Who says a dollar can’t buy anything? For just a buck, you get admission to the “Land of Make Believe,” a gigantic, nicely shaded, mega-playground within Lunken Playfield (actually, kids 2-12 are a dollar; everyone else is free!)
When we first entered, my kids didn’t know where to start: there were tunnels, slides, swings, monkey bars, imaginative play stations, and super-long rappels. There are multiple play areas spanning across the playground, and my crew quickly spread out. Because the entire place is fenced in, I felt comfortable letting them wander around.
Harvey loved the gymnastics area, showing off his cruising skills on the parallel bars. As usual, Mary dominated the swings. And Julian had fun climbing and looking for airplanes with the telescope.
After the kids had thoroughly explored the Land of Make Believe, we crossed the street to the children’s playground, which is free. It’s comprised of several play areas and picnic shelters, and covers a lot of ground. The older two loved climbing the giant orb at the end of the park. This area is very open and expansive, meaning it’s exposed to the sun — so bring sunscreen!
If you want to make a day of Lunken, check out the mini golf course, which is just $3 per player, and located by the tennis building. Then head over to the Sky Gallery Restaurant at the Lunken Airport Terminal, where the kids will love watching planes fly by.