The City of Elyria has lots to offer young families. There are fun kid-friendly restaurants, great schools, and some fantastic places to play.

Elyria, Ohio is somewhat of a hidden gem in Lorain County. The downtown area is one of the cutest in the state. There’s Ely Square, where you can share in events throughout the year, but there are also other fun places to let the kids cut loose that aren’t far from downtown, and won’t break your budget. And with this list, you won't have to scour and search things all over the web!

Narrowing down the top things for kids to do in Elyria is challenging, but we did it! Let’s take a look at some of the places and best things to do in Elyria, Ohio where your kids (and you!) will have a great time all year long without having to take a long drive or a family trip.

Top Places for Kids To Play in Elyria, Ohio

  1. Cascade Park
  2. Elywood Park 
  3. Elyria Playgrounds 
  4. Altitude Trampoline Park  
  5. The Roll Arena Family Skating Center

Cascade Park

Just a short distance from the center of Elyria, Cascade Park has rivers, waterfalls, and hemlock forests. The Black River's east and west branches meet in this 145-acre park and cascade over Berea sandstone. kids playing in the park, chasing bubbles. Parks are some of the best things about Elyria Ohio.

These smaller streams create microclimates, which allow typically northern species of plants and trees to thrive here, including the hemlock. It’s just one of the species that is thought of as a northern tree yet is found in this unique setting.

The City of Elyria transferred Cascade’s management to Lorain County Metro Parks in 2014. And the county is doing a great job providing activities the whole family can appreciate. There are numerous attractions, including playgrounds, walking trails, and bike trails to enjoy.

Cascade Park is also home to one of the best sledding hills in Lorain County. The famous hill is visible from the main entrance. There is a sizable playground, as well as restrooms and Shelter #1 both at the foot of the hill. This area also houses the Cascade Nature Center.

Regardless of the season, whether it's fresh winter snow in January or a perfect summer day in July, Cascade offers something for everyone around Elyria.

Horizon's Preschool Programs

Elywood Park

A mother having fun with her daughter outdoors

Another beautiful place to take the kids exploring in the summertime is Elywood Park. Adjacent to Cascade Park, with only the Black River separating the two, Elywood has a dedicated entrance located at 556 Washington Avenue.

It’s known as a bird-watching park, so if you can bring a book along, you can spend a couple of hours with the kids trying to find the most interesting and colorful birds in Elyria. Rock climbing enthusiasts also appreciate Elywood's boulders and rock formations in this little corner of the world.

Also, thanks to a final gift from the Friends of Cascade, new playground equipment was installed in Elywood in 2022, replacing the outdated playground removed in 2018 for safety reasons. Once again, Elywood is perfect for a fun family play date for children.

Between Cascade and Elywood's options, your children may not want to leave!

Playgrounds Surround Elyria, Ohio

One check of the City of Elyria’s website will tell you there are plenty of places to take the kids to play any time or season of the year. Take a look at the list of parks and playgrounds that you have to choose from:

  • Abbe Road 
  • Bell Avenue Tot Lot
  • Black River Audubon Park
  • Cascade & Elywood
  • East Park
  • Ely Square
  • Finwood Estate
  • Hilltop Park
  • North Park
  • South Park
  • Washington Village
  • West Park
  • Academy Circle

Many of these playgrounds also have basketball courts, splash pads and plenty of room for the kids to run around. There are plenty of reasons to stay all day at any of them!

Altitude Trampoline Park

On a bad weather day, a great place to take the kids to burn off some energy is Altitude Trampoline Park. Now, this place isn’t free, but it’s also not short on fun. 

Your kids can spend hours bouncing around on all of the different trampolines. There’s 25,000 square feet of trampoline, to be exact.

The kids can also do things like play dodgeball and dunk basketballs. 

Horizon Education Centers offers childcare in Northeast Ohio. Centers are located in Cuyahoga County and Lorain County.

The Roll Arena Family Skating Center

Walking into The Roll Arena is like traveling through a time machine. It’s a roller skating rink that offers all of the nostalgia you may have experienced as a kid. But this throwback establishment has much more to offer, including:

  • Roller Skating | Roller Blading

    • Recreational

    • Theme Night (They had Taylor Swift night in July!)

    • Artistic Club

    • Public and Private Lessons

  • Birthday Parties

  • Rock Climbing

  • Arcade Games

  • Fitness Center

It’s another fantastic place to visit for a great time in Elyria, Ohio, day or night, and an especially great experience if Mother Nature isn’t cooperating.

Horizon Education Centers - Elyria

Horizon Education Centers is proud to call Elyria, Ohio home. Our Cascade Child Care Center and Dewhurst Child Care Center both have a Gold Rating from the state. And we offer after-school care at East Recreation Center.

We have six locations throughout Lorain County, and all of them offer plenty of things to do and fun ways to enrich your child's education.

If you have questions or would like more information on Horizon's programs and offerings, contact us at any time to schedule a tour.

Horizon's Programs for School-aged Children