Looking for a fun day outside with the kiddos? Look no further.
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Children’s Garden at Franklin Park Conservatory has to be one of most imaginative outdoor spaces in the city. There’s so much to do and explore, all while staying outside and having plenty of space to practice social distancing.
Visitors enter the Scotts Miracle-Gro Children’s Garden by passing through the Sunshine Celebration Arch. When the Conservatory was planning the garden, they asked kids what they would want to see in a garden just for them. Two things they mentioned were water and rainbows, both of which you can find throughout the garden.
The garden is full of fun nooks and crannies to explore and create. There are interactive areas with lots of fun activities including musical instruments, gardening, and natural art.
One of the coolest sections in the garden is a Hocking Hills inspired waterfall area. There are shallow pools below the fall perfect for the kiddos to splash around in on a warm summer afternoon.
Perhaps the biggest adventure awaiting children in the garden is the canopy. resting in the branches of a 75-year-old mulberry tree, the canopy walk has rope bridges, an ever-changing nest area, and a large rope hammock perfect for staring up at the clouds.
Near the base of the canopy, you’ll find a large outdoor play area with hollowed logs for climbing, a fort-building area, a swing, and lots of other fun plays to inspire the imagination.
If you need a good place to start winding down before loading the kids back into the car, you have to head over to the Whisper Gardens. Here you’ll find a peaceful reading garden, complete with a library, a fairy garden, and the Whisper Bench.
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Children’s Garden is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission to the Children’s Garden is included in admission to the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. For more information, please click here.
The conservatory has several health & safety guidelines in place to help keep guests safe during their visit. Reserved ticket times, face coverings, and limiting exhibit capacity are just a few of the steps their taking. Here’s everything you need to know before you go to the conservatory for a visit.
All images were taken prior to COVID-19. Masks are required for those over 6 years old.
