One of the many joys of growing up in Cincinnati is taking my own kids to places I remember as a child. I’ve been down to Sawyer Point many times over the past several years, but I haven’t been to the actual playground since the night of my
senior prom. Lucky for you, I could not track down a picture of this, but I have fond memories of snapping photos with my friends with our disposable cameras. Fast forward more years than I care to admit, and I found myself back at Sawyer Point Playground with my two young toddlers and my husband for some family fun.
Since the creation of The Banks and the surrounding area, I feel like Sawyer Point has taken a back seat. But I was reminded on this day why it is a true Cincinnati treasure. After the always fun task of slathering sunscreen on our kids, we headed out to walk around first and see what the Sawyer Point area has to offer. It was a busy place, filled with other families, runners, dog walkers and Segway tours. The river was filled with boats and we even ran into some wildlife (a groundhog! I think…). Our three year old and 21-month old loved the variety of things to check out.
One of my personal favorite parts of the park is the trail right along the river. It’s mostly shaded, has a lot of history and makes you feel like you’re on vacation. The kids enjoyed the views of the boats and the fossil prints on the walkway. There are public restrooms scattered around and plenty of perfect places for a picnic. In fact, unless you are planning to walk back toward The Banks, you may want to pack snacks or a meal to be able to spend more time enjoying the park.
Our last stop was the playground, the site of the infamous prom pictures. This particular playground is a young child/school age child’s dream. There are lots of places to climb, swing and slide and even a few opportunities to get dirty in the sand. Our daughter who isn’t quite two stuck to the swing most of the time, which was probably best. I do recommend having a few sets of eyes if you are taking very young children. While the playground is set up for fun, there are also a lot of little
hiding places that tend to attract curious kids.
Sawyer Point is a classic Cincinnati destination that our children should definitely get to experience. The views of both downtown and the river can’t be beat and you could easily spend an entire day down by the river. Head down to play before a Reds game or check out one of the many events that take place in the area. I hope my own children have happy memories of our time together at Sawyer Point, just as I do from my own childhood.
Sawyer Point Playground is located at 705 East Pete Rose Way, Cincinnati, OH 45202.
About Andrea:
A native Cincinnatian, Andrea has experienced life in all four corners of this city. After growing up on the west side, she headed north to attend Miami University, then moved east to Hyde Park and now lives in Northern Kentucky with her family.
When she’s not playing trains and doing the “hot dog dance” as a stay-at-home mom to her two toddlers, Andrea is busy writing for Cincinnati publications and sites. With a newfound passion for fitness and overall health, she spends a lot of time at her family gym and loves to play outside.
Andrea worked in education for several years and has a special love for children’s literature. She loves showing her children all our city has to offer and enjoys sharing her finds with other parents. Her favorite spots include the Cincinnati Zoo (although she steers clear of the bird house), her local library and any playground.
