TIP: If you are hiring a professional photographer, contact the venues ahead of time to inquire about their policies.
1. COX ARBORETUM METROPARK
Cox Arboretum MetroPark offers many beautiful spots for prom photos. Right now lots of flowers are in bloom. Connie Post/Staff
Cox Arboretum's foot bridge and gardens are great places for photographs. Right now tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and other flowers are in bloom.
The park is open daily from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. 6733 Springboro Pike, Dayton.
2. RIVERSCAPE METROPARK
RiverScape MetroPark offers lovely spots for prom photos. Consider the Deeds Point Bridge (shown here) or the formal gardens in the fountain areas. Connie Post/Staff
The Deeds Point Bridge is an interesting spot for photographs. So are the swings and garden areas at Riverscape MetroPark.
The park is located at 237 E. Monument Ave.
3. FRAZE PAVILION
The reflecting pool at Fraze Pavilion is a great place for taking prom photos. Ty Greenlees/Staff
Maintenance workers are busy getting the reflecting pool at Fraze Pavilion in shape and plan on having it filled later this week.
The park is located at 695 Lincoln Park Blvd., Kettering.
4. WEGERZYN GARDENS METROPARK
Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark's formal garden is a stunning place for prom photos. Right now potted flowers accentuate the sculpted hedges. There are also pretty benches in the garden. Connie Post/Staff
The formal garden at Wegerzyn Garden's MetroPark is a pretty place right now for photographs. There are potted flowers among the sculpted hedges and benches. The park grounds are open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
The park is located at 1301 E. Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton.
5. LEO STATUE OUTSIDE THE DAYTON ART INSTITUTE
The bronze sculpture of Leo the Lion at the Dayton Art Institute is a fun spot for prom photos. The sculpture is more than 100 years old and has a rich local history. Connie Post/Staff
Leo the Lion was the mascot for Steele High School, which was torn down in 1955. An artist named Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington was commissioned to create the lion, and in 1907, students at the school raised $300 in nickels to pay for the bronze casting. The lion was made in 1908, but The Great Flood of 1913 knocked the lion off its base. After the high school was torn down, the sculpture was relocated to the Dayton Art Institute.
The museum is located at 456 Belmonte Park North, Dayton.
6. DEEDS CARILLON
Deeds Carillon is one of Dayton's most recognized landmarks and would make a great backdrop for prom photos. Connie Post/Staff
The tallest carillon in all of Ohio, Deeds Carillon at Carillon Historical Park is one of Dayton's most beloved landmarks. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The park is located at 1000 Carillon Boulevard in Dayton.
7. GROTTO GARDENS AT THE VA MEDICAL CENTER
Volunteer gardeners have helped restore the Grotto Gardens at the VA Medical Center in Dayton. There are many lovely spots for prom photos. Lisa Powell/Staff
Created by Civil War veterans, the Grotto Gardens were once a very popular tourist destination. By 1910, more than 660,000 annual visitors were traveling to Dayton just to behold the gardens and pay tribute to Civil War veterans. After World War II, however, upkeep of the gardens was scaled back. A few years ago, volunteer gardeners helped restore the gardens by removing poison ivy and overgrown honeysuckle, redesigning the gardens and creating micro-climates in each. The campus includes gardens, walking paths and lakes, and is open to the public during daylight hours each day.
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