An introduction to Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks
Your 20 Metro Parks provide endless opportunities for you to connect with nature and have fun in the outdoors. With more than 28,700 acres of land and water to explore and 230 miles of trails to traverse, there’s plenty of space for everyone to enjoy the wonder and majesty of nature in Metro Parks. We’re free and open every day for your enjoyment.
Our History
The first Metro Park, Blacklick Woods, opened in October 1948. Initially created on August 14, 1945, Metro Parks is an independent political subdivision of the state of Ohio organized under Ohio Revised Code Section 1545 to conserve natural resources and provide natural area parks for people to enjoy. Metro Parks is a separate subdivision of the state of Ohio and is not under the administration of any other governmental unit.
The tremendous growth and enduring popularity of Metro Parks is due to the strong support of the community – as voters, as volunteers and as visitors. Metro Parks’ primary funding source is the 10-year, 0.95 mill levy approved by Franklin County voters in November 2018. The levy provides a sound financial base for operating and improving existing parks as well as acquiring additional land for future preservation.
Metro Parks has three designated categories of revenue: public sources (taxes, local government funds and government grants), operational fees (earned income) and other revenue (donations, interest income, etc).
News & Upcoming Events
Becca Ballard Park Ranger, Blendon Woods Metro Park Hometown and Background I come from Gambier, in Knox County, Ohio. It’s about an hour’s drive northeast of Columbus and is best …Read More
OLIVIA PIPER Resource Management Technician With recent stormy weather throughout Ohio, you may have noticed dramatic damage to some of the Metro Parks. One park in particular, Walnut Woods, experienced …Read More
VIRGINIA GORDON Communications Coordinator “D’yawannit, d’yawannit, d’yawannit, d’yawannit…” Hundreds of ‘em, no thousands of ‘em, spring peepers, all driven by the most grotesque libido, gathered together liked crazed Dionysians and …Read More
OLIVIA PIPER Resource Management Technician From around late March to mid-April, you may notice a vibrant blanket of yellow along rivers, streams and forested floodplains. Although they are pretty, unfortunately, …Read More