If you’re considering moving to Sidney, Ohio, or planning to stop in town for a quick visit, you may be wondering what there is to do or see in the area. Luckily for you, there are many parks, playgrounds, and campgrounds in the area for those looking to get some exercise, gather with friends and family, go camping for the weekend, and more! 

Parks and Playgrounds

Whether you’re looking to move to Sidney, Ohio permanently or just stopping in town temporarily, there is a wide variety of fun parks and playgrounds for you to visit. Some big, some small, some centered on hiking and nature, some focused on providing a play space for kids. Needless to say, there’s a park in Sidney for everyone. If you’re not sure which parks to take a look at first, we have a few to get you started!

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Tawawa Park 

12 Tawawa Drive | Sidney | sidneyoh.com

You just can’t talk about Sidney, Ohio parks without mentioning Tawawa Park! At around 200 wooded acres, it is by far the biggest park in the area, and one of the most popular to visit. Between the access to water, sports fields, trails, playgrounds, and many reservable shelters and picnic areas, there’s something in this park for every visitor. 

The park was named after Tawawa Creek, which runs through the middle of the park, upon its establishment in 1948. Tawawa Park is also next to the Miami River and contains two lakes, the Tawawa and Amos lakes. Permits to fish in these lakes after park hours are available at the Sidney Parks and Recreation office or the police department. 

If you live in the Sidney area and you have a child who plays organized sports, or you play them yourself, chances are you’ll be visiting Tawawa Park for games and practices alike. There are a variety of fields and courts across the expanse of the park for playing baseball, softball, sand volleyball, basketball, and soccer. For example, the Flanagan Sports Complex, which covers nearly 10 acres inside of Tawawa Park and is ADA accessible, contains four softball diamonds as well as a concession facility and restrooms. It is directly adjacent to the Landrum Soccer Fields and it connects to several trails and paved walkways that can take you all throughout the park. 

One such trail is the Veterans Memorial Walkway. This ADA-accessible path is 4.5 miles long and paved, making it safe for activities like cycling in addition to walking. It has many access points within the park. Lining the walkway are memorial trees dedicated to friends, family and organizations — if you’re interested in having your own memorial tree, you can call the Parks and Recreation office for more information. 

The Sidney Parks and Recreation department says the park “is being preserved to retain its rustic nature,” and that “wildlife is protected.” Some of its most interesting spots for tourists and visitors include the William Ross Covered Bridge and the “Big Rock,” a glacial rock left over from the ice age.

Robert O. New Park

3050 Bridlewood Drive | Sidney | sidneyoh.com

Robert O. New Park is another popular park in the Sidney, Ohio area, covering approximately 30 acres in the region’s northeast corner. The park was named in 2008 after Robert O. New, the former Sidney Parks and Recreation Director who had served since 1985. It is split into two sections, the north and south sides.

The south side of the park has access to Plum Creek, where fishing is available, and hiking trails. The north side of Robert O. New Park features a playground with both a play structure and a swingset for kids. There is also an open green space, perfect for an impromptu soccer match or game of tag, and a basketball court that was added to the park in 2017. 

Parents can watch their kids playing from the cool shade of the shelter, in the picnic area right next to the playground. This picnic area is equipped with a grill, perfect for getting together with friends, family, and neighbors for a cookout.

Locals living in the neighborhood have been excited to see the occasional visitor in this park, including squirrels, groundhogs, and even families of deer!

Piper Park

120 South Main Avenue | Sidney | sidneyoh.com

At less than one half-acre, Piper Park is a much smaller park than some others in the Sidney, Ohio area. But good things often come in small packages, and Piper Park is living proof!

Located in downtown Sidney, with a view of the historic Shelby County Courthouse, Piper Park is a peaceful pocket of green space in the heart of town. It’s perfect for those who want to get out of the office on their lunch break, rest their feet after shopping for hours downtown, or catch up with a friend without paying to sit at a restaurant. 

There aren’t any playgrounds or big green spaces for kids to run around in at Piper Park, making this area much more tranquil and adult-friendly.

More environmentally-friendly or exercise-seeking folk who work or visit in downtown Sidney should keep this park in mind. Piper Park has bike racks available, making it even easier to skip the car ride and bike into downtown instead.

Canal Feeder Trail

975 South Main Avenue | Sidney | sidneyoh.com

The Canal Feeder Trail is a nature-oriented trail, whose main section stretches across 3.4 miles of the southern region of Sidney, Ohio. The trail is paved with asphalt, making it suitable for bikes and roller skates, and it is ADA accessible. The three entry points of the trail are on South Main Avenue (behind Graceland Cemetery), off of Maple Leaf Court, and on Vandemark Road.

In addition to the original length of the Canal Feeder Trail, there is a half-mile-long nature path which diverges from the main trail close to the 1.5 mile marker. This offshoot connects to the Great Miami River. At the river, licensed . The Canal Feeder trail is also known for being an excellent bird-watching location!

The Sidney Parks and Recreation Department has plans to develop an additional 0.9 miles of the Canal Feeder Trail, connecting it to Kuther Road in 2021.

Sidney Water Park

12 Tawawa Drive | Sidney | sidneyoh.com

Located inside Tawawa Park, Sidney Water Park is the best place to visit when you and your family need to cool off during the summer months! This park, which has three pools of varying sizes and depths, is open every afternoon from the first Saturday after Memorial Day until two weeks before Labor Day. 

In 2005, a popular slide attraction was added to the park. This is not your average public pool slide — there are two slides, a speed slide and a spiral slide, that add up to 295 feet in length! Parents, kids, and teens alike will be lining up for the chance to ride. There are also three diving boards, for you to practice your best cannonball.

Throughout June and July, the Parks and Recreation Department holds group swimming lessons that are free for all. Students are grouped by age and skill level, from “Mom, Dad, & Tots (Ages 2-4)” to “Advanced (ages 5 & up).” Swimmers are supervised by a team of lifeguards at all times.

Season passes are $35 each, while a daily pass is $4.50 per day. The entire Sidney Water Park can be rented in the evenings for events, at a rate of $300 per two hours.

Campgrounds

Whether you’re looking to camp for one night or an entire season, in a tent or in an RV, you want to feel at home in your campsite. Here are some of the most popular campgrounds in the Sidney, Ohio area that will have you coming back again and again.

Camp Qtokee

2686 OH-29 | Sidney | sidneyeagles1403.tripod.com

This campground is located within the northeast region of Sidney, Ohio, just across the highway. Camp Qtokee offers both RV and tent camping — for RVs, 30 Amp sites are the standard, while 50 Amp sites are available for a little extra cost. Amenities include water, electricity, laundry, restrooms, and hot showers. 

While staying at Camp Qtokee, campers can enjoy a variety of fun activities, including golf and shuffleboard. Access to Camp Qtokee lake provides campers with the opportunity to enjoy boating, fishing, and outdoor swimming as well. From 11:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., quiet hours are enforced, ensuring everyone gets enough rest for the next day of fun!

Lotus Cove Campground

12014 Lotus Cove Court | Minister | lotuscovecampground.com

Located just outside Sidney, Lotus Cove Campground sits right on the edge of the beautiful Lake Loramie. Easy access to the lake is one of the best features of this location, as it allows for water activities like fishing, boating, and swimming.

Campers at Lotus Cove speak highly of the management and staff, who they say are friendly and helpful and make the campground feel like home. The staff organizes fun events to create bonding opportunities between the campers, like karaoke nights in the clubhouse, mini-golf matches, and holiday celebrations such as Fourth of July fireworks!

Lotus Cove offers seasonal camping from April through October. Amenities for campers include a sewer system, water service, electric service (which is metered). During the off season, boats can be stored in the campground or in designated storage areas.

Oakdale Campground

4611 OH-235 | Quincy | oakdalecampground.com

Oakdale Campground is located deep in the woods, perfect for those looking for the chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of life in town. It is also next to the Great Miami River, where guests can swim and fish at their leisure. Oakdale has two playgrounds for children and families to enjoy.

Each of the 115 campsites offered at Oakdale, for both RV and tent campers, comes with its own picnic table and fire ring for toasting your favorite fireside foods (S’mores, anyone?). All of the RV sites and some of the tent sites have 30 Amp electric and water hookups. The shower rooms available at Oakdale are handicap-accessible and have flush toilets. 

If you’re looking for a campsite that will let you bring along your furriest family members, look no further — Oakdale is a proud pet-friendly campground. You can reserve an Oakdale campsite for the night, a few weeks, a month, and even an entire season.

In the age of 24/7 access to tablets, phones, and TV, it’s more important than ever that kids get time to play outside, using their imaginations and getting proper exercise. Visit a park in Sidney, Ohio with your children today! 

Parks are a quintessential part of any community. They’re the perfect spaces for exercising, holding family gatherings, meeting up for playdates, or just taking a moment for yourself. With the wide variety of the parks, playgrounds, and campgrounds available in the Sidney, Ohio area, there truly is a park to meet any person’s needs. The next time you’re visiting Sidney, be sure to take the time to stop by one of these beautiful parks!