Plummer Pool, Sylvania
There’s Plenty to Do Outdoors
If being outdoors is what you call a great time, you’re going to love Sylvania. The City of Sylvania has everything you need nearby: fitness centers, lush parklands, outdoor trails, teeming sports facilities and high-energy athletic leagues.
Parks
Sylvania has 252 acres of parkland, from small show parks to lakes with rowboats and paddleboats to larger parks with waterslides and athletic fields. Some are run by Sylvania Parks & Forestry, some by city and township joint boards. But they’re all outstanding examples of how natural beauty and outdoor play make our lives better.
For shelter house rentals in city parks, contact Parks & Forestry at 419-885-8992.
Outdoor Sylvania Community Parks
P: 419.882.8313
www.olanderpark.com
The Outdoor Sylvania Community Park system operates and maintains 197 acres of parkland in the City of Sylvania and Sylvania Township. It hosts approximately 20 free nature and education programs monthly, as well as major community events like the Maple Syrup Festival, Easter Egg Hunt, Kids Fishing Derby, the Sunset Serenades summer concert series, the Sylvania and Super Kids triathlons and the Halloween Hike.
For shelter house rentals at the following parks, call the Outdoor Sylvania Community Parks office at 419.882.8313 or e-mail info@olanderpark.com.
Olander Park, Sylvania
Olander Park
6930 Sylvania Ave.
Olander Park offers a 28-acre spring-fed lake on 63 acres with natural sand beach, fishing, rowboat and paddleboat rentals, bait shop, concessions, restrooms, 1.1-mile walking path, picnic areas, open-air or enclosed shelter house rentals, sand volleyball courts and horseshoe pits.
Fossil Park
5705 Centennial Road
Visitors come from around the world to hunt for fossils in a real rock quarry. More than 200 prehistoric species include 375-million-year-old Devonian fossils. Three dig sites include an ADA-friendly dig site and handicap-accessible ramp to the quarry bottom with concrete walkways.
Quarry Ridge Bike Trail
Entrance at 8601 Brint Rd. begins 5-mile bike trail connecting Sylvan Prairie Park to Fossil Park, Centennial Quarry and Terrace and Pacesetter Park.
Sylvan Prairie
Brint Rd. near Sylvania Ave.
Plans for this 106-acre park include a sledding hill, 3-acre lake and playgrounds, with 80 percent of the acreage restored to an oak savannah and native vegetation meadow and wetlands. Scheduled to open in 2009.
Whetstone Park
Twain Drive at McGregor Lane
Whetstone features three acres of land with an ADA-friendly playground, sand volleyball court, 2-acre open field for sports, picnic tables and an open-air shelter with 4-foot grill.
Sylvania Area Joint Recreation Department (SAJRD)
7060 Sylvania Ave.
P: 419-885-7644
F: 419-885-7146
www.playsylvania.com
The SAJRD is a collaboration by the City of Sylvania, Sylvania Township and Sylvania Schools to provide high-quality recreation and leisure facilities, parks, programs and activities.
To rent facilities at Centennial Terrace, Pacesetter Park, Sylvania Sports & Exhibition Center and Tam-O-Shanter ice arenas, visit www.playsylvania.com.
Centennial Quarry
5773 Centennial Rd.
Centennial Quarry is a deep-water, spring-fed swimming facility surrounded by rock cliffs; average depth of 22 ft. A favorite for area teens and young adults, the quarry offers diving platforms, water toys (aqua-bobber, water teeter-totter, log roller), swim rafts, a beautiful sandy beach, three sand volleyball courts and a basketball court.
Centennial Terrace
5773 Centennial Rd.
Centennial Terrace offers weekend dances on a 10,000 sq. ft. terrazzo dance floor, a wide variety of entertainment styles and private catered possibilities. Check www.centennialterrace.org for upcoming events, tickets and booking information.
Pacesetter Park
8801 Sylvania-Metamora Rd.
Pacesetter Park is a multipurpose 138-acre sports turf park with onsite concessions, restrooms, walking path and an ADA-friendly playground with two areas for different-aged children. Open lighted fields provide flexible configuration for simultaneous team sports – soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball and more.
Sylvania Sports & Exhibition Center
7060 Sylvania Ave.
The Sylvania Sports & Exhibition Center/Field House accommodates indoor soccer, lacrosse, flag football, basketball and volleyball, as well as trade shows, expos, receptions and large weddings (great for sports enthusiasts!).
Tam-O-Shanter
7060 Sylvania Ave.
Come to the “Tamo” often for public family skating, figure skating, hockey leagues and hockey tournaments. Two NHL-sized ice arenas make this home to 14 local and regional high school hockey teams. The pro shop has everything your player needs. Concessions and The Loft restaurant onsite.
Secor Metropark
10,000 W. Central Ave.
P: 419-407-9756
www.metroparkstoledo.com
Explore 550 acres of towering tulip trees, sandy hills, wet lowlands and Northwest Ohio’s largest concentration of dogwood trees. The unique National Center for Nature Photography is the only center of its kind in the U.S., with work by some of the country’s finest nature photographers.
Wildwood Preserve
5100 W. Central Ave.
Park Office
P: 419-407-9700
www.metroparkstoledo.com
One of 11 Metroparks in the Toledo area, Wildwood Preserve features rolling prairie lands, wooded ravines and miles of walking trails for all activity levels. The park also is the setting for the one-room Oak Grove School dating from 1897 and a 52-room mansion with formal gardens.
Sports
Play ball. Dive in. Grab a hockey stick or a putter. Whatever you like to do for fitness or fun, there’s probably an outlet in the City of Sylvania, or somewhere nearby.
Check the Sylvania calendar or go to any of the sites listed below.
Sylvania Country Club, Sylvania
Highland Meadows Golf Club
7455 Erie St.
P: 419-882-7153
www.hmgolfclub.org
Highland Meadows is a traditional private golf club which has hosted the Jamie Farr Owens Corning Golf Classic, a regular stop on the LPGA Tour, 15 times since 1984.
Sylvania Country Club
5201 Corey Rd.
P: 419-882-3197
www.sylvaniacc.org
A private 18-hole regulation length course, the medium-length layout has 3 sets of tee boxes for a fun, but challenging golfing experience.
Bowling Green State University Falcons
Doyt Perry Stadium
Bowling Green, Ohio 43403
P: 1-877-BGSU-TICKET, 419-372-0000
www.bgsufalcons.com
NCAA sports including basketball, football, baseball, soccer, volleyball and more.
Lourdes University Gray Wolves
6832 Convent Blvd.
Sylvania, Ohio 43560
lourdesathletics.com
Lourdes University’s athletics program sponsors 24 sports and is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
Mud Hens Triple-A Baseball
Fifth Third Field
406 Washington St.
Downtown Toledo
P: 419-725-HENS
www.mudhens.com
Minor league professional baseball at its best, played in the best ballpark in the minor leagues!
University of Toledo Rockets
2801 W. Bancroft St.
Toledo, Ohio 43606
P: 419-530-GOLD
www.utrockets.com
Ten-time MAC Champions – the most MAC Championships by any MAC school since 1967! Basketball, baseball, softball, volleyball, golf, tennis, track and field, swimming and diving.
Sylvania JCC/YMCA
6465 W. Sylvania Ave.
P: 419-885-4485
www.ymcatoledo.org
Get a great workout in a family-friendly environment. This facility is equipped with aerobics studio, fitness center, gymnasium, locker rooms, racquetball/squash courts, ropes challenge course, sauna, steam room and whirlpool. Seasonal facilities include outdoor pool/baby pool, outdoor basketball court, tennis courts, softball field and Lempert Lake.
Plummer Pool
6940 Maplewood Ave.
P: 419-885-8996
www.playsylvania.com
Plummer Pool is an outdoor family swimming pool owned by the city on the grounds of Burnham Park in downtown Sylvania. Seasonal staff provide swim lessons and supervised summer fun. For information on admissions, hours, employment and lessons, click here.
