On sunny Sunday afternoons, our family would pack a picnic lunch for a visit to Snyder Park. With plenty of of picnic tables, we loved finding the best location near the water where we could watch the geese and ducks. After lunch, we would walk along the river or stop by one of the locations to swing before going back home for the evening.
Snyder Park was a generous donation of land that was held by a group of local millers. They held the title for land measuring over 1000 acres within Clark County. It was their desire to donate 217 acres to be designated as a park for the locals to enjoy.
With the help of landscape architect, Herman Haerlin, the park opened in 1897, just a couple of years later. The city inaugurated the park with a parade on April 22nd and named it Snyder Park in honor of John and David. Two granite stones on the west side of the park commemorate the Snyder brother’s contribution. Later, in 1902, a stone arch was built as an additional entrance into the park.
In the earlier days, a section of the park was designated as a Par 3 golf course and was a favorite among the locals. Today, the clubhouse stands as an administrative building for the park.
The tennis courts were perfect for summer lessons and many of the courts have been converted to pickleball courts.
Of course, my favorite memories are visiting the beautiful lagoons to feed bread to the ducks and the geese,
Crossing the old stone bridge,
Watching the sun set along its shores,
and swinging along the water’s edge.
Since my childhood, there have been several updates and additions to the park, such as the Centennial Playground, which is ADA accessible.
There is also an adorable “Central Bark Dog Park”, a safe place for pups to run about….
and beautiful gardens.
Snyder Park is one of Springfield’s largest parks and a beautiful addition to the city. With additional activities of white water rafting and a sprayground, the park continues to expand with wonderful activities for the whole family.
Have you visited Snyder Park in Springfield, Ohio? What were some of your favorite activities at the park? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about Snyder Park in Springfield and wishing you many Happy Travels!
What to See and What to Do:
Snyder Park
1900 Park Street
Springfield, OH 45504
Telephone: 937 328 7275
Where to Eat:
Dairy Queen
721 North Bechtle
Springfield, OH 45206
Telephone: 937 325-9572
Where to Stay:
Marriott Courtyard, Springfield
100 South Fountain Avenue
Springfield, OH 45502
Telephone: (937) 322-3600
