Optimist Park

4.0 (1 review)

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Optimist Park - Optimist Park, Mansfield - Parks Near Me

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Bruce K.

Elite 26

2415

25967

76265

2 years ago

A small neighborhood park, I stopped here to make breakfast and picnic as it was not too far out of my way. A little toaster ovening and little microwaving and I have breakfast. And a picnic table to sit at and enjoy some nature before continuing my drive across Ohio and northeast. The park has a swing set, an open play area and a swing set. It is next to some deep looking woods so you'll want to pay especial attention for wildlife. [Review 1339 of 2024 - 258 in Ohio - 22362 overall] read more

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More info about Optimist Park

Mansfield, OH 44907
Directions
(419) 522-9801
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Hours

What time does Optimist Park open?

What time does Optimist Park close?

Outdoor Amenities

Does Optimist Park have parking?

Yes, Optimist Park has parking options.

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Explore benefits

Gorman Nature Center

4.2

(5 reviews)

4.2 km

What a Mansfield gem! We were visiting from out of town and needed a place to stretch our legs and…read moreexplore nature, and came across Gorman Nature Center. It's a beautiful park and a great place to go for an easy hike. We visited on a day that the nature center was closed, so we only explored the outdoor areas during our visit. But even without visiting the nature center, we had a great time. The hiking trails are easy and wide, and perfect for strollers. The trails are also mostly lined with grass, so it was easy on my kids' little legs and feet. There are lots of native flowers and plants all over the park, plus bridges, forests, prairies, streams, ponds and other things that make the hike interesting. Gorman Nature Center encompasses 150 acres, and there are five miles of trails to walk. We only walked a total of a little less than a mile (my kids were pooping out), but the mile we walked was beautiful and peaceful. I would have loved to explore more of the park, so I'm hoping we get a chance to come back!

Went here later at night as part of Mohican Wildlife Weekend. The presentation talked about native…read moreOhio animals with the chance to see a grey tree frog and a snake (I think garter). We were also allowed to hold the snake if we wanted. They did a little game where they played an animal sound then we guessed what kind of animal it was. I didn't know deer can bark. Afterwards, we went on a guided night hike to the ponds on the property. We were able to see a lot of local frogs and toads. My main complaint is that everyone, from the guides to little kids, repeatedly picked up the frogs and toads. It's dangerous to do that since frogs and toads have very sensitive, absorbent skin so common chemicals like soap or hand sanitizer is very dangerous to the animals. A frog trying to escape can often dislocate their leg from kicking. One toad started secreting a white toxin from stress. The inside of the center had a lot of taxidermy animals. The main interesting thing about the center itself is that much about it was built to be ecofriendly. They use geothermal heating, have wood from local trees that is the tiny or "imperfect" pieces that often go to waste otherwise, composting toilets, and more. I was there at night so I can't comment much on the property.

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Live owl inside the nature center at Gorman's Park

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Lilly Pad Pond

Kingwood Center Gardens

4.6

(38 reviews)

4.5 km

We enjoyed our afternoon at the Kingwood Center. The staff and docents we spoke with were friendly…read moreand knowledgeable. We especially appreciated Julie, the receptionist, rounding up some sandwiches for us (They're transitioning to a new food vendor, and the grab-and-go case was nearly empty when we arrived.). We brought our sandwiches out to the gardens, where there are many seating areas with nice views. The historic mansion is beautifully decorated, a window into how this wealthy industrialist lived in the last century. Pam, the docent at the front desk, was full of interesting stories about the family and the house. We were surprised to learn from her that the curtains at the front of the house were the originals from the 1920s. With high ceilings and huge windows, every room has a beautiful view, even the servants' areas. I found the kitchen especially interesting. If you plan to visit Kingwood with small children, I recommend saving the mansion for another day. The beautiful staircase (faux painted with a feather!) has a low railing and wide spaces between the balustrades. It would be easy for a child to slip through and fall to the terrazzo ground floor.

Beautiful gardens, house, and visitors center with special events throughout the year for…read moreHalloween, Christmas, special art installations, etc. Free admission for NARM members and members of conservatories outside of Ohio. The current (summer 2026) art installation is particularly nice - the perfect scale for this very manageable place. The gift shop also has an excellent selection of both annual and perennial plants for sale, including many varieties featured in the gardens.

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Lego display

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Malabar Farm State Park

4.5

(21 reviews)

13.3 km

This was such a fun stop! There are live farm animals here, and the pastures looked well…read moremaintained with plenty of space for them to roam, which was great to see. The welcome center was pretty nice and had a small kids museum inside that was interactive. There's also a gift shop with cute merch, local items, maple syrup, and other extras. They offer tours of some of the buildings for purchase, which is a cool option if you want a deeper experience, but even just walking around the property on your own is enjoyable. Overall, a really nice place to explore for a bit.

I've learned that sometimes when you are about to review a place, read other reviews and step back…read moreand think. I was about to give it a three until I read reviews. I didn't go and visit the house, I didn't take the tours, I was about to base it on how it didn't personally fit my needs. I would have wanted to camp there and realize it wasn't for me. Now for the positive, it's a beautiful place and it has great historic value. I loved the store. The young person behind the counter was so nice and helpful. We bought a gallon of maple syrup and a smaller one for our camper. It was on sale for 10% discount. The greatest thing though is that they sell fresh meat from the farm. They have a cool place for the kids on the other side of the store. The cute parrot pictured was in the lobby.

Photos

House view

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Playground

Charles Mill Lake Park

3.7

(7 reviews)

13.5 km

We were reliving some fond memories of our youth. The lake was calm and beautiful. The trees were…read morebare due to the fact that winter was winding down. The end of spring and summer, the trees are full of green leaves and the bushes are full of raspberries and blackberries. You can fish for catfish, carp, sunfish, bluegill, and trout. There is an abundance of wildlife. This is a wonderful place to visit and make wonderful memories of your own.

Beautiful view of the lake from our campsite which has a nice level cement pad, a great picnic…read moretable, and a fire pit for an enjoyable evening fire. Since it's late September it's very quiet and peaceful. Loving it..

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The picnic area near the dam

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The other side of the dam

Mt Jeez Overlook

5.0

(4 reviews)

14.2 km

Mt. Jeez Overlook is on the property of Malabar Farm State Park, but it's kind of its own thing…read more Some places mark it as being in Perrysville, and some in Lucas. Wherever it is, you'll find it by driving to Malabar Farm off of Pleasant Valley Road, and following the signs to the overlook. The dirt road that takes you to the overlook is a bit bumpy, so hang on to your butts. But there's no other option -- you can't really walk up to the overlook because there's nowhere to park at the bottom. But, there's parking at the top, so I'm thinking that that's what you're supposed to do: endure the minute-long bumpy ride. Once you're at the top, you will be treated to fabulous views of central Ohio countryside. The overlook is the highest point on Malabar Farm, and at more than 1,300 feet above sea level, Mount Jeez will give you an up-high look at farmland for several miles. This is an amazing spot to just sit (there's a bench up here) and take in the view. There's also a hiking trail in the woods just off the overlook. We didn't venture too far into the path when we visited, but it's there and it is beautiful when everything is growing and blooming.

Go on a clear evening for sunset. Golden hour light is divine. Sun sets a little earlier due to…read morehigher tree line. Beautiful.

Photos

Looking towards Mt Jeez Overlook from the Visitor's Center at Malabar Farm

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Telephoto view from Mt Jeez of the cemetery at Malabar Farm

Water Works Family Aquatic Center

3.5

(24 reviews)

100.7 km

We had a blast, worth the price if you plan to spend the whole day there or at least 3+ hours. Food…read moreon site, chairs to lounge in and plenty of things to do based on age.

It's is nice for all kids, it's clean and safe. The staff is horribly rude and and bitchy. For the…read morehigh cost of swimming they should at least have some customer service experience.

Photos

One of the slides.

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Long lazy river

Heath Municipal Pool

4.1

(8 reviews)

79.0 km

I hvent been in years but , Lots of pools,slides, splash pad big enough for everyone. And prices…read moreare reasonable the only downside is the days and times when opened

This place suck! I cant go on the drop slide, dual slides, or the high dive because im half an inch…read moreshort! This place sucks for people 51' and under

Photos

Playground, volleyball court and picnic area

Menu as of 7/14/15

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Kiddie pool and lazy river

Splash Zone Aquatic Center

3.7

(7 reviews)

66.3 km

Here's a clean, readable Yelp-style review that keeps your experience intact but flows more…read moresmoothly and sounds polished: First Visit to Splash Zone - Overland, Ohio This was my first visit to Splash Zone in Overland, Ohio. Registration is a bit of a process. You first have to create a profile through the Lorain County Metro Parks system, then return to the Splash Zone site to register for a specific program on a designated day and time. Once registered, the system shows your cost--mine initially showed $0. I arrived about 30 minutes early on the morning of my class, which turned out to be helpful because I had to re-register in person. After completing that, I was told there would normally be a $3 fee due to my SilverSneakers account. However, the woman at the front desk kindly let me attend for free that day, explaining that future visits would be $3. Since I'd never been there before, I had to navigate through several locker and pool areas. There are multiple pools separated by glass dividers with automatic doors--someone shared a helpful tip that the small black box above the door shows which side to stand on to trigger it. The instructor came in without much of an introduction, set up a small carry-on-size speaker, put on her headset, and began the class. The workout was aqua Tabata (a Japanese-style interval workout): 20 seconds of fast-paced movement followed by 10 seconds of rest. The class lasted 45 minutes. I stayed for about 30 minutes, choosing to leave early since shower space is limited and I like to be considerate of others. The workout itself was excellent, and being in the water felt really good. The showers, however, were not great--hair on the floor and a general "public park" feel, even at 10:30 a.m. I was glad I wore water shoes. On the plus side, the water temperature and the very hot shower afterward were appreciated. The instructor mentioned that this is her business and encouraged people to connect on Facebook (with a profile photo), and it's clear she's very talented. Overall, despite a few logistical and cleanliness issues, I'd go back again--and next time, I'd happily pay the $3 when I'm in town.

Outdoor pool My kids…read moreloved it! I have been to splashzone for years and this was my first time utilizing the outdoor pool. It costs $8 per person no matter the age. We had three young children with us. You enter through the main pool area and walk to your right out a set of doors. There is a large pool area that is sectioned off for different uses. There is a gradual entry area with a water playground for kids, this is connected to the main part of the pool that gets about 5 feet deep. There are 2 slides that you have to be 48 inches to ride. The lifeguards have a break for 15 minutes after 45 minutes of swimming. All kids have to get out of the water. While waiting there are lots of lounge chairs, a snack shack offer ice cream, hot dogs, pretzels, etc. along with a playground and swing area for the kids. There are also two indoor areas you can take the kids to play with the frog pool for younger kids and the indoor water playground.

Photos

Main pool.

I went for aqua aerobics. These signs were on the wall for motivation.

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Ew- hair in the shower.

Rocky River Recreation Department

3.2

(10 reviews)

99.4 km

I really like this place. It's good for practicing swimming. Their water slide is amusing and…read moredelightful. I usually like to sit on one of the sunloungers when I am to tired to swim. The outdoor pool view was magestic.

no one at the desk in the gym since 11 it id now 11:40 no music in the track area said it…read morewas because of the kids program no kids around not happy

Photos

Lap lanes

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Little kid slide

Westerville J C Swimming Pool

3.4

(8 reviews)

75.6 km

Westerville Jaycee Pool is my summer pool home for swimming and having fun. The guests are treated…read morelike family unlike other pools.

My favorite pool by far! I've been coming bear for years and it never fails to impress me, it is…read moreolder and you can feel the electricity of the place from older generations. Has all the necessary things, like diving boards, a slide, lap pool, baby pool, and leisure pool. With to many more positive for me to list due to the word limit! Would 100% recommend and will be coming back for years to come!

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Candlewood Lake Assoc

3.5

(4 reviews)

23.8 km

Awesome lake community just north of Columbus. We have…read morefriends with a home and it just a lovely setting. The water is calm and beautiful. The neighborhoods are great, easy to walk and enjoyable to visit. Look forward to our next visit, and who knows, maybe a purchase down the road!

I wrote a email more than 2.5 weeks ago to the General Manager and Accounts Receivable. No answer,…read moreso I politely followed it up a week ago. Such a simple email to answer. I wanted clarification. Does Candlewood add a $7 fee for any paper check that is sent to them? Members, using ACH have experienced Candlewood taking money out of their checking account long after they have moved. Others have had deductions for charges they have not known they had. I don't like having money deducted from my checking account when no statement is ever sent out. I rarely contact the office and am patient when I do, but I have found them unresponsive. How hard is it to hit reply to my email and answer my question "is there a $6.95 fee for every paper check Candlewood lake receives"? So 5 stars for the lake, 2 stars for the office averages to3.5 stars minus .5 stars for aggravation!

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