Going outside this weekend? Here are the facilities open at the Five Rivers MetroParks

Hills and Dales Park, a lush urban forest, opened in 1907 on land owned by NCR founder John H. Patterson. The Olmsted Brothers, a prominent landscape architecture firm consisting of John Charles & Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. designed Hills & Dales. Their father, world renown landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and his partner Calvert Vaux designed New York City’s Central Park in 1857 and 1858. Even though the park was outside of Dayton’s city limits (present day Kettering & Oakwood), the land was deeded to the City of Dayton by Patterson in 1918. Fiver Rivers MetroParks began operating and maintaining the park in 1999. Today, it’s easy to get lost in the many things to do at Hills & Dales MetroPark. Visitors are free to enjoy the Adirondack & Inspiration Point nature trails, Old Barn Camp, Dogwood Pond, Paw Paw Camp, Wetlands Boardwalk, the Stone Tower aka Frankenstein’s Castle/Witches Tower, Patterson Monument and more. Due to COVID-19, safe social distancing (6 feet apart) is recommended at all times. Visitors must also plan accordingly since restrooms onsite are still closed. For more information, visit metroparks.org. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Credit: Tom Gilliam

Credit: Tom Gilliam

Hills and Dales Park, a lush urban forest, opened in 1907 on land owned by NCR founder John H. Patterson. The Olmsted Brothers, a prominent landscape architecture firm consisting of John Charles & Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr. designed Hills & Dales. Their father, world renown landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and his partner Calvert Vaux designed New York City’s Central Park in 1857 and 1858. Even though the park was outside of Dayton’s city limits (present day Kettering & Oakwood), the land was deeded to the City of Dayton by Patterson in 1918. Fiver Rivers MetroParks began operating and maintaining the park in 1999. Today, it’s easy to get lost in the many things to do at Hills & Dales MetroPark. Visitors are free to enjoy the Adirondack & Inspiration Point nature trails, Old Barn Camp, Dogwood Pond, Paw Paw Camp, Wetlands Boardwalk, the Stone Tower aka Frankenstein’s Castle/Witches Tower, Patterson Monument and more. Due to COVID-19, safe social distancing (6 feet apart) is recommended at all times. Visitors must also plan accordingly since restrooms onsite are still closed. For more information, visit metroparks.org. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
What to Know
By Daniel Susco
June 13, 2020
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The Five Rivers Fountain of Lights, which is one of the world’s largest fountains, opened on Friday, but select restrooms, playgrounds, nature play areas and campgrounds had already reopened in the Five Rivers MetroParks as of June 10.

These are the reopened facilities at each park.

Carriage Hill MetroPark 

  • Two restrooms: the farm and Cedar Lake parking lot

Cox Arboretum MetroPark 

  • Two restrooms in the Kettering Learning Lab 

Eastwood MetroPark 

  • Two restrooms: The shelter area near the playground and the Eastwood Lake boat parking lot
  • Playground near the park side entrance at 1385 Harshman Road

Englewood MetroPark 

  • Two restrooms in the East Park: Patty's shelter area and Patty Hollow Camp
  • One restroom in the West Park parking lot
  • One restroom in the Prairie View Camp
  • Playground in the East Park at 4361 West National Road
  • Nature play area in the East Park
  • Two front country camgrounds

Germantown MetroPark 

  • Five restrooms: Park overlook (7101 Conservancy Road), Oak Ridge backcountry campsite (7080 Boomershine Road), Old Mill campsite (7200 Old Mill Road), Cedar Ridge backcountry campsite (7501 Stivers Road) and Shimps Hollow front country campsite (7350 Boomershine Road)
  • Two front country and two back country campgrounds

Hills & Dales MetroPark 

  • Two restrooms at the Paw Paw Shelter (2471 Deep Hollow Road)
  • Two restrooms at White Oak (2606 Hilton Drive)
  • Playground at White Oak
  • Nature play area at White Oak

Huffman MetroPark 

  • Two restrooms: the park outlook and MetroParks Mountain Biking Area.

Island MetroPark 

  • Restrooms near the front entrance and playground
  • Playground near the entrance at 101 East Helena Street

Possum Creek MetroPark 

  • Four restrooms: the pond parking lot, the Argonne Forest parking lot, Argonne Lake and Farm
  • Nature play area near the farm at 4790 Frytown Road
  • One front country campground

RiverScape MetroPark 

  • Restrooms by the pavilion and Bike Hub

Sugarcreek MetroPark 

  • Two restrooms at the main park entrance
  • Nature play area by the shelter near the end of the paved path at the entrance, at 4178 Conference Road

Taylorsville MetroPark 

  • One restroom at the East Park entrance

Twin Creek MetroPark 

  • Four restrooms at the Camp Hook and Pine Ridge campsites 
  • Three front country campgrounds and one back country campground

Wesleyan MetroPark 

  • Restrooms near the shelter and playground 
  • Playgrounds near the entrance at 1441 Wesleyan Road
  • Nature play area near the entrance

The MetroParks asked that anyone using the playgrounds or nature play areas follow Ohio Department of Health guidelines, like only having 10 children on the playgrounds at once, maintaining social distancing, covering your mouth when coughing or sneezing, washing hands often and staying home if you feel sick.

Campgrounds are available by reservation only, and campers are required to adhere to health and safety restrictions.

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About the Author

Daniel Susco