE PLAYGROUND 
2843 WASHINGTON BLVD, CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH 44118

Brand-new and absolutely amazing—Coventry Peace Playground just opened in February 2025! 🤩

This one is a bit of a mix of nature play and a traditional playground.

My kids were obsessed with climbing inside and outside the giant Cardinal (yep, it’s a whole play structure!) before zooming down the super-fast slide. And if your crew loves a good thrill, they’ll be all over the rope swing and zip line. Both are kid-approved favorites.

While this new playground isn’t quite as large as the old one, I actually think that’s a win—it’s so much easier to keep an eye on your kiddos without them disappearing behind a maze of equipment.

🚽 Restroom situation? We didn’t spot any on-site, but the library is conveniently located next to the parking lot, serving as a backup.

This is definitely a must-visit new nature play in Northeast Ohio, and is perfect for burning off energy in the best way possible! 🚀

2. LINDSEY FAMILY PLAY SPACE
1 UPPER EDGEWATER DR, CLEVELAND, OH 44102

The Lindsey Family Play Space feels like a mix between a Nature Play and a traditional playground, and we think it is AWESOME!

PLAYGROUND FEATURES & MUST KNOWS:

🧗‍♀️ Rock Walls 

💙 A Bubble Wall (not sure the proper name but that’s what my 4 year old has named it 😂)

🚇 Tunnels

♥️ 2 Slides

💃 LOTS of Climbing Nets

🏖 Sand Table & Pit

🌳 A Natural Tunnel

🌻 Nature Balancing Structures

You can also walk down the trail to the bottom area where there’s a beach.

3. ALLARDALE PARK
401 REMSEN RD, MEDINA, OH 44256

Medina is about a 35-minute drive from Cleveland proper. But if you find yourself in Medina looking for fun, free things to do with kids, and the weather’s nice, I would recommend Allardale Park. It’s not a huge playground, but we always love a good themed playground, and it was a lot of fun, as well as a really peaceful setting. There are also some nice hiking trails.

PLAYGROUND FEATURES & MUST KNOWS:

-Play tractor 🚜 

-HUGE tire swing (biggest tire swing I’ve ever seen 🤣) 

-Turf grass slide 🛝 (my kids’ favorite)

-Balance course

-Shaded picnic tables 

5. sideyard park
1370 Abbey Ave, CLEVELAND, OH 44113

This is a pretty small nature play playground. It has a couple of balancing obstacles and a rope climbing structure. A bonus is that there is a very beautiful trail that is part of the towpath located right across the street. There’s also a Cleveland script sign nearby.

There is a free parking lot next to Sideyard Park, but no restrooms.

6. SCHOEPFLE GARDEN
11106 MARKET ST, BIRMINGHAM, OH 44816

If you’re looking for a stunning outdoor adventure just outside of Cleveland, Schoepfle Garden is well worth the drive! This free botanical garden and nature trail features a beautifully designed children’s area, complete with a nature play space, a small playground, and a free seasonal carousel (open with limited hours).

It’s the perfect spot to pack a lunch and make a day of it, letting kids run, climb, and explore while soaking in the fresh garden air.

Before you go, check the Lorain County Metro Parks website for carousel hours!

7. ADVENTURE PLAY AT JORDAN CREEK
7250 ALEXANDER RD, PAINESVILLE, OH 44077

Depending on where you live, this park can be pretty far East, but we think it’s totally worth it!

Adventure Play is a natural playground in the Lake Metroparks. It is designed for kids 7 and older, but it definitely does depend on the kid.

My kids have both enjoyed this since we first went when they were 4 and 6. There were some things they couldn’t do at those ages without my help, though.

Adventure Play has a HUGE rock wall, 2 ziplines, a slackline forest, balancing obstacles, a 30-foot rope bridge, and so much more—all for FREE!

Another fun feature is the beautiful walking trails behind Adventure Play, including a story walk and a creek perfect for skipping rocks. There’s also a super-nice Nature Center. 

Lastly, there’s a large pavilion and new bathrooms (a big upgrade from the port-a-potty at our last visit 👏🏻).

If you have kids who love climbing, jumping, and enjoying nature, Jordan Creek is a must-add to your playground list!

8.NATURE CENTER AT SHAKER LAKES
SOUTH PARK BOULEVARD, CLEVELAND, OH

This nature play has a natural obstacle course for the kids to use, a little climbing structure, a wooden swing for two, and a tree trunk from a 300-year-old white oak.

There is also a small nature center on site, as well as great trails for hiking.

PENITENTIARY GLEN RESERVATION NATURE CENTER
KIRTLAND CHARDON ROAD, WILLOUGHBY, OH

Penitentiary Glen Reservation is easily the biggest nature play we’ve ever been to, and it’s definitely one of the best! There are so many fun ways to explore to help your littles’ imaginations run wild.

I suggest bringing an extra pair of clothes since there are water pumps, sand, mud (from the garden), and a lot of other nature elements.

It’s such a beautiful experience getting to watch your kids learn and have fun with all things nature.

The Penitentiary Glen also has a wonderful nature center with an indoor play area, a raptor center to see all kinds of birds, and awesome trails.

PLAYGROUND FEATURES & MUST KNOWS:

  • Nature play

  • Sand/mud station

  • Build your own wooden structure station

  • Lots of beautiful green spaces

  • Indoor play area

  • Raptor center

  • Awesome trails

  • Public bathrooms

10. NATURE PLAY AT HOLBROOK HOLLOWS
7250 COUNTRY LN, CHAGRIN FALLS, OH 44023

The Nature Play at Holbrook is not very big, but that didn’t seem to matter to my kids. They loved it! 🤩 

There’s a fun slide, some unique climbing structures, a cute little tunnel, and space to run around. 

We didn’t last very long thanks to the rain (my kids, of course, wanted to stay and play in it 🤪), but I’d still recommend a visit if you live nearby or find yourself on that side of town.

11. BAIN PAVILION PLAYGROUND
W PARK DR, FAIRVIEW PARK, OH 44126

Bain Pavilion has a beautiful nature-themed playground.

I’m a huge fan of Kompan playgrounds. My kids love the wooden nature structures they build, and they always seem to have a fun time when we end up at one of their playgrounds. There’s a little obstacle course that my son loves, and a saucer swing that my daughter loves.

The new structure isn’t very toddler-friendly, but they did leave one of the old play structures geared toward 2-5-year-olds.

Bain Park also has a fun trail that runs through the woods and leads to a pavilion. My kids love “hiking” the path and then running around in the pavilion at the end. 

PLAYGROUND FEATURES & MUST KNOWS:

🛝 Two fun spinning structures

🛝 Regular swings

🛝  Baby swing

🛝 Double-person swing

🛝 Play structure with slide

12. BESSIE BENNER METZENBAUM PARK
7940 CEDAR RD, CHESTERLAND, OH 44026

Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Park isn’t huge, but it’s super cute! It has a sand digger with a huge sand pit, which is always a huge hit for kids (not always the adults 😝).

There’s also a small rock wall, slide, playhouse, tunnels, rope climb, and swing. It looks like there are some fun trails to explore with a cute wooden bridge, but they were closed off when we were there. It’s definitely on our list to explore next time!

There is also a covered pavilion, bathrooms, and a large parking lot. If you’re on the east side of Cleveland, this nature play is worth a visit!

13. SOUTH RUSSELL VILLAGE PARK (CALLED WOOD PLAYGROUND ON GOOGLE MAPS)
1003 BELL ST, CHAGRIN FALLS, OH 44022

This nature-themed playground has a nice-sized obstacle course, swings, and a play structure with a fun slide.

PLAYGROUND FEATURES & MUST KNOWS:

  • Nature-themed

  • Obstacle/ropes course

  • Swings

  • Play structure

  • Slide

14. Garfield Park Red Oak Shelter
Garfield Pkwy, Garfield Heights, OH 44125

We love the cute (little) Nature Play Area near Red Oak Shelter at the Cleveland Metroparks Garfield Heights Reservation.

This nature play has an awesome boat that kids can hop aboard and steer, a little “ice cream” stand to exercise imaginations (my littles served me ice cream made from rocks 🙄😂), a jumbo tic-tac-toe made from old stumps, a stage for 💃, and beams to balance on.

Check this out the next time you’re looking for a new nature play.

THat’s our list!

We hope this list has introduced you to some new, fun nature-themed playgrounds to go explore with your little ones.

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15 Best Toddler Friendly Playgrounds in Northeast Ohio