Upper Arlington's Parks Compared: Which Suits Your Family

A neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood look at Upper Arlington's green spaces, from the Scioto riverfront to the playgrounds off Lane Avenue.

The Riverfront: Northam Park and the Scioto

Northam Park, off Northwest Boulevard near the Lane Avenue intersection, is the closest thing Upper Arlington has to a central park: tennis courts, a pool complex, open lawns and a playground that suits toddlers and early-elementary children. It sits roughly ten minutes' drive from downtown Columbus across the Lane Avenue bridge, or about fifteen by bus along Northwest. Because it is the busiest park in the city, weekend mornings in May and September fill the lot quickly; arrive before ten or park on the residential streets to the north.

If your family wants water and shade, follow the Scioto riverfront paths south from Lane Avenue toward Griggs Reservoir. The multi-use trail here is flat, stroller-friendly and connects to longer loops through the reservoir parkland; the shaded sections hold up well in July and August when open lawns bake. There are restrooms near the reservoir boat ramps but few along the northern stretch, so plan accordingly. I would book a hotel near the Lane Avenue corridor if this riverfront pair is your priority, since you can walk or drive to both in under ten minutes.

Playground-First Choices: Thompson and Barrington

Thompson Park, tucked between Tremont Road and the shops at Kingsdale, is the one I recommend to families with children under six. The playground is compact enough to supervise from a single bench, the surface is the modern rubberised kind, and there is shade from mature trees through the afternoon. Kingsdale's grocery and cafes are a two-minute walk, which matters more than it sounds when you are travelling with a nap schedule. Parking is a small lot plus street spaces; it rarely fills outside school pickup hours.

Barrington Park, off Barrington Road near Fishinger, is the better pick for mixed-age groups. There is a playground plus a ball diamond and open field, so older children can kick a ball while younger ones use the equipment. The trade-off is fewer amenities: no pool, limited shade on the field side, and portable restrooms rather than a permanent building in some seasons. Neither park has the crowds of Northam, and both are within a short drive of the hotels clustered along Olentangy River Road.

Quiet and Green: Fancyburg and the Country Club Edge

Fancyburg Park, on the north side near Kenny Road and Fishinger, is Upper Arlington's quiet, wooded option. The paths wind through mature trees, there is a small playground and a sledding hill that draws locals after a snowfall, and the pace is gentler than at Northam. It is a good choice for a picnic or an early-evening walk. The trade-off: fewer facilities, and the playground is smaller than Thompson's. Families with very active older children may find it limiting for a full afternoon, but for a morning it is hard to beat.

On the western edge, the streets around the Country Club and the Scioto Country Club border give access to green corridors rather than a single destination park. This is walkable residential Upper Arlington, useful if your hotel is on the western side or you are combining a visit with the shopping along Lane Avenue. Best months overall are May, June and September: warm but not humid, with the pools open from late May and the reservoir paths at their best before the August heat. Skip the parks on home football Saturdays in autumn, when Columbus traffic spills north and lots fill early.

Where to Stay and What to Skip

For a park-focused family trip, I would book along the Lane Avenue and Olentangy River Road corridor. It puts Northam, the riverfront trail and Kingsdale within a ten-minute drive, and downtown Columbus within fifteen to twenty minutes depending on traffic on State Route 315. Hotels here are typically mid-range chains; central Columbus has the wider choice if you want more restaurants on the doorstep. Search dates against the Ohio State academic calendar, since move-in and graduation weekends tighten availability across the whole northwest corridor.

What to skip: the pocket parks tucked inside subdivisions, which have little beyond a swing set and no parking, and any attempt to tour all of these in one day. Two parks per day is realistic with children. Note that pool access at Northam is seasonal and separate from park entry, so check opening dates before you promise a swim. The city's parks department publishes seasonal hours; confirm before travelling, as maintenance closures happen. Book early in spring for September stays, when demand from visiting families rises.

Questions, answered

Which Upper Arlington park is best for toddlers?

Thompson Park near Kingsdale suits toddlers best: a compact rubberised playground, good afternoon shade and shops a two-minute walk away. Northam Park is the alternative, with more space but more crowds on weekend mornings.

Do I need a car to visit Upper Arlington's parks?

A car makes it much easier. Northam and the Scioto trail are reachable on foot from the Lane Avenue corridor, but Thompson, Barrington and Fancyburg are spread across the city and buses along Northwest and Kenny are infrequent.

When is the best time to visit Upper Arlington with children?

May, June and September offer the best balance of warm weather and manageable crowds, with pools typically open from late May. Avoid home football Saturdays in autumn, when traffic across northwest Columbus is heavy and park lots fill early.

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