Cleveland has more than 120 city parks and recreation centers in the city. Where they’re located and what they offer can shape the quality of life for residents and offer spaces for community connection.

Did you know that each park and recreation center has a unique classification? And that anyone, whether they live in the city or not, can use them for free?

Here’s a breakdown of the different parks and recreation centers across town.

Regional parks

Regional parks are the biggest parks, with many of them being larger than 24 acres. These parks typically serve several neighborhoods and attract residents from across the city. On the east side, think of Luke Easter Park, which hosts family gatherings and political events on its over 115 acres.

There are 12 regional parks in Cleveland:

Credit: Najee Hall / Signal Cleveland
  • Clark Field
  • Frederick Douglass Park
  • Gunning Park
  • Halloran Park
  • Humphrey Park
  • Impett Park
  • Kerruish Park
  • Loew Park
  • Luke Easter Park
  • Maplewood Park
  • Michael Zone Park

At regional parks, you’ll typically find:

  • Outdoor event space
  • Picnic areas
  • Dog park
  • Playgrounds
  • Pool/water play
  • Shade
  • Sports areas like basketball courts
  • Walking trails
  • Recreation/community centers

Neighborhood parks

Neighborhood parks serve residents within walking distance of their homes. These one-to five-acre parks usually have street parking nearby. 

Credit: Najee Hall / Signal Cleveland

Think of Abbey park on the West Side, which has just over four acres. There are 63 neighborhood parks in Cleveland. Some of them include:

  • Alexander Hamilton Park
  • Drakefield Park
  • Earle B. Turner Park
  • Gawron Park
  • Hyacinth Park
  • Kirtland Park
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Park
  • Storer Park
  • Regent Park
  • Woodland Park

Typical amenities may include:

  • Park shelter
  • Creative play attractions
  • Playground
  • Basketball court
  • Shade
  • Tennis/pickleball court
  • Volleyball court
  • Water play
  • Seating
  • Casual use space
  • Internal walking trail

Mini parks 

Mini parks, about the size of a city lot, provide spaces for residents to enjoy the outdoors closer to home. Less than one acre in size, these parks are more simple in their designs. 

There are 27 mini parks in Cleveland. Some of them include:

  • Ambler Park
  • Flora Park
  • Helen Simpson Park
  • Irma Park
  • Jimmy Bivens Park
  • Miriam Ortiz-Rush Park
  • Oman Park
  • Rathburn Park
  • Spear Park
  • Thames Park

Typical amenities may include:

  • Park shelter
  • Seating
  • Creative play attraction
  • Shade
  • Playground
  • Water play
  • Individual picnic area
  • Casual use space

Civic spaces

Civic spaces are typically located in higher-density areas, like street corners, and have both planted and paved areas.

There are 19 civic spaces in Cleveland. Some of them include:

  • Buckeye Community Park
  • Circle North Park
  • Heritage Park
  • Mall A (Memorial Plaza)
  • Mall B (Hanna Plaza)
  • Mall C (Strawbridge Plaza)
  • Public Square 
  • Rotary Plaza
  • Voinovich Bicentennial Park
  • Willard Park

Special use parks

Special use parks are tailored toward a focused, single-purpose use – like playing baseball at League Park in Hough, skateboarding at Crooked River Skate Park in the Flats, or golfing at Highland Park at Chagrin and Green roads. There are 12 special use parks in Cleveland. They include:

  • Ambler Park
  • Camp George L. Forbes
  • Collinwood Athletic Complex
  • Crooked River Skate Park
  • Gassaway Pool
  • Gay Ave. & East 104th St. Gardens
  • Harold T. Clark Tennis Courts
  • Highland Park Golf Course
  • James Bell Pool
  • League Park
  • Morgana Park
  • Morganic Gardens

Regional recreation centers

Regional recreation centers are the largest centers and operate over 100 hours a week with eight to 10 full- and part-time employees. They serve several adjoining neighborhoods, and are typically 30,000 to 1000,000 square feet. There are six regional recreation centers in Cleveland:

  • Collinwood Recreation Center
  • Frederick Douglass Recreation Center
  • Glenville-James Hubbard Recreation Center
  • Gunning Recreation Center
  • Lonnie Burten Recreation Center
  • Zelma Watson George Recreation Center
Credit: Jeff Haynes / Signal Cleveland

Typical amenities include:

  • Gym
  • Game rooms
  • Outside play spaces
  • Fitness rooms
  • Indoor/outdoor pool
  • Walking tracks
  • Childcare
  • Kitchen
  • Community meeting rooms
  • Study rooms

Community recreation centers

Community recreation centers are smaller than regional centers, with a typical size of 15,000 to 30,000 square feet,  but still serve several neighborhoods. They operate 70 to 75 hours a week, with four to five full- and part-time employees. There are eight community recreation centers in Cleveland:

  • Cudell Recreation Center
  • Earle B. Turner Recreation Center
  • E.J. Kovacic Recreation Center
  • Estabrook Recreation Center
  • Fairfax Recreation Center
  • Michael Zone Recreation Center
  • Stella Walsh Recreation Center
  • Thurgood Marshall Recreation Center
Credit: Erin Woisnet for Signal Cleveland

Typical amenities may include:

  • Kitchen
  • Program rooms
  • Study rooms
  • Gym
  • Game rooms
  • Outside play spaces
  • Fitness rooms

Neighborhood recreation center

Neighborhood recreation centers are the smallest in size, ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 square feet. These centers are within walking distance of residents’ homes, operate 45 to 55 hours a week and have three to seven full-and part-time employees. There are six neighborhood recreation centers in Cleveland:

  • Alexander Hamilton Recreation Center
  • Central Recreation Center
  • Clark Recreation Center
  • Cory Recreation Center
  • Sterling Recreation Center
  • Woodland Recreation Center

Typical amenities include:

  • Kitchen
  • Program rooms
  • Gym
  • Game rooms
  • Outside play spaces

Special use facility

Special use facilities are oriented toward a single-purpose use. The size, hours and staffing varies. There are four special-use facilities in Cleveland:

  • Camp George L. Forbes (overnight camp)
  • Cudell Fine Arts (art studio)
  • Halloran Skating Rink (ice skating)
  • Rockefeller Park Greenhouse (botanical garden)

Is there a cost to become a member of a recreation center?

Anyone can become a member at a Cleveland recreation center for free whether they live in the city or not.

Check out upcoming programs

Check here to see all of the available programming, register for a class or reserve space at a park.

Community Reporter (he/him)
I work to gain the trust of Cleveland residents through direct community engagement and storytelling. My goal is to amplify and celebrate the residents and stakeholders who contribute to the success of city neighborhoods. I’m hoping to erase the negative stigma that has been cast on some neighborhoods throughout the years.