Open Play Round-Up

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There are so many fun places to take kids in the Columbus area that sometimes it’s hard to choose what to do on a free day! This list includes a roundup of recreation centers in our city that have open gyms or play times for babies and toddlers. There are also some recreation centers that include older kids, as well as some private agencies and gyms that have open play times. Most of these are not classes that you have to sign up for and attend weekly, but open times so you can attend when you want. I find this to be an easy, fun, and inexpensive way to expend energy and expose your child to different types of play.

Most of the community centers have large muscle toys and activities, as well as smaller toys like balls and pretend play. There is also a valuable social component in playing alongside or with other children and learning to share. One con is that the ones geared towards the younger age group are often held during the week, so that limits opportunities as a working mom, but we have been able to find times to attend on days I am off work. Please note that this is not an exhaustive list, so please share if you know of other play times! Enjoy!

Days, times and pricing are subject to change, so we recommend always using the links to check for yourself.

1. Westerville Community Center

Westerville has a gorgeous community center complete with indoor pools, fitness center, and an amazing indoor playground.

Address: 350 N. Cleveland Ave, Westerville 43081

Mondays through March 19th (ages 3 and under) from 9:30 am-11:30 am
Fridays through March 23 (kindergarten age and under) from 9:30 am-11:30 am
$3 per visit (or buy a punch card and get 6 visits for $15)

Website: Westerville Community Center Recreation Guide (reference pages 20-21)

2. Dublin Community Recreation Center

Dublin also has a great recreation center. On Monday and Friday mornings through May 25, they hold a “Preschool Open Gym” for kids ages 6 and under. This is held in a large gym so there is a ton of space to run around. **There a few days that it’s closed, so be sure to check their website for dates.

Address: 5600 Post Rd, Dublin 43016

Mondays and Fridays from 9 am-11 am
Ages 6 months to 6 years
$3 per visit (or buy a pass and get 11 visits for $30)

Website: Dublin Rec Center and more information about Preschool Open Gym

3. City of Upper Arlington

An open gym is held in Upper Arlington at the Tremont Elementary School gym every Sunday for parents and older kids.

Address: 2900 Tremont Rd, Columbus 43221

Sundays
4-5:30 pm- Adults and children
5:30-7 pm- Kids in grades 7-12
$5 per person (kids 2 and under are free)

Website: City of Upper Arlington (reference page 8)

4. Worthington Community Center

Preschool open gym is held at the North Gym for kids ages 1-6 years old. Babies under age one can attend free with a sibling.

Address: 345 E Wilson Bridge Rd, Worthington 43085

Fridays from 10:15-11:45 am
$2 per child

Website: Worthington Community Center (reference page 12)

5. We Rock The Spectrum

There are a wide variety of open play times during the day and on weekends when the space isn’t being rented for a birthday party. Check out the days and times here: Open Play Schedule

Address: Oak Creek Center, 1250 E Powell Rd, Lewis Center, OH 43035

Website: We Rock the Spectrum

6. Recreations Outlet

A spacious play area with playground equipment, trampolines, basketball and more. They offer daily pay-to-play times and charitable play for a reduced rate on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 9 am – 11 am for $2 per child.

Address: 484 W Olentangy/Powell Road, Powell, OH 43065

Website: Recreations Outlet 

7. Naz Playplace

Open play with tunnels and slides. Sock must be worn and there is story hour on Tuesday. You can register online beforehand to save time! There is a spot to get coffee inside too. Hours vary daily. FREE! 

Address: 4770 Hoover Road, Grove City, Ohio 43123 

Website: Naz Playplace 

8. Central Park Playground

FREE open play on Thursdays and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. with slides and climbing tunnels. 

Address: 471 E. College Ave., Westerville, Ohio, 43081 

Website: Central Park Playground 

9. Easter Seals of Central and Southeast Ohio

Many people are familiar with Easter Seals as an organization that serves individuals with disabilities. Our local chapter also hosts an open gym with many fun amenities for kids ages 1-7. Information is often available as an “event” on Facebook. Check their page for future dates as they seem to often occur around school breaks.

Address: 3830 Trueman Ct, Hilliard 43026

$5 per child

Website: Easter Seals of Central and Southeast Ohio

Facebook page: Easter Seals of Central and Southeast Ohio

Gymnastics Locations with Open Gym Times

10. Gym X-Treme

Address: 7708 Green Meadows Dr – Suite A, Lewis Center, OH 43035

Daytime open gym for 15 months and up (school year only)
Wednesdays & Thursdays from 12-1:30 pm
$5 (siblings $4) *non-members welcome

Friday night open gym (all year long)
Fridays from 8-10 pm
$10 (all ages welcome) *non-members welcome

Website: Gym X-Treme

11. Integrity Athletics

Address: 710 Cross Pointe Rd., Columbus, OH 43230

Daytime open gym for walking to 5 years of age
Tuesdays & Fridays from 9:30-10:30 am
$5 for members, $8 for non-members

Evening open gym for ages 6-16
Fridays from 7:30-9:00 pm (must arrive by 7:50 pm)
$7 for members & $10 for non-members

Website: Integrity Athletics

Integrity gymnastics
Integrity Athletics

12. Gym Skills

Address: 710 Cross Pointe Rd., Columbus, OH 43230

Daytime open gym for walking to 10 years of age
Tuesdays & Fridays from 9:30-12:00 pm
Price varies based on age and membership *drop off is permitted for ages 6 and up

Evening open gym for ages 6 and up (drop off is permitted)
Fridays & Saturdays from 7:00-9:00 pm
$12 for members & $15 for non-members

Website: Gym Skills

13. The Jungle Gym Adventure Center

Address: 755 US 23 N, Delaware, OH 43015

Open gym for ages 18 months and above
Tuesdays & Saturdays from 10 am-12:00 pm
Price varies based on age. Family discount available.

Website: The Jungle Gym Adventure Center

Open Play Times at Community Centers within the Columbus Parks and Rec System

The following play times are all at community centers that are within the Columbus Parks and Rec system. They have a ton of fun things for kids to do, and many are free! To take advantage of the programs, you must obtain a Columbus Parks & Recreation Leisure card. Many of them have a course code to register for the class.

14. Holton Community Center

 This west-side center has a youth (ages 6-17) open gym several days a week as a part of their After School Adventures program, and it’s free!

Address: 303 N Eureka Ave, Columbus 43204

Tuesdays-Fridays- begins after school, time varies
Free!

Website: Holton Community Center (reference page 2)

15. Lazelle Woods Community Center

This is part of Columbus Parks and Rec but located in Westerville. There are a few open play choices.

Address: 8140 Sancus Blvd, Westerville 43081

Elementary open gym (school age)
Mondays-Fridays from 3-4 pm
Free!

Pre-K open gym (ages 3-5)
Thursdays from 10 am-12 pm
$5 per child

Teen open gym
Fridays from 4-5 pm
Free!

Website: Lazelle Woods Community Center (reference page 2)

16. Westgate Community Center

 **Note: this is a regularly scheduled class instead of a drop-in time.

Address: 455 S. Westgate Ave, Columbus 43204

Pre-K/toddler open play (ages 1-5)
$14 for a whole session (about 11 weeks)
Wednesdays from 9:30-11:30 am for the winter session, check back from the spring session

Website: Westgate Community Center (reference page 3)

17. Marion Franklin Community Center

*Register for this free class.

Address: 2801 Lockbourne Rd, Columbus 43207

Kids playtime (ages 5 and up)
Wednesdays from 6:15-7 pm

Website: Marion Franklin Community Center

18. Sullivant Gardens Recreation Center

*Register for this class.

Address: 755 Renich St, Columbus 43223

Pre-K play day (ages 3-6)
Tuesdays and Fridays from 12:30-2 pm

Website: Sullivant Gardens Recreation Center

19. Thompson Community Center

* Register for this free class.

Address: 1189 Dennison Ave, Columbus 43201

Preschool playtime (ages 1-5)
Fridays from 10 am-12 pm

Website: Thompson Community Center

20. Schiller Community Center

*Register for this free class.

1069 Jaeger St, Columbus 43206)

Pre-K active gym games (ages 3-5)
Mondays from 4:45-5:15 pm

Website: Schiller Community Center


If you are looking for other indoor ideas, be sure to check out our Guide to Indoor Play that’s packed with ways to have fun and burn off energy. 

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Andrea Connell
Andrea Connell is social worker, wife, and mom to a smart, active, and sweet toddler, Brady. Originally from Lexington, OH (not Kentucky as commonly thought!), she moved to Columbus in 2001 to attend college at The Ohio State University, and it has been home ever since. She earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in social work, and has worked with children in some capacity for over ten years, including as a therapist, case manager, and early intervention service coordinator. She now works full-time for a large social service agency, but a flexible schedule allows her to manage work, motherhood, and domestic duties and keep (somewhat) sane. She met her husband, Brian, through mutual friends about six years ago and they have been married since 2013. Andrea loves living in Columbus and enjoys exploring all the fun places, events, and festivals that the city offers. Most weekends, you can find her and her family at the Columbus Zoo or any park that is conducive to expending toddler energy. She loves spending time with her friends and extended family, which includes ten nieces and nephews! Other interests include reading (when she can stay awake long enough to do so), occasional date nights with her husband, texting instead of talking on the phone, local coffee shops, live music, and attempting crafty projects that may or may not get finished.