In the City of Delaware, there are three major parks -- Smith, Mingo and Blue Limestone -- and several small neighborhood parks. Riverview Park is two miles north of town. The large parks have recreation and picnic areas, and Mingo Park offers a full course of exercise stations. The in-town parks boast baseball diamonds, where Little League and adult competitions flourish each spring and summer. Community soccer draws sizable numbers in the fall and spring, as do community volleyball and basketball leagues.

The Mingo Park Swimming pool Complex -- one of the finest in Ohio -- features an Olympic-size pool, diving pool, wading pool, and community recreation room. Riverview Park provides fishing and primitive camping adjacent to the Olentangy River. O'Shaughnessy and Hoover reservoirs are maintained by the Columbus Division of Parks. In the southern part of the county, Wyandot Lake offers an amusement water park. Highbanks Nature Preserve is part of Columbus' Metropark system.

Five miles north of the city, the 7,000-acre Delaware State Park has 214 Class A campsites (164 with electricity) and a large swimming beach on the 1330-acre reservoir. Boats of unlimited horsepower are permitted and marina space is available for 275 boats from April through November. Launching ramps are located on three sides of the lake. The reservoir is a fine fishing site for bass, bluegill, catfish and crappie. The park includes a bluebird trail, and is located next to a 4670-acre wildlife area.

The largest of the county reservoirs is centrally-located Alum Creek State Park, where visitors can enjoy swimming, boating, hiking, hunting, picnicking, and other outdoor fun. Powerboaters find the broad southern end of the Alum Creek Lake perfect for water skiing; the northern end is full of hidden coves accessible only to small boat fisherman, who might catch bass, bluegill, crappie or walleye. Sailing regattas are held regularly on the lake; and the park boasts the largest inland beach in Ohio with more than a half mile of sandy shoreline. A marina complete with restaurant, baitstore, boat and ski rental, launching facilities and dock rental is open to the public. For horseback riders, the park offers more than 40 miles of bridle trails. In the winter, snowmobilers can test their skills on the seven mile snowmobile trail. Alum Creek has 297 camping sites, all with electricity, with two beaches and a boat ramp exclusively for campground guests. Novice campers can participate in Alum Creek's popular and inexpensive Rent-A-Camp program.

Golfers choose from more than 12 golf courses, including Hidden Valley, a Kneehole public course within the Delaware city limits, and the Bent Tree Golf Club in Sunbury, recognized as one of the best public 18-hole courses in the state. Jack Nicklaus' famed Muirfield Village course, home of the prestigious Memorial Tournament, is located near Dublin in the southern part of the county. Other courses include Oakhaven Golf Club, Big Walnut, Blackhawk, Delaware Country Club, Sunbury, Tanglewood Golf Club, Mill Creek, Shamrock and Twin Oaks. The Lakes Golf and Country Club, Wedgewood Country Club, and Riverview Country Club are located in the southern part of the county.

For racquet buffs, there are five outdoor tennis courts at Hayes High School, four lighted courts at Mingo Park and 16 courts at Ohio Wesleyan, including four indoors in the Branch Rickey Physical Education Center. Many housing subdivisions also have courts and swimming pools. The Rickey Center also provides for racquetball, handball, squash, weightlifting, running, basketball, volleyball and swimming. Memberships in the Rickey Center are available to the public.

Delaware County offers the bicyclist endless scenic cycling routes, around reservoirs, through state parks, and along country roads. Distance riders can participate in 100-mile rides in nearby Westerville, Newark and Marion; the 210-mile Scioto River tour; or the week-long, 417-mile Great Ohio Bicycle Adventure.

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