Created last year on the site of the old City Center Mall, the Columbus Commons is a great (and BIG) green open space tucked into downtown. There is a small carousel, giant chess board, books (from the Columbus Metropolitan Library), vending locations, and bathrooms on one end and a new pavilion equipped for concerts, Picnic at the Pops, movie showings at night and more. The space is beautiful, clean and well maintained.
For every day family fun, in addition to the carousel and chess board, the city has purchased many items to have out on a regular basis for kids and families to enjoy - such as lots of nerf balls, a huge parachute with balls, ping pong table, frisbees, an Imagination Playground (big foam pieces to build) and more. It is all just simple outdoor fun that gets kids moving, playing and using their minds... and they LOVE it! This space would be perfect for play groups to meet during the week!
Like last year, they are scheduled to have Commons for Kids every Friday, three Family Fundays (one is this Saturday), many concerts and movies in the park and so much more! We'll fill the calendar with the family fun events, but know there also fun adult events too. On the Commons for Kids Fridays, they will typically bring in a few more fun activities, last year they had sprinklers and a giant inflatable water slide. The Family Fundays are themed and FULL of extra fun - inflatables, games, etc.
The opening weekend is this week and they have jam packed it full of fun events! Starting on Thursday, there is a free concert by Michael McDonald and followed by fireworks. Friday is Commons for Kids which will have story time by OSU athletes and coaches, jugglers, musicians, face painters and more. Saturday is Family Funday which will include inflatable games, petting zoo, COSI science spots, public art wall, family entertainment, a visit from the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and a mascot chase. The first movie of the season is Saturday evening (E.T. the Extra Terrestrial), followed by fireworks. AND on Sunday there is a free performance by Shadowbox Live of Back to the Garden (musical documentary about the Woodstock Festival). You are definitely going to want to go down for one of these events - the kids will love it - we promise! (All of this is in the events listing/calendar on our site.)
Here are some shots of the space and the fun the kids had. We are missing a shot of the big wide open green space, but trust us, it's vast and nice! A great place for kids of many ages to expend a lot of energy and experience a lot of joy!
Books and eating space (complete with little tables for the younger crowd)
Carousel
They decided to be the balls that we "popped" on the parachute.
Building fun with the Imagination Playground set.
Planning a strategic chess move.
