Millstone Creek Park Prepares for a New Chapter
As Its First Visitors Grow Up, Millstone Creek Park Grows Up Too
Fourteen years after Millstone Creek Park opened, the playground is set for its first major renovation. The children who once crawled over its surfaces are now teenagers, and the park has aged with them. What once seemed progressive in 2011 now shows an earlier understanding of accessibility and play.
On Tuesday night, Westerville City Council approved funding for both the renovation and new playground equipment, paving the way for a complete redesign. Renderings shown during the meeting display an open, ground-level layout that replaces the tall central structure and winding ramps that characterized the original installation.
When Millstone Creek was built, those ramps were considered progress. A child using a wheelchair could reach the elevated platforms, which met the standards of that era. However, the design also directed children along narrow paths and created blind spots for caregivers observing from below.
The new design takes a different approach. Instead of building upward, the playground spreads activities across the site, using the natural slope to reach higher points without long, switchback paths. Play zones connect more smoothly, and ground-level features are more noticeable. From nearly any bench or walkway, caregivers can see most of the activity at once.
Matt Ulrey, the city’s Parks and Facilities Superintendent, stated that the change reflects how the field has evolved.
“There’s a difference between being able to get to the equipment and being able to participate in the play,” he said.
Ulrey recalls when that change in thinking became clear. During early design discussions, the project’s landscape architect explained how inclusive play spaces differ from just accessible ones. The explanation stuck with him.
“It was like that moment in The Wizard of Oz when everything suddenly turns to color,” he said. “Once you see it, you realize how much more is possible.”
Council approved Janco, LLC as the construction contractor, with equipment supplied by MidStates Recreation through a cooperative purchasing agreement. Construction is expected to be completed in 2026.
The ongoing change at Millstone reflects smaller but important work at Alum Creek Park North, where new sidewalks are being added to connect areas previously separated by grass. Years ago, those gaps weren’t seen as barriers; today, they stand out as missed opportunities to improve everyone’s access to public space.
“You look back and realize how much you didn’t see at the time,” Ulrey said.
Millstone’s renovation is part of a larger effort that will soon include Walnut Ridge Park and Everal Barn. Each project raises similar questions: Which needs are obvious? Which needs go unnoticed until someone points them out? And how many improvements come from simply inviting more perspectives into the design process?
For Millstone Creek, the next phase is outlined in the diagrams shown to the council: a lower, more inviting layout; smoother routes connecting features; and a stronger emphasis on helping children of all abilities play together, not just reach the same structure.
After 14 years, the park is not only being refreshed but also redefined, a step toward creating an inclusive play environment that wasn’t fully understood when it was first built. In this way, Millstone Creek is growing up alongside its earliest visitors, entering a new phase shaped by what the community has learned since 2011.
Millstone Creek’s Redesign, Explained
Q: What was the issue with the old playground?
A: Built in 2011, it relied on a tall central structure and long ramps. Children could reach the equipment, but movement was crowded, sightlines were limited, and most play happened on elevated platforms.
Q: How will the new design look?
A: The layout spreads play zones across the site, uses the natural grade instead of extended ramps, and keeps most features at ground level. Caregivers can see more of the playground from almost anywhere.
Q: What’s the most significant change?
A: The focus shifts from access to participation. The new layout is designed so children of all abilities can play together, not just reach the same structure by different routes.
Q: Why does that matter?
A: Accessibility ensures someone can get to a feature. Inclusion ensures they can engage once they do. The new design emphasizes shared play, social interaction, and a smoother, more intuitive experience for everyone.
Q: What does this say about how parks are changing?
A: Millstone Creek’s update reflects a broader shift in playground design. Communities are moving beyond checklists toward creating spaces where every child feels part of the experience.
The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
Explore more hyper-local reporting by subscribing to The Hilliard Beacon, Civic Capacity, Marysville Matters, The Ohio Roundtable, Shelby News Reporter, This Week in Toledo, and Into the Morning by Krista Steele.
