Photo Credit: Mosesintheflesh, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The suburb of Sylvania is a desirable place to call home. Its name comes from a Latin word that means forest land, which is very fitting since Sylvania has received the Tree City USA designation for over 30 years. This national award recognizes communities for their commitment and expansion of urban forests. Approximately 6,000 trees line the streets of Sylvania.
The Sylvania Historical Village & Heritage Center Museum is a great resource on the city's rich history. The Lathrop House in Harroun Park is the only Underground Railroad station in Northwest Ohio that's open to the public. The Historical Village also features one of the oldest existing train depots in Ohio.
Visitors can find remnants of Sylvania's past all the way back to prehistoric times. The city is built on large shale deposits that are known for their excellent preservation of fossils. Fossil Park, part of the Olander Park System, is one of only two Devonian Era fossil sites in the world. It's ADA accessible and offers a 5-acre quarry for fossil hunting. The Olander Park System (TOPS) also operates four other parks: Olander Park, Sylvan Prairie Park, Whetstone Park, and Southview Oak Savanna. Together, TOPS provides more than 200 acres of nature trails, playgrounds, lakes, and wildlife across the Oak Openings Region.
Sylvania also has 54 acres of city parks and numerous swimming and sports facilities. Pacesetter Park is a multi-use sports complex with competition fields, 8 ball diamonds, an 18,000 square foot playground, jogging paths, and a 30,000 square foot Skate Plaza. The Sylvania Sports & Exhibition Center is a 36,000 square foot facility with athletic turf and a full size basketball court. The Tam-O-Shanter is Sylvania's ice skating spot and offers open skating, drop-in hockey, skating lessons and more. Those looking for a place to take a dip can check out Plummer Pool or the Centennial Quarry. Another fun feature in the area is the Centennial Terrace, a concert and event venue that can hold up to 3,500 people.
Sylvania is well-known in the golf world. The Dana Open, previously known as the Jamie Farr Toledo Classic, is hosted annually at Highland Meadows Golf Club. The area also has the Sylvania Country Club that offers many amenities and a course designed by Willie Park Jr.
Sylvania Branch - Photo Courtesy of Toledo Lucas County Public Library
If you're looking for indoor kid's entertainment, the community has plenty of that, too! Sylvania Playland is an indoor playground and bounce house with an arcade, 18-hole glow-in-the-dark mini golf, and Toft's ice cream. The city also has great kid's areas in their 2 public libraries. The Sylvania Branch was recently remodeled and given a 4,090 square foot expansion. The King Road Branch opened in 2016 to accommodate the city's growing population. Funagin's is another exciting spot with both outdoor and indoor activities including laser tag, paintball, roller skating, and a state-of-the-art Sky Maze.
As you can see, Sylvania is a hotspot of Northwest Ohio with fun around every corner. Check out more recommendations + Sylvania market stats here. If you're ready to start your home search, our Danberry agents are happy to assist you!