SPRINGFIELD TWP.: If your town has a nice big lake, you might not even notice summer is winding down. After all, there is plenty of boating, fishing and maybe even a little swimming yet to be done.
But Springfield Lake isn’t the only game in this town. Those who know this area will recognize some other popular activities as well as shopping and dining options in the area.
To help our readers take better advantage of the amenities in our region, the Beacon Journal this summer spotlighted a different community each week. We’ve made some obvious picks, but also enlisted local officials, residents, Facebook fans and our own expert staff writers to round out our list.
In our final list of the season, we present: 10 things to do in Lakemore and Springfield Township.
• It’s hard to pass through Springfield Township without noticing there is a whole lot of water in the middle of town. Outdoor lovers have their pick of things to do at Springfield Lake. Look for the boat launch, picnic tables, fishing areas (including the dock and the pier) or take a stroll along the paved Spartan Trail. There is also an exercise park for older adults featuring low-impact exercise equipment, including a cross-trainer, cycle trainer, leg lift and sit-up bench. Find it all by heading to 2459 Canfield Road, which runs parallel to U.S. 224 as it winds through town.
• Want to get away from the crowd? Look for similar lake activities on the south side at the less obvious James B. Dodd’s Lakefront Park, where you’ll find another boat launch, fishing areas and picnic and playground areas. As a bonus, there is also a live bait store and an ice cream stand right in the parking lot. Lakeside Scoops, at 2425 Lakeside Drive in Lakemore, is open daily throughout the summer, and still serving up cones most days until dusk through September.
• Springfield Lake Roller Rink, 1220 Main St., has the same floor that youngsters were sailing across when the venue opened just after the end of World War II. The rink is open Friday evenings for teens and preteens, with Saturday and Sunday matinee and evening hours for families. Birthday parties can be scheduled for the weekend. On Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m., the facility hosts bingo to benefit the Springfield Spartans marching band. For skating hours and prices, visit http://www.springfieldlakerollerrink.com or call 330-733-9026.
• Edwin Shaw’s Challenge Golf course bills itself as the nation’s first handicapped-accessible golf facility, featuring a driving range and three holes that can be repeated at different tees for a nine-hole game. Able-bodied golfers are welcome to practice their swings and putting, but the course is an unusual opportunity for people in wheelchairs, on scooters or recovering from strokes, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, amputations, neuromuscular disorders, visual impairments, developmental disorders and joint replacements. The course is at 1596 Flickinger Road in Lakemore. Call 330-784-5400 to learn more.
• Shop Hop, by our home writer Mary Beth Breckenridge: Kern’s Florist and Greenhouse at 2438 Canton Road in Springfield Township. “If you think Kern’s just sells flowers, you haven’t been there in a while. The store carries not just plants and gardening supplies, but also home accents, outdoor furniture, gifts and even clothing and jewelry. It also has a small Christian bookstore inside that offers religious and inspirational CDs, books and other items.” Hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
• Pressler’s Meats is one of those old-fashioned butcher shops that fans will drive miles out of their way to visit. Check out their selection at 2553 Pressler Road in Springfield Township. “I remember when we were kids and Uncle Bob would give us raw hot dogs while he ate cream sticks. Still see animals hanging just like 50 years ago,” one poster said on the company’s Facebook page. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• When’s the last time you had lunch at a furniture store? Then it’s time to try Wayside Cafe, 1367 Canton Road in Springfield Township, part of the three-building Wayside Furniture complex. The cafe features an ever-changing menu of freshly prepared foods, along with an original chicken salad sandwich that “sells like hotcakes,” one server said. The cafe shares a building with the store’s custom-built Amish furniture collection. You can even ask for a complimentary cold drink, hot coffee and a cookie before you shop. Open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
• Social Media Shout-out: Farmer Boy Restaurant at 1324 Canton Road in Springfield Township is a popular spot for breakfast but features a full menu for lunch and dinner as well. “A surprise little gem! This place isn’t fancy, but it is clean, and the food is homemade and tasty,” one TripAdvisor reviewer said. It’s open 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily (and until 10 p.m. on Fridays.)
• Whether you’re looking for a bowling league or just want to get the family out of the house, Bill White’s Akron Lanes will fill an afternoon or evening. The facility features a dining area with big-screen TVs, an arcade, a pro shop, and a lounge with occasional karaoke. Located at 2911 E. Waterloo Road, don’t let the name fool you. It’s in Springfield Township. Learn more at http://akronlanes.com/bowling.
• It can be easy to miss, but there’s a hibachi restaurant tucked into the busy shopping mile off Arlington Road, an area more known for its Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Kohls and a string of chain restaurants. Find Shogun Japanese Steakhouse at 2863 S. Arlington Road in Springfield Township, where tableside chefs entertain patrons during dinner hours, beginning 4:30 p.m. on weekdays and 3 p.m. on weekends.
Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/paulaschleis.