Ogido Park (Nakagusuku Park)

CONTRIBUTED BY HEATHER OLSEN

Editor’s Note: A reader has commented that a sign at this park names it Nakagusuku Park, rather than Ogido Park. 

Introducing the crème de la crème of all playgrounds, Ogido Park. Talk about amazing! Wide open spaces, plentiful parking, as well as THREE playgrounds that will keep your children occupied for hours. The only complaint that I heard from my son is that that his legs hurt after four hours of hardcore play. The park has open green fields, a stream that runs through the middle of it, walking trails, drinking fountains and a restroom. There is construction going on around the pond so there may be more to come.

The first playground has a sandbox, metal slides and a maze-like playground. This playground is the most little-kid friendly.

The next playground is like an obstacle course. There are tire treads to walk over, tall grass to walk through, arches to climb around, etc. It offers a number of different playground features as well, such as, net stairs, a roller slide, tunnels, periscope and telephone tubes. I saw a great deal of imaginative play among the children at this playground as the possibilities were endless.

The third playground is a fortress of fun! From the distance it appears to be two large white domes, but up close the net underbelly is discovered. This playground requires that shoes be removed before play. You can climb on the white vinyl top and slide down it. There are a few places to enter the net area on the bottom as well as from the vinyl top. There are railings along the top to ensure safety. Kids were bouncing and jumping on the vinyl top and net like it was a trampoline. The most complaints I heard from the kids playing at the park was when it was time to leave.

The playgrounds here looked like so much fun that I really wanted to go play on it as well. There are only a few benches, tables and trees to sit at to watch the kids, so a blanket to sit on would be a good idea. We found that it was easiest to stay at one playground at a time then move onto the next one. The playgrounds are too far apart to be able to watch them all. I recommend taking some snacks, drinks and dressing the kids in pants. Their knees may get roughed up from crawling and climbing on the third playground. This is not a playground to play at when it is raining. It can get very slippery. It is stroller friendly.

Directions: From Kadena gate 2 – Go south on the 330. Turn left onto the 81 (Foster legion gate intersection). Turn right onto the 146. Follow the road to the Onishi Golf Course intersection. (The sign for the golf course will be on the left) Turn right. Follow the road down the hill, you will be able to see the park in the distance on your left. When you get to the bottom of the hill, you will see the Ju building that has a yellow bear on it. Turn left before this building. The road shares the fence line with the parking lot. Follow the road until you can make a right turn into the parking lot.

From Kinser – Go north on the 58. Turn right onto the 81. Turn right onto the 330. (This is before the legion gate) Turn left onto the 35 (the next light). Follow the 35 until it comes to a T-intersection with the 29. Turn right. Turn left at the next light. Turn left at the intersection on the other side of the bridge. You will see the Ju building on your right that has a yellow bear on it. Turn right after this building. The road shares the fence line with the parking lot. Follow the road until you can make a right turn into the parking lot.

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