Discover Plain City: Big Darby Creek, cycling route, and local history

Plain City brings together the landscape along Big Darby Creek, a longer cycling route, local history offerings, and seasonal events. This gives you several ways to plan your trip: explore the river landscape, plan a ride on public roads, or discover historic sites and local collections.

Landscape along Big Darby Creek

Scenic McKitrick Park covers 5.18 acres along Big Darby Creek on East Main Street, just east of Uptown Plain City. It is also the starting and ending point of the 52-mile Big Darby Plains Scenic Byway Tour. The park is therefore a clearly designated reference point for the tour and a place of its own along the river.

The McKitrick Meadows Nature Preserve, located in the Big Darby Creek floodplain, offers a different perspective on the landscape. Information panels there explain the importance of the river and its surrounding watershed. The park and preserve represent different aspects of the landscape: one is situated along the river, while the other highlights the floodplain and its ecological importance.

Cycling the Scenic Byway

The Big Darby Plains Scenic Byway Tour begins and ends at McKitrick Park on the eastern edge of Plain City. At 52 miles long, it is a substantial ride in its own right. Cyclists are given guidance on using public roads, which are under state, county, and municipal jurisdiction along the route. Anyone planning to ride the tour should be prepared and experienced in cycling on public roads.

The route is therefore a useful point of reference for travelers who want to include cycling in their plans. The roads and jurisdictions mentioned are as much a part of the guidance as the requirements for riders. For your decision, first consider whether you want to make a longer bike ride the focus of your trip or explore Plain City mainly through its landscape, events, and history.

Outdoor and water activities

The Plain City Aquatic Center features a zero-entry area with a gradual slope and a winding water slide. These highlight two distinct features of the facility: step-free access to the shallower water and the slide. You can include these offerings as a separate point of interest in your trip planning.

At Pastime Park, the StoryWalk® displays pages from a children's book in cases along the walking path. This activity combines a story with a walk through the park without requiring any particular book. Storytime in the Park is another summer activity for children of all ages, hosted by the Plain City Public Library at Pastime Park. The community's 2026 description lists it as a summer program.

Local history at the library and in Uptown

At the Plain City Public Library, the Pictorial History of Plain City Collection comprises 28 volumes of historical images and information about family and local history. The library also offers digital resources on local history and genealogy. Visitors interested in Plain City’s past can explore both an extensive collection of images and information and digital historical and genealogical content.

In Uptown Plain City, Public Square is the historic centerpiece of the redesigned public gathering space. As part of the Public Square project, the restored 1880s train depot was relocated and rebuilt to honor the city's railroad history. Plain City's clock tower is another historic building along the city's main streets. Together, these sites offer glimpses into different chapters of local history, from the railroad connection to today's public space.

Events and seasonal occasions

The historic Plain City Corn Carnival was originally held from 1914 to 1919 and revived in the 1980s. The Plain City Easter Egg Hunt is a family-friendly spring event at Pastime Park. Music in the Park was scheduled to run from June through September in 2026; the series offers free, family-friendly entertainment at Pastime Park. If a particular festival is the deciding factor for your trip, check the specific event dates before making plans.

In 2026, Public Square is the new location of the Plain City Farmers Market. This brings together historic design and a contemporary gathering place for the market. The different themes—river landscape, cycling, local history, and seasonal events—offer a good basis for choosing what to explore in Plain City according to what matters for your stay.

Discover more destinations: Milford Center, Richwood, Marysville

Return to the regional travel overview: Union.