Bend in Darby Creek. (Photo: Andrew Kennett)
For more than 60 years, the Metro Parks have provided Columbus and central Ohio with great recreational and educational opportunities. Currently there are 15 natural areas in the Metro Parks system, covering more than 23,500 acres and providing more than 140 miles of trails for hikers. The parks are funded largely through a small tax levy in Franklin County that was renewed by voters earlier this year. As a tax-funded resource, most of the programs and recreational outlets at the Metro Parks are free to participants.
The primary benefit of these parks is the preservation of green spaces in the midst of the rapidly-growing Columbus metropolis. Visitors to the parks can immerse themselves in nature and enjoy the great outdoors, often only minutes from their homes. Hiking trails ranging in difficulty and walking surface provide a variety of options for people ranging from experienced hikers to families with small children to the elderly or people with mobility issues. Just about anyone in the Columbus region can find a park that they can enjoy.
In addition to the preservation of green spaces and great hiking trails, the Metro Parks provide a wide range of programs and activities to visitors, nearly all without an out-of-pocket expense. Naturalists and volunteers lead educational and entertaining programs about the parks, ecology, animals, and more. There are programs on these topics aimed at nearly all age and experience levels. In addition, there are guided, off-trail hikes to explore more of the parks, opportunities for nature- and park-lovers to volunteer to do productive work for the parks, and more. Schedules for these programs can be found in the Parkscope magazine (available at any Metro Park) or on-line.
Picnic shelters, some reservable, with tables and grills are available at most parks, as are other amenities like playgrounds for children (or the child in all of us). Open areas, perfect for playing a variety of sports are another common feature. In addition, several parks have installed disc golf courses. Some of these courses have a small fee attached, but these are generally lower than at privately-owned courses, and you can always play for free at the course at Glacier Ridge.
The beauty of the Metro Park system is that the parks are not only spread all around the Columbus metropolitan region, but that each park offers something different from the rest. From the beautifully sculpted gardens of Inniswood to the restored tall-grass prairies of Battelle-Darby Creek to the rolling hills and lush greenery of Clear Creek, each park has a look and feel all its own, making this park system one that allows for constant use and constant discovery for visitors.
The fifteen Metro Park areas are: Battelle Darby Creek, Blacklick Woods, Blendon Woods, Chestnut Ridge, Clear Creek, Glacier Ridge, Heritage Park, Highbanks, Inniswood, Pickerington Ponds, Prairie Oaks, Scioto Audubon, Sharon Woods, Slate Run, and Three Creeks.
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