The best parks & outdoor spots in Chillicothe

Pumpkin Show Park is basically the festival’s living room, home base for contest judging and live music on the Pumpkin Show Park Stage, with webcams and a livestream keeping the action visible October 21 to 24, 2026. Swing by when you want that hometown buzz without the pumpkin donut sugar crash.

From the Circleville newsletter, October 14, 2026

Junction Earthworks Preserve is a 266‑acre slice of Chillicothe that brings together two Hopewell-era earthwork complexes, the mounds outlined by careful mowing and explained by interpretive signs and a free app.

From the Chillicothe newsletter, October 9, 2026

Rhodes Park packs a quarter-mile cinder track, basketball courts, ball fields, and a solid playground, plus picnic spots when the post-game snacks appear out of nowhere. It also serves as a trailhead for the Sullivant Trace Trail and boasts an inclusive ADA Sports Pad that set a Midwest precedent.

From the Bucyrus newsletter, October 9, 2026

142-acre pocket in the University District with a quirky pedestrian tunnel that makes your shortcut feel like an adventure. Use the path as a quick cut-through to Glen High Parkland, or just enjoy a tiny dose of quiet between errands.

From the Columbus newsletter, October 8, 2026

25 miles of paved path, and a legit disc golf course. Public docks, nature preserve vibes, no jet skis or swimming.

From the Hilliard newsletter, September 10, 2026

Goodale Park is Columbus’ oldest public park, ringed by stately Victorians with skyline peeks, and lately it’s getting even better with Art in the Park bringing four permanent artworks. Worth a quick trek when you want shady walks, people watching, kid energy to burn, or a volunteer morning that actually feels fun.

From the Mansfield newsletter, September 3, 2026

North Bank Park delivers downtown river views, paved paths that link right into the Scioto Mile, and enough picnic tables to stage an impromptu potluck. Bring the kids for the splash pad, then bookmark the pavilion if you’re plotting a low-stress event.

From the Columbus newsletter, September 22, 2026

Glenview Park is a pocket of woods with greenway trail access, a simple playground, picnic tables, and a no-frills basketball court, perfect for low-key hangs or kid energy dumps. Walk the shaded path, spot a bit of wildlife, then refuel with a laid-back bench picnic.

From the Grove City newsletter, October 7, 2026

2-mile paved loop, a stocked fishing pond, a playground, and plenty of fields and courts, including lighted tennis with pickleball overlays to boot. There’s a shelterhouse for gatherings and a woods-and-wildlife zone if you’d rather trade scoreboards for songbirds.

From the Grove City newsletter, October 24, 2026

Right in the city, The Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park is a 52-acre living lab with mellow trails, an observation pavilion, and surprise cameos from blackbirds, frogs, and busy muskrats. Open to the public when you need a quick reset that actually works.

From the Columbus newsletter, September 30, 2026

Glenwood Park in Greater Hilltop packs a little of everything... programs at Glenwood Community Center, a pool for hot days, hoops on the basketball courts with pickleball overlays, a community garden, a paved path, and a woods-and-wildlife nook when you want shade. Easygoing, genuinely local.

From the Columbus newsletter, September 17, 2026

5-mile paved path, Battelle Riverfront Park is a downtown reset button. Wander the Greenway Trail, then spot the Firefighters Memorial, Alfred Tibor’s Freedom sculpture, and the whimsical Pickaweekee Story Grove... a low-key art walk that actually clears your head.

From the Columbus newsletter, October 22, 2026

Blink and you might miss it, but Harrison West Park is the neighborhood’s oldest little green, tucked into the residential streets. Perfect for a coffee stroll, a mid-run breather, or letting the kids wiggle out some energy, it’s that dependable pocket of calm locals end up visiting more than they admit.

From the Franklin County newsletter, October 15, 2026

Kid-friendly green space with picnic tables and a play area.

Quarry Trails Millikin Falls Area delivers a 25-foot cascade, easy paved paths, and quarry-view overlooks that feel miles away but sit right in town. Stroll to the falls, watch mountain bikers from the observation trail, then linger by the lakes because errands can wait.

From the Columbus newsletter, October 15, 2026

With the Scioto Mile Fountain right there and a riverfront stage that keeps free fitness classes and live music rolling, Bicentennial Park is the midweek reset you forgot you needed. Grab a friend, breathe a little, and let the city soundtrack do the rest this week.

From the Columbus newsletter, August 7, 2026

If your week needs a low-stress reset, Blackburn Park delivers with hoops, a futsal court, tennis courts that double for pickleball, a sprayground for cooling off, and a solid playground for the kids. Plus a community garden and an open air shelter make it an easy Near East hang.

From the Columbus newsletter, August 14, 2026