Review: Grand Vue Park Playground

GPS: 39.940031, -80.729304

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Visit Day and Time: Thursday 5/10/2018
Temperature at visit: Hot
Crowd level: Low

Pros

• New play structure 
• Lots of variety in the activities 
• Music based play spaces

  

  They had these drums and an electric piano activity.

Cons

• All of the the play structures are out in the sun, so my toddler complained the slides were hot.
• The road getting to the park is narrow in some spots and is generally very out of the way.

Trash Info

• There were several cans along 

Shade Info

• There is a covered picnic structure but otherwise not much shade for the play structures. 

Adult Seating

• There are several benches around the play area.
• There is a covered picnic area with multiple tables at the front of the park.

Sheltered area with picnic tables

Swings

• There are several swings including a couple accessible swings.

Unique swing

Slides

• There were six open air slides.

  

   Slides in the younger children section

  

   Slides in the younger children section

  
  
  
  

  

   Slides in the younger children section

Access

• Accessible swings available.
• There is a sidewalk all the way around the play structure.

Misc

• Restrooms were onsite at the entry to the play structure.
• There is also a pool very close to the play ground.  Check it out here.

Broken equipment

• None

Climbing structure in the older children's area

Climbing structure in they younger children's area

Lots of parking

As you enter from the parking lot there is a building with restrooms to the left

Review: Sunset Beach Park, Claysville, PA

GPS: 40.131623, -80.371125
Address: 4185 State Route 40, Claysville, PA 15323
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Visit Day and Time: August 21, 2017 from 11:30 am -1pm Eclipse Day
Temperature at visit:  Cloudy but warmer probably low 80s.
Crowd level: Very low, about 3-4 families in the low end and a couple more in the deep end it felt very empty (school had started back at most places and other pools in the area had already cut their hours back to weekends only or limited hours in the evening).

Pros

• Very large pool
• Interesting add-in features

Cons

• The pool floor was very rough.  I always have swim shoes on my toddler but I don't generally wear them, next time we go I will have to have them for this pool.
• Some of the add-in features were closed or not functioning.  Some of this could have been to limited visitor/staff.  The water slide was closed and the dumping water bucket was not working/running.

Cleanliness

• The space was clean but dated.

Adult Info

• This is a cash only location.  They have an ATM onsite.
• There was a food concession area onsite but I never checked the prices.

Access

• The way to get into the toddler area was a couple of awkward large steps with no rail.
• There was a zero entry area on one side of the pool.
• The entire pool is gated with a main entry exit area.
• Parking is on grass with a basic gravel road down each lane.  

Restrooms

• Stalls were very tiny, clean but dated.

Misc

• This pool would have value as a day trip but for the cost of admission it would be hard to justify just stopping in for a couple hours.  The only reason we did was my daughter was in for Germany and we had planned to visit a different pool this day but it was already closed on the weekdays for the season.  My sister told me she always just packed a picnic lunch and they stayed for most of the day. 

Pricing

• This is a cash only location.  They have an ATM onsite.
• Adults $9
• Children 4-11 $7
• Children 3 and under free
• Season pass options are available more info on their website.

Review: Olgebay Outdoor Pool

GPS: 40.104540, -80.658365
Address: 465 Lodge Dr, Wheeling, WV 26003
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Visit Day and Time: Friday August 18, 2017 at 6pm until 7:30
Temperature at visit: Probably low 80s after a warm day
Crowd level: very mild

Pros

• Splash pad area (new as of 2016)
• Ramp for easy entry
• Blowup activiy are a for older kids or adults
• Wall climb area
• Large swimming area
• Lots of very nice seating

Cons

• Changing area needs updated (Men's area does not have curtains in the showers or changing stalls)

Cleanliness

• General pool area was good
• Again the changing areas could us an update and that would help with the dingy feeling

Adult Info

• Our toddler was cold and tired by about after 1.5 hours so for the first time go in the evening for their discounted entry price of $3 per adult.  Its a good test to see if you and your child will have fun.

Access

• Splash pad was zero entry
• Ramp access the main pool
• The splash pad area is fully fenced from the rest of the pool so you can feel pretty comfortable knowing you only have to watch for one exit to the main pool and one exit to leave the pool completely 

Restrooms

• Restrooms were very tiny (very difficult to squeeze a toddler and mom in, I actually let my toddler use the potty with the door open it was that small and there was no one in the area)

Misc

• There was a concession stand, it was overpriced.  A soft pretzel was priced at $3.75, when we left we went to the playground and the concession area near it a pretzel was $1.75.

Pricing

• Evenings (after 5 pm) $3 per adult $1 per child
• I cant quite remember but I think it was about $9 per adult unsure about the child rate