Hiker? Bicyclist? Birder? Just want to spend some time picnicking with a view? The Dayton area is graced with the longest bike path in the United States and abundant parks and trails for outdoor recreation, exercise, nature study, and relaxing.

The Centerville-Washington Park District operates eight community parks, nine nature parks, and 33 neighborhood parks encompassing 1,000 acres in Centerville and Washington Township. Each of the 50 parks has varying amenities, including a sprayground, a dog park, a skate park, and an archery range; top-notch sports fields; hiking trails and nature preserves; and more. 

Bike Route 12 feature an east-west connector route through Centerville and Washington Township. Using low-stress surface streets, Bike Route 12 keeps riders off the busier corridors through town. The seven-mile path gets riders within a short distance of main attractions like the Centerville Library, Centerville High School, and several shopping centers.

The City of Miamisburg Parks and Recreation offers more than 250 acres of parkland in 21 parks, featuring five miles of walking trails, basketball and tennis courts, preschool and youth playgrounds, a skate park, BMX bike trail, fishing pond, nine-hole disc golf course, picnic shelters, adult and youth sports activities, and Canal Run Dog Park. 

The City of Springboro operates and maintains more than 400 acres of open space and many parks and bike paths, including a guided 10-mile bike tour and four-mile hiking tour. The annual Bike the ‘Boro free event features three-, 10-, and 16-mile rides as well as bounce houses, face painting, climbing wall, police demonstrations, fire apparatus, SWAT team, K-9 units, and MVH CareFlight. The Springboro Veterans Memorial, located at Gardner Park near the intersection of Gardner Drive and Village Park Boulevard, is a tribute to the men and women who sacrificed their lives for their country to provide the freedoms we all cherish today.  

                                               

metroparks.org 

Five Rivers MetroParks protects the region's natural heritage and provides outdoor experiences that inspire a personal connection with nature. The following are some local MetroPark favorites: Aullwood Garden, Carriage Hill, Cox Arboretum, Germantown, RiverScape (canoe, kayak, and bike rentals), Sugarcreek, and Twin Creek.

This 268-acre preserve protects one of the most spectacular dolomite and limestone gorges in the state. Registered as a National Natural Landmark in 1968, Clifton Gorge is one of the most spectacular sites in the state for viewing spring wildflowers.

Glen Helen encompasses 1,000 acres, all accessible from a 20-mile network of footpaths. During a short walk, visitors can view spectacular wildflowers, 400-year-old trees, limestone cliffs with waterfalls and overhangs, and the beautiful yellow spring for which the town is named. The Glen is a valuable resource for hiking, birding, exploration, and educational programming.

 

woodlandcemetery.org
One of the oldest garden cemeteries and a unique cultural, botanical, and educational resource in the heart of Dayton, Woodland is the final resting place to both the famous and the infamous in Dayton's history, including the Wright brothers, Erma Bombeck, Charles F. Kettering, Gov. James M. Cox, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and many more. Enjoy a stroll through the arboretum or a self-guided tour.