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614-583-5000 3600 Tremont Rd

The Parks & Recreation Department organizes camps, recreational activities, sports and fitness programs, cultural arts and enrichment learning for preschool, youth, adult and 50+ age individuals, including aquatics and tennis programs.

We facilitate four seasonal community events and Movies in the Park. In partnership with Get Fresh Markets, we offer the weekly farmers market.

PLAY UA Financial Assistance Program

The PLAY UA Financial Assistance Program is designed to support community members who face financial barriers that may prevent them from participating in UA Parks & Recreation programs. PLAY UA will provide a 50% reduction for most program and membership fees – including summer and winter camps (with a cap of $400 for summer day camp assistance), Safety Town, and membership passes for pools, tennis and the Senior Center’s Studio 55 – for qualifying residents and those who work in Upper Arlington. The program is not available for daily admission fees or facility rentals. Assistance will be awarded as funds are available.

PARKS & REC EVENTS
December 2024
02
December
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Concourse Gallery

03
December
7:30 am

City Tree Commission

Cancelled
04
December
5:00 pm

Cultural Arts Commission

07
December
9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Friends of UA Parks Volunteer Day

11
December
6:30 pm

Parks & Rec Advisory Board

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ANNUAL EVENTS
Spring Fling Annual Event

Annually, the Recreation Division organizes four free community events, Spring Fling, Summer Celebration, Fall Fest and Winter Festival. Spring Fling is held in May at Sunny 95 Park; Summer Celebration is held in July at Thompson Park; Fall Fest is held in October at Fancyburg Park; and Winter Festival is held in December at Mallway Park.

MOVIES IN THE PARKS
Movie In Park - Drive-In

Experience the joy of movie watching in the great outdoors. Bring lawn chairs, blankets and snacks to enhance your movie watching experience. If a movie is cancelled due to inclement weather, it will not be rescheduled (weather hotline: 614-583-5345). All movies are free and begin at dusk.

Enjoy fresh, local produce and locally made products for the season from May-October!
MARKET VENDOR INFORMATION

Parks & Recreation has partnered with Common Greens, a local non-profit organization led by Michelle White, who has more than 10 years of experience as market managers. Michelle is a  member of the Ohio Farmers Market Network, a statewide organization providing resources and training to market managers and producers. This partnership connects our farmers market to other Central Ohio markets and engage ours in a USDA Farmers Market Promotion Program grant.

The Farmers Market also features a new start date, hours and a more centralized location! Rain or shine, UA’s Farmers’ Market will take place at the northwest corner of the Tremont Pool parking lot on 2850 Tremont Road from 4-7 pm each Wednesday, starting May 18 thru October 26.

If you are interested in becoming a vendor, please contact Get Fresh Markets at [email protected] or visit //www.commongreensohio.org/upper-arlington. We look forward to helping you continue those healthy habits this summer Upper Arlington Farmers Market!

PRESCHOOL
Pre-school Kids

Our Preschool activities consist of a vast array of programs that will get your child active, inspire creativity, encourage social interaction and stimulate learning.

YOUTH
Youth Activity

Our Youth activities include a variety of camps, classes and activities designed to enrich, stimulate and entertain youth of all ages and interests.

Day Camps

Children enjoy programmed recreation activities, weekly field trips, arts and crafts, games, quiet recreation, movies, swimming and library visits. Qualified leaders staff the program at an approximate ratio of 12:1. Registrants must be completely potty trained, without prompting or receiving reminders, to attend Summer Day Camp. Participants bring a packed lunch daily, a water bottle/drink and an afternoon snack. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis and is limited. The registration fee is per child and includes admission to the Upper Arlington Pools while with Day Camp and a camp t-shirt. Fees include field trip costs.

Camp Locations: Thompson Park North Shelter, Reed Road Park Shelter, Tremont Elementary School Cafeteria. The Tremont Camp moves to the Amelita Mirolo Barn at Sunny 95 Park for the last two weeks of camp. Aging Date: must be 6 by 9/30/24.

We are offering two methods of payment this year. Payment can be taken in ful for camp at time of registration or there is an option to sign up for installment billing. By signing up for installment billing, you will link a credit card to the future installment payments that will come out May through August. You still need to pay an initial fee.

Please note: For an Installment bill transaction, you are required to enter your card number twice – once to link future installment payments and once to process the initial payment. If you do not process the initial payment, your spot is not guaranteed in camp.

There will no longer be credit for missed days of Camp.

Full Summer Registration (Residents Only): 2/1/2024 at 6 am
Non Residents: 2/3/2024 at Noon

Camp Payments
Full 10 week ($2,250 R | $2500 NR): $450 R | $500 NR due at registration, $450 R  |$500 NR due on May 6, June 3, July 1, and August 5

Winter Break Day Camp runs concurrently with the Upper Arlington School’s Winter Break, providing a valuable service for those families in which both parents work. New this year is a location change to Tremont Elementary School Cafeteria.

Children enjoy a variety of activities including arts and crafts, games, quiet recreation, movies, library visits and one field trip. Qualified leaders at an approximate ratio of 15:1 staff the program. Participants should bring a packed lunch daily, water bottle and an afternoon snack.

Winter Break Day Camp fees are non-refundable, non- transferrable and cannot be credited to a household account. Select the days you wish to register for below; you must register for each day your child wishes to attend. Register early as camp does reach the maximum!

ADULT
Cocktail Class

Activities and classes for participants 18 years and up range from sports, yoga and fitness to the arts, cooking and technology. An ever-changing line-up of new offerings and popular returning favorites is featured in each edition of the Activity Guide. It’s a great way to socialize with family and friends, expand your network and meet new people. Enjoy, Participate and Discover!

50+
Multi-Generational Yoga

Activities and programs offered to the 50+ section provide an exciting range of options to enrich your soul and educate your mind. Join us to gain skills, meet new friends, get in shape and open up a whole new world. Our active Senior Center provides collaborative resources for health, financial and social needs, as well as providing fitness and enrichment opportunities.

COMMUNITY ATHLETICS
Community Athletics

Various community groups and organizations provide UA residents with youth and adult athletic opportunities in partnership with the Upper Arlington Parks & Recreation Department. Each has its own registration requirements and timeframe. Contact each entity for more information.

OrganizationSeasonAgeDescriptionWeb or Email
Bear Cub BaseballSpring & Fallpre-K-Grade 6T-ball; Coach-Pitch; Kit-Pitch. Boys & Girls. Ages pre-K-Grade 6.[email protected] or uabcb.com
Bear Cub Girls SoftballSpring & SummerK-Grade 6Girls. K-Grade 6.bearcubsoftball.com
Northwest Kiwanis SoccerSpring & FallK-Grade 6Boys & Girls. Grades 1-6 = Fall & Spring. Kindergarten = Spring.northwestkiwanis.com/youth-soccer
UA Adult Co-Rec SoccerSpring & FallAdultSoccer[email protected]
UA Athletic Association Football UA Youth FootballFallK-Grade 6K-Grades 2 = Flag. Grades 3-6 = Tackle.uayouthfootball.com
UA Softball AssociationGrades 6-12bearcubsoftball.com
UA Junior Baseball AssociationSpring & SummerGrades 3-12Boys. Traveling teams for Grades 3-6 and 7-12.uajba.org
UA Lacrosse AssociationSpring & SummerGrades 3-6Boys & Girls. Grades 3-6.eteamz.com/uala and Registration uala.info
UA Optimist BasketballWinterK-Grade 12Boys & Girls. K-Grade 12.uaoptimist.org
UA Swim ClubSummerBeinner-CollegiateCompetitive swimming for all ages, beginner to collegiate champ!uasc.org
UA Shuffleboard ClubAdult[email protected]
UA Silver Bears SoftballSpring60+Men. 60+
UA Summer Softball Association Girls Fast Pitch Traveling TeamSpring & SummerGrades 6-12Girls. Grades 6-12.uasoftball.net
FAQs - General
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Recreation (10)

Private lessons are not available.

Sand volleyball courts are available for rent by calling the Parks & Recreation Office at 614-583-5300 located at Reed Road Park by the shelter house. Available for use 7 am-11 pm. Athletic fields are available for rent beginning mid-April, by calling Darcy Baxter at 614-583-5316. Shelter houses at Thompson, Fancyburg, and Reed Road parks are available to individuals and organizations by rental only.

Reed Road: 614-451-4143 Thompson Park Shelter: 614-451-5413 Barrington School Cafeteria: 614-487-5180 ext. 5030 A Camp Counselor should be ready to pick up the phone for you to answer any questions. If no one is available, you can contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 614-583-5300

Our online registration system will tell you how many days are left. You can ask a camp counselor at your designated day camp to look this up for you when checking a child in/out or you can contact the Parks & Recreation Department at 614-583-5300.

This cannot be done online. The first step in switching an activity would be to call the Upper Arlington Parks & Recreation Department at 614-583-5300. A staff member can assist you in switching activities. Please have ready the name of both the activity being dropped and the activity that you wish to enroll. Having the activity number on hand is not necessary, but is much appreciated in completing the switch.

Category: Recreation

This cannot be done online. The first step in switching an activity would be to call the Upper Arlington Parks & Recreation division at 614-583-5300. A staff member can assist you in switching activities. Please have ready the name of both the activity being dropped and the activity that you wish to enroll. Having the activity number on hand is not necessary, but is much appreciated in completing the switch.

The Recreational (Rec) Waiver is a liability waiver for all children under the age of 18. Recreation Waivers are required (one per child) to register into a camp or activity and are good for one year after the date of the submission. Waivers must be submitted before the beginning of the event. This waiver can be completed online or in person at the Parks & Recreation Department.

Category: Recreation

Registration for activities can be completed online at this link: parks.uaoh.net

Safety Town is coordinated by the Police Division, in cooperation with the Fire Division and Parks & Recreation Department. Program details can be found in the Spring/Summer Parks & Recreation catalog or by visiting the Police Division – Support Services Bureau – Safety Town section of our website.

All facilities are cash-free. All pass and daily fees must be paid by credit card (Visa, Master Card and Discover Card). If you wish to use cash or check to purchase your passes, please visit the Municipal Services Center. Children two and under are free, and do not require a pass or daily admission.

FAQs - Camp
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Camps (18)

Summer Day Camp swim tests are mandatory. To pass, Campers are required to swim the width of the pool without stopping, laboring or touching the bottom and to tread water for 30 seconds. (we have a spreadsheet to keep track). The test is initiated the first pool day but Campers are allowed to take the test every day until they pass (even in August). Campers who don’t attend until later in the summer are still required to participate in swim testing. Campers are not permitted to go into water over their head (which means the diving boards) until they pass the swim test.

Category: Camps

No. Staff will make every effort to accommodate parents with shared custody, however Day Camp swipe cards are just like credit cards and therefore, the swipe card of the parent bringing the Camper(s) to Camp is debited. Staff is not authorized to manually enter a Camper’s arrival or departure for the purpose of charging another swipe card. A photo of your child’s swipe card bar code may be shared via a clear photocopy, picture or image on a smartphone.

Category: Camps

Duration of Camp – June 3rd though August 9th – Closed July 4th
Hours of Operation (all camps): 7:15 am-6:00 pm
Thompson Park North Shelter House – 4250 Mountview Road, 43220
Reed Road Park Shelter House – 3055 Reed Road, 43221 (behind Fire Station #72)
Tremont Elementary School Cafeteria – 2900 Tremont Road, 43221(entrance off south parking lot)
Tremont SDC moves to Thompson Park on July 29th for the remainder of the summer to accommodate required cleaning and maintenance at Tremont Elementary.

Category: Camps

You may drop-off and pick-up your child at SDC at any time during the course of the day. You may even drop-off and pick-up your child at the pool and/or a field trip location, however the adult bringing or calling for a child at an off-site location MUST make personal/direct contact with a leader (preferably the Camp Director /Asst. Director) to let them know that your child has arrived or is departing from SDC. On days of required field trips, Campers who do not wish to attend the field trip must be picked-up prior to the scheduled departure time.

Category: Camps

Ages for Camp are 6-12 years old. A child may attend Camp upon their 6th birthday and may not start Camp until they are actually 6 years old. The maximum age of a camper is 13. Campers cannot turn 13 before the first day of Camp, however if the camper’s 13th birthday is during the course of Camp, he/she may attend the entire summer.

Category: Camps

Residents are those families who reside and/or work within boundaries of Upper Arlington. The Upper Arlington City boundary encompasses most, but not all Upper Arlington School District. If you are in doubt, please call our office at 614-583-5300 or consult the Franklin County Auditor’s website (//franklincountyauditor.com) to check your Tax District under Parcel Search.

Category: Camps

Registration begins (online only) at //parks.uaoh.net. The registration fee is $100 per resident child and $120 per non-resident child. This fee is non- refundable, non-transferrable and cannot be credited to your household. Please register at your earliest convenience, as all three SDC locations have quickly filled to capacity for six straight years. Upon registering for SDC, you will enter your credit card information to pay for the registration fee and the mandatory initial ten days of Summer Day Camp for a total of $420/Resident or $440/Non-Resident. All fees paid in the registration process are non- refundable, non-transferrable, cannot be credited to your household and cannot be transferred to siblings or other Campers. The daily fee is $32 per Camper.

Category: Camps

The registration fee includes entry into the UA Pools only when a camper is with the SDC program, supervision, camp supplies and SDC t-shirt.

Category: Camps

We realize that schedules and plans change rapidly and have designed a unique pay-as-you-use fee schedule. The UAPR Summer Day Camp pay-as-you-use allows you to pay for only the days your child actually attends Camp (after the initial ten days). For example, you may use your first ten days in June and July and then purchase another five days for anticipated use in August. If you only use three of those August days, we will refund two days back to your credit card. You must request a refund via email ([email protected]). There are no partial SDC days. If your child checks-in at Camp, you are charged for a full day. Cost per day is $32 per child.

Category: Camps

The Recreation Division offers a plethora of year-round programming, of which most are conducted on a self-sustaining basis. Summer Day Camp offers the most flexible (pay-as-you- use) and affordable summer camp in the central Ohio area. The ten day minimum was instituted to help alleviate use of Camp as “Plan B”. For example: Plan B parent registers their child for SDC and pays for two weeks of Camp ($320). If Plan B child goes the minimum 10 days and pays $320 in Camp fee, this child takes the place of a Plan A parent who needs summer care and their Plan A child would have attended eight of the ten weeks for a total of $1,260. Our refund policy of unused days beyond the initial purchase of ten is also unmatched by any similar programming. Other summer camp programs typically require an upfront “all in” enrollment, higher mandatory minimum use and payment or use a ‘block’ payment system which requires payment for an entire month at a time or registration for the first half or second half of the summer, without any type of refund or credit.

Category: Camps

Every Camp utilizes electronic check-in/out. Parents must accompany their child into Camp each day and swipe the key fob that has been assigned to each camper. If your child had a pool membership or has attended Camp in the past, they have an assigned key fob. Theses scan fobs can be used year to year, pool to Summer Day Camp. There is a question in the online registration process that asks if a new key fob is needed. Please check yes accordingly. New key fob cards are distributed at Parent Orientations or given to you on the first day your child attends SDC. Camp staff scans your fob each day, upon arrival and departure from Camp. If you arrive or depart at an off-site location, staff enters your arrival or departure manually upon return to Camp. The first ten days of Camp are electronically pre-loaded to your Camper’s card upon registration, whether the card is newly issued or used from a previous year. Staff typically lets you know how many days remain on your scan card, however it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to ensure that there are days on your scan fob BEFORE arrival at Camp. If you arrive at SDC and you do not have available days, you will be asked to call the office (8am-5pm) to purchase days or to add days to your card via your smartphone while you are still at Camp. Your child is not be permitted to remain at Camp if there are no days on your scan card or while you obtain days via phone or internet. You must stay with your child until you have purchased additional Camp days.

Category: Camps

Children should bring a packed lunch and water bottle/drink that does not require refrigeration each day. Prior to arriving at Camp, parents should apply a liberal layer of sun screen. Campers should bring sun screen, bathing suit, towel, swim bag and addition drinks and/or snacks for the pool. Sun screen is re-applied prior to leaving for the pool and at rest periods. Campers may bring goggles, ear plugs, additional money for pool and/or field trip snacks, however all personal items and money are the responsibility of the Camper. The UAPR policy is that staff cannot ‘hold’ or be responsible for money or personal valuables brought to Summer Day Camp. The general rule of thumb for personal items brought to Day Camp is that if it is too valuable to lose or get broken, it’s better left at home.

Category: Camps
  1. 7:15-10 am – Free play/activities
  2. 10 –11 am – Organized activity and Camper attendance check– All-inclusive organized activity lead by a different leader each day and the activity typically changes each day.
  3. 11-11:45 am – Lunch (Campers bring a packed lunch that does not require refrigeration & drink) 11:45 am-12:30 – Clean-up, attendance check and change for the pool
  4. Campers of the same gender all change at the same time inside the shelter house to facilitate time constraints.
  5. 12-3 pm – Pool time (subject to change)
  6. 3:15-4 pm – Free play
  7. 4-5 pm – Organized activity and Camper attendance check
  8. 5-6 pm – Free play/clean-up
Category: Camps

Transportation is contracted with the UA Schools using UA busses and drivers. Transportation is occasionally provided by UAPR staff in the City’s 15 passenger van for trips between Camps or the pool.

Category: Camps

Campers attend the pool every day, with the exception of field trip Wednesdays.

  • Thompson SDC – bussed to Reed Road Water Park
  • Reed Road SDC –walk to Reed Road Water Park
  • Tremont SDC – walk to Tremont Pool
Category: Camps

Campers are not grouped together by our staff. We have found that children with ‘like’ interests tend to play and socialize together. This allows your child to make new friends throughout the summer. Staff monitors ‘who socializes with who’ and at times will redirect Campers if they feel it is in their best interest.

Category: Camps

Fields trip are typically every Wednesday, with the exception of the first week of Camp. There is not a field trip the first week. Each field trip has a permission form which must be completed. There is an additional cost for each field trip that is payable in cash (only) prior to departure for the trip. We, in turn, pay at the trip venue in cash. This allows us to secure a reservation, adjust attendance projections with our vendor and sometimes secure a reduced rate for our Campers. Fields trip forms for all trips are available at Camp on the first day. You may pay for all field trips at the beginning of Camp, however, please have each trip marked in an individual envelope with the exact cash amount enclosed.

Category: Camps

You are only required to pay for a field trip if your child is attending Camp on the actual field trip day. Typical field trips are to Magic Mountain, Skate Zone 71, Dublin Chiller, The Orchard, etc. The field trips schedule should be finalized by April 1st.

Category: Camps
CONTACT PARKS & RECREATION

    The City’s website is designed to provide 24/7 access to useful information about City departments, services, public meetings, special projects, events, legislation and more. If you are unable to find what you are looking for on this page or in our FAQ section, please complete the webform below. It will be directed straight to staff in the department listed above.

    The City also offers a convenient means for residents to report issues such as potholes, broken streetlights, property maintenance issues and parks damage through our UA Click2Fix smartphone app, available from AppleApp or GooglePlay.

    PLEASE NOTE: This is not an emergency reporting system. Requests are addressed during regular work hours of 8 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday. If you need to report an emergency situation, please call 9-1-1.

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