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The Metro Parks Blog

Photo: Stefan Bruch

A New Place to Play: Great Southern Metro Park Opens April 1

Posted on March 19, 2026March 20, 2026 |
  • Featured
  • The Metro Parks Blog

LIZ CHRISTIAN Social Media & Marketing Specialist Spring will bring something special to south Columbus this year — the grand opening of Metro Parks’ 21st park! Great Southern Metro Park …Read More

A Spring Symphony of Amphibians

Posted on March 19, 2026 |
  • The Metro Parks Blog

GABBY POWER Environmental Educator, Inniswood It’s the most wonderful time of the year! That’s right, springtime! Nothing quite compares to the sights and sounds of spring as the earth comes …Read More

Tim Talks: Rangers help keep parks clean and safe

Posted on March 19, 2026March 19, 2026 |
  • The Metro Parks Blog

In our latest Tim Talks video we took a closer look at our park rangers and the way they focus on keeping parks clean and safe for our millions of …Read More

Bike maintenance is not just a summer task

Posted on March 19, 2026March 23, 2026 |
  • The Metro Parks Blog

KATIE LOFTON Outdoor Adventure Programmer Just like your furnace, you don’t want to skimp out on preventive maintenance on your bicycle in the off-season! Winter or early spring is the …Read More

Don’t miss the blooms – spring wildflowers

Posted on March 19, 2026 |
  • Featured
  • The Metro Parks Blog

SHANNON HEIST Blacklick Woods Naturalist Spring wildflowers are short-lived. They grow when conditions are right – when temperatures are rising and more sun is shining. They complete their entire life …Read More

Lesser-known cool critters in vernal pools

Posted on March 19, 2026 |
  • Featured
  • The Metro Parks Blog

MARIA BERGMAN Battelle Darby Creek Naturalist It’s springtime in the Metro Parks. The question is always asked: are the salamanders out yet? But what about the rest of the critters? …Read More

Behind the Parks: Meet Craig at Blendon Woods

Posted on March 5, 2026March 19, 2026 |
  • Behind the Parks
  • Featured
  • The Metro Parks Blog

Craig Biegler Naturalist, Blendon Woods Craig Biegler is talking with Communications Coordinator, Virginia Gordon About me I grew up in Upper Arlington and went to programs at various Metro Parks …Read More

Spring Cleaning for Resource Management

Posted on March 5, 2026 |
  • The Metro Parks Blog

ELAINE HALL Assistant Resource Manager Annual upkeep of our structures for various species is underway, or even wrapped up by March, as we prepare staff and volunteers for another year …Read More

One park’s trash is a giraffe’s feast!

Posted on February 19, 2026 |
  • Featured
  • Resource Management
  • The Metro Parks Blog

Olivia Garas Land Management Coordinator of the North End Parks One of the most important jobs we have in Resource Management is removing invasives. There are so many different plants …Read More

A Conflagration at Pickerington Ponds Metro Park

Posted on February 19, 2026 |
  • Featured
  • The Metro Parks Blog

Shelly Richardson Pickerington Ponds Manager Metro Parks acquired an 11-acre parcel of land last year as part of Pickerington Ponds Metro Park. The area included an old house that was …Read More

The Power of Walking

Posted on February 19, 2026February 19, 2026 |
  • The Metro Parks Blog

Evelyn Hilgeman Outdoor Adventure Programmer Staying consistent with New Year’s resolutions is something we all struggle with. As January goes, we tend to be overly ambitious when we set goals …Read More

Spectacular Sparrows

Posted on February 19, 2026 |
  • The Metro Parks Blog

Cody Berkebile Senior Naturalist, Blacklick Woods In winter, many songbirds migrate south to find warmer weather and available food. The birds that remain in Ohio mostly eat seeds and nuts, …Read More

Behind the Parks: Meet Gabriel at Highbanks

Posted on February 19, 2026February 19, 2026 |
  • Behind the Parks
  • Featured
  • The Metro Parks Blog

Gabriel Sanchez Maintenance Technician, Highbanks Gabriel Sanchez is talking with Communications Coordinator, Virginia Gordon About me I was born and raised in Willard, a small town in Huron Country. It’s …Read More

Wander & Wonder: Nature Preserves in your Metro Parks

Posted on February 19, 2026 |
  • The Metro Parks Blog

In our latest Wander & Wonder video we took a closer look at the state nature preserves in your Metro Parks. STILLS FROM THE VIDEO

Metro Parks celebrates two statewide honors from OPRA

Posted on February 4, 2026February 19, 2026 |
  • Featured
  • The Metro Parks Blog

Liz Christian Social Media and Marketing Specialist We’re proud to share that Metro Parks recently received two statewide honors from the Ohio Parks and Recreation Association (OPRA), recognizing our commitment …Read More

Holiday Crossword 2025 – The Answers

Posted on January 15, 2026January 15, 2026 |
  • The Metro Parks Blog

THANK YOU to everyone who submitted their Metro Parks 2025 Holiday Crossword puzzles by the deadline of January 5. We hope you all had fun doing it, or trying to …Read More

From War Strategy to Recreation: The History of Via Ferratas

Posted on January 15, 2026January 16, 2026 |
  • Featured
  • The Metro Parks Blog

EVELYN P HILGEMAN Outdoor Adventure Programmer Via ferratas may seem like a modern adventurous pursuit, but their origin dates back to 19th-century Europe. Originally used as a wartime tactic, these …Read More

Ohio Young Birders Club

Posted on January 15, 2026January 16, 2026 |
  • Featured
  • The Metro Parks Blog

Sandy Libertini Senior Manager, Grange Insurance Audubon Center Attention Young Nature Enthusiasts! Join the Ohio Young Birders Club, the premiere birding group for youth aged 12 to 18! ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP …Read More

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