Playing sports benefits youth in several ways, and West Chester Township, OH, offers a plethora of options for activities and parks. Physical activity is essential for muscular and cardiovascular health. Participating in sports also positively impacts mental health, mood swings, and stress management. Processing the highs and lows of winning and losing games helps kids manage their emotions better. Playing sports also helps kids achieve greater academic performance. Our Crème de la Crème of West Chester team invites you to explore the best places for your kids to play sports in and around West Chester.

Keehner Park

Keehner Park, located at 7411 Barret Road in West Chester Township, is a 123-acre park along Mill Creek’s east fork. This park has tennis courts, basketball courts, pickleball courts, two playgrounds, and wooded trails for training jogs or runs. It’s a great place to play sports for free for your kids and the whole family. Keehner Park also offers picnic shelters to grab lunch with the family after a game. The park is open to visitors daily from 6 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Voice of America MetroPark

Covering 430 acres, Voice of America MetroPark is located at 7850 VOA Park Drive in West Chester. The park has many amenities, including a dedicated athletic complex with 23 natural grass and two multipurpose lighted turf fields suited for various sports. Among the sports and games that the complex has hosted are archery, soccer, lacrosse, ultimate frisbee, and Quidditch. There are also run/walk/hike trails, which can be used for sports training.

A lodge and boathouse are adjacent to the lake, which is stocked for fishing. Row and pedal boats are available for rent, and there’s also space for personal kayak launching. The park provides Wi-Fi, electric outlets, water, grills, concessions, picnic tables, and restrooms. In the winter, there’s a 65-foot slope known as Chill Hill for sledding when it snows. It provides an exercise climb in spring, summer, and fall, which can help your kids train for their sports. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to dusk. Admission is free.

Lakota Sports Organization

Lakota Sports Organization (LSO) runs out of the Walter J. Long Multi-Sports Complex, located at 7894 Kyles Station Road in Middletown, as well as Liberty Park and other nearby locations. Their website has the details on each site dedicated to different sports. LSO seeks to develop well-rounded youth through good sportsmanship, physical exercise, and skills development.

Available programs include baseball, softball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, flag football, and rugby. Programs are divided by age groups so kids can learn at appropriate levels. Their sports programs run from ages 2 to 16. Recreational leagues, clubs, and summer camps are available to fit your needs.

Skyhawks Sports Academy

Skyhawks Sports Academy runs a variety of kids’ sports camps and clinics designed to provide safe, fun, and skill-based sports experiences for kids between the ages of 4 and 14. Sports vary by location; check their website for details. They offer baseball, basketball, flag football, track and field, cheerleading, golf, lacrosse, soccer, tennis, and volleyball.

They also offer a unique Mini-Hawk program teaching baseball, basketball, and soccer essentials. This program is designed for young players and their specific needs. Mini-Hawk aims to give kids a positive first step into athletics through an encouraging, safe, structured, and, most of all, fun environment. The games and activities offered help players explore hand/eye coordination, balance, movement, and skill development at their own pace.

Skyhawks also offers a unique STEM Sports curriculum, combining sports with science, technology, engineering, and math. STEM and Play programs engage elementary and middle school-aged participants in real-life applications using sports. By combining physical activity and cognitive thinking, children receive a comprehensive, inquiry-based educational experience, along with a solution for vital STEM literacy for students. STEM sports help develop students’ critical thinking, creative problem-solving, collaboration, and leadership skills they can apply to their education and future careers. STEM sports are offered in two formats:

• Exploring technology, science, and innovation behind popular sports.
• STEM and Play, which combines skill-based instruction with innovative STEM sports.

i9 Sports West Chester/Liberty Township Youth Sports Programs

For various youth sports programming, check out the i9 Sports West Chester/Liberty Township Youth Sports Programs, located at Lakota Plains Junior School at 5500 Princeton Road in Liberty Township. Coaches and instructors are dedicated to providing age-appropriate, quality sports instruction that’s fun for kids. T-ball, baseball, and soccer leagues are available for children ages 3 to 11, with a flag football league offered for kids 4 to 14. There are also tennis courts near the sports fields where kids can play freely while supervised by adults, or you can play tennis together as a family.

Cincy Sports Nation

You can also visit Cincy Sports Nation at 5999 Meijer Drive in Milford for an indoor sports facility home to year-round play. They offer seasonal youth indoor soccer leagues, training programs, lacrosse teams, summer camps, and more. Soccer Shots is their children’s soccer experience, providing instruction through Mini for ages 2 and 3, Classic for ages 3 through 5, and Premier for ages 5 through 8.

In Mini, children will learn fundamental soccer principles, such as using their feet, dribbling, and the game’s basic rules through positive reinforcement, games, and songs. These activities introduce kids to the joy of playing soccer and being active. Classic uses creative and imaginative games to focus on basic soccer skills. Each session will highlight positive character traits, such as teamwork, respect, and appreciation. Finally, Premier teaches fitness, individual skills, and sportsmanship. Children will have an opportunity to participate in fun games and team interaction. They’ll also be introduced to competition in an age-appropriate manner.

Visit Crème de la Crème Today

Our Crème de la Crème of West Chester team hopes this has been a helpful guide to some of the best local spots where your kids can get involved in playing sports. Staying active provides an excellent outlet for their energy, and playing sports has many positive benefits that will help them throughout their lives. Sports provide a great extension to their time at Crème de la Crème. For more information or to start enrollment, contact us at 513-440-4975.

Two Kids Sitting on Basketballs by paul_houle is licensed with CC BY-SA 2.0