PNC Grow Up Great Adventure Playground
Overview
Expert Summary
Detailed Insights
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.
Key Highlights
- ✓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
Standout Features
- ⭐Extensive water play areas
- ⭐Numerous slides that 'kiddo loved'
- ⭐Challenging rock walls
- ⭐Engaging music and discovery equipment
- ⭐Dedicated resting areas and large grass areas for relaxation or free play
- ⭐Beautiful bike trail (though connection safety noted as a concern)
- ⭐Offers wonderful views of the river, bridges, and a nearby Ferris Wheel
- ⭐The unique architectural design of the playground itself
Perfect For
Ideal For
💡Pro Tips from Reviews
- →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
Things to Consider
- ⚠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
- ⚠Does not have traditional swing sets
Price & 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.
♿Accessibility & Special Needs
- •No specific accessibility accommodations were mentioned in the reviews.
🍎Food & Drink Policy
- •No specific food and drink rules were mentioned in the reviews.
🚗Parking Info
- •No specific details about parking were mentioned in the reviews.
👥Crowd Levels
- •No specific details about crowd levels during peak hours, but one reviewer noted a positive experience visiting at night.
🛡️Safety Features
- •No specific safety features were mentioned, though a concern was noted about the safety of the bike trail connection to the Ohio River trail.
⏰When to Avoid
- • 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
Pricing/Package/Events
🛡️Safety Policy
- • Ground covered with very thick rubber flooring
- • Pit under rope bridge with wall-mounted ladders
🚗Parking Information
- • Parking garage right underneath the park
- • Limited metered street parking around
What People Say
What's Great
- Fun and entertaining activities (mentioned in 2 reviews)
- Spacious play areas (mentioned in 5 reviews)
Areas for Improvement
- Parking can be challenging (mentioned in 2 reviews)
Recent Reviews
Lillian Rose
a year agoWe 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.
Cuan Robertson
4 years agoGreat 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)
Brett Stakelin
2 years agoAlways 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.
Jessa
4 months agoWhat self respecting Park doesn't even have a swing set? Those benches down count, they're glorified rocking chairs. Rock wall was cool, I suppose.
Faye McHone
5 years agoEven as a teen, this is the most beautiful and fun place in the world. I went here with some friends at night and it will forever be my favorite experience! There is a great view of the bridge and near by Farris Wheel