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PNC Grow Up Great Adventure Playground — Best Outdoor Playgrounds in Cincinnati

PNC Grow Up Great Adventure Playground

4.7(46)4.7 out of 5 stars, 46 reviews Cincinnati, OH

About PNC Grow Up Great Adventure Playground

This massive, uniquely designed outdoor adventure playground offers an unparalleled variety of play, including water features, slides, rock walls, and music equipment, making it one of the 'coolest' and most expansive playgrounds many travelers have encountered. It's clean, boasts wonderful river and bridge views, and entertains a broad age range from small children to teenagers, with adults often enjoying it too.

What parents should know

Summarized from real visitor reviews.

Best for: Families seeking a full day of diverse outdoor activityKids who love exploring large, varied play structuresFamilies who appreciate scenic views during playtimeTeenagers looking for a fun and beautiful hangout spot, especially at nightChildren who enjoy water play, slides, and rock climbing

Why families love it

  • Massive size with extensive grounds that 'go on and on'
  • Exceptional variety of play equipment: water play, slides, rock walls, music and discovery equipment
  • Clean outdoor environment
  • Wonderful scenic views of the river and bridges, including a nearby Ferris Wheel
  • Unique 'brutalist' design aesthetic incorporating local elements like rock and trees
  • Extensive water play areas

Insider tips

  • Verify the operational status of water features before visiting, as they may be switched off
  • Bring your own drumsticks or mallets for the music equipment/drums, as they are not provided and natural sticks are hard to find
  • If your child loves traditional swing sets, be aware this playground does not have them
  • Consider a nighttime visit for a 'beautiful and fun' experience with scenic bridge views, appealing especially to teens

Good to know before you go

  • If water features are a primary reason for your visit without confirming they are operational
  • If your child specifically wants to play on traditional swing sets
  • Bike trail connection to the Ohio River trail could be safer
  • Water features have been switched off (possibly due to COVID – check status before visiting)
  • Music drums lack attached mallets/drumsticks, and finding natural sticks nearby is difficult
Crowds
No specific details about crowd levels during peak hours, but one reviewer noted a positive experience visiting at night.
Value
No explicit pricing mentioned, but as a public park/playground, it's implied to be free, offering significant value given its massive size and diverse offerings.
Food
No specific food and drink rules were mentioned in the reviews.
Accessibility
No specific accessibility accommodations were mentioned in the reviews.
Safety
No specific safety features were mentioned, though a concern was noted about the safety of the bike trail connection to the Ohio River trail.

What parents say

Lillian Rose
5.05.0 out of 5 stars
"We travel and have seen ALOT of playgrounds. But THIS, this is one of the absolute coolest playgrounds I have ever seen. Not to mention MASSIVE. it goes on and on. The bike trail is beautiful I just wish it connected safer to the other sections of the Ohio River trail. The park itself was so fun and had everything from water to play in to slides to rock walls to music and discovery equipment to resting areas and large grass areas. I could spend days here and not get bored. I think the adults had just as much fun as the kids."

a year ago

Cuan Robertson
5.05.0 out of 5 stars
"Great clean outdoor play area for kids big and small. Highly recommended to get the kids out and moving. Wonderful views of the river and bridges as well. Only negative is that the water features have been switched off (assuming for COVID)"

4 years ago

Brett Stakelin
5.05.0 out of 5 stars
"Always a fan of a brutalist playground. Concrete everywhere, wonderfully paired with local elements, such as rock and trees, under the shadow of the big ol bridge. Kiddo loved the slides. Bridge is cool. Drums need some sort of drumsticks or mallets attached to them. Hard to find sticks nearby."

2 years ago

Reviews sourced from public Google data.