Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks

Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks Metro Parks is a public agency serving the citizens of Central Ohio since 1945. metroparks.net
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Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks (Metro Parks) is a public agency serving the citizens of Central Ohio by providing a regional system of clean, safe, natural area parks. Metro Parks features 19 outstanding natural area parks with more than 200 miles of trails and over 27,000 acres of land in seven Central Ohio counties. The mission of Metro Parks is to conserve open spaces, while providing

places and opportunities that encourage people to discover and experience nature. Annually, more than 8 million people enjoy quality outdoor times in the parks, and more than 180,000 people participate in free nature education programs. 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, 0.75 mill levy approved by Franklin County voters in 2009. 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).

Happy National Trails Day! Enjoy a hike on you favorite trail.Check out your Metro Parks on OuterSpatial where you can f...
06/06/2026

Happy National Trails Day!

Enjoy a hike on you favorite trail.

Check out your Metro Parks on OuterSpatial where you can find new trails and park amenities. http://bit.ly/4e2mICz

Join Metro Parks this weekend at Blacklick Woods!🌳 Friday 10:00am is our ages 2-6 Story Time where we are reading "Cica...
06/05/2026

Join Metro Parks this weekend at Blacklick Woods!🌳

Friday 10:00am is our ages 2-6 Story Time where we are reading "Cicada Symphony" by Sue Fliess

Saturday 9:00am ages 18+ join our non-interpretive Blacklick Walk🚶& Talk 🗣️

Sunday 2:00pm come and join Creek Exploration for a 2-mile hike and wade in the water!

Check out the link for more information 🔗 https://bit.ly/4uVrGbC

What do Metro Parks and Cedar Point have in common? We both have raptors, of course!Red-tailed hawks like this one have ...
06/04/2026

What do Metro Parks and Cedar Point have in common? We both have raptors, of course!

Red-tailed hawks like this one have have an impressive wingspan that can reach up to 5 feet; great for flying, not so great for riding.

(I can't believe I have to say this, but PLEASE don't try to ride a Red-tailed hawk)



📸: Highbanks Ranger Trevor

Finding love on a reality show is so last summer. Instead, take a page out of the Darter's notebook and secure your futu...
06/03/2026

Finding love on a reality show is so last summer. Instead, take a page out of the Darter's notebook and secure your future mate in the stream!

Learn about how these small fish use their vibrant colors to attract a partner here: https://bit.ly/4dJlBcf

Dating Darters - Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System - Maria Bergman Battelle Darby Creek Naturalist Let’s set the scene: it’s early summer. The water is still cold, all the recent snow and rainfall are slowly

Join us THIS SUNDAY at 3PM for an exciting and educational 'America 250' program! Bill Kennedy of the Ohio History Conne...
06/03/2026

Join us THIS SUNDAY at 3PM for an exciting and educational 'America 250' program! Bill Kennedy of the Ohio History Connection will be leading a hike to a Native American Adena Mound and Earthwork in the park. Learn all about the Adena and Late Woodland cultures that inhabited this park over a thousand years ago. See the flyer below for more details.

🎶 Bluuuuueeee mooooooon🎶 Don't let tonight's blue moon see you standing alone! Join us for a Blue Moon Hike tonight at B...
05/31/2026

🎶 Bluuuuueeee mooooooon🎶

Don't let tonight's blue moon see you standing alone! Join us for a Blue Moon Hike tonight at Blacklick Woods Metro Park or Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park!

Find more information on these hikes here https://bit.ly/4tWILRa

Can't make it tonight? No worries, the next blue moon will happen again in *checks notes* December 2028!

📸: A flock of red-winged blackbirds flies in front of a full moon at Battelle Darby Creek wetlands, photo Alisa DeMatteo

We would tell you to celebrate Water a Flower Day accordingly, but with all the rain we've received in the last week, we...
05/30/2026

We would tell you to celebrate Water a Flower Day accordingly, but with all the rain we've received in the last week, we don't think it is necessary!

Instead, marvel at what all that precipitation has done for the beautiful blooms at Inniswood Metro Gardens. The lilies and roses in the Rose Garden are looking particularly spectacular!



📸: Holly Willer

Break out those sunglasses, summer is BACK 😎 Celebrate June's longer days and warmer temperatures at a Metro Parks progr...
05/29/2026

Break out those sunglasses, summer is BACK 😎

Celebrate June's longer days and warmer temperatures at a Metro Parks program! We've got something for everyone: kayaking, birding, tram rides, plus the long awaited return of MUD DAY!

Find a full list of June programs here: https://bit.ly/4nQrEio

Did you know lawmakers in the Buckeye State have been designating state symbols since the early 1800s? Ohio has everythi...
05/28/2026

Did you know lawmakers in the Buckeye State have been designating state symbols since the early 1800s? Ohio has everything from a state beverage (tomato juice), a state historical structure (barn), and even an official state fish fossil (Dunkleosteus Terrelli)!

In honor of America 250, let's take a closer look at some of our state's superb symbols you can find in your Metro Parks.

Our Superb State Symbols - Metro Parks - Central Ohio Park System - Kate Brierley Blacklick Woods Naturalist What makes Ohio special? Our state is so full of diverse people, animals, plants and landscapes that if I wrote

For the May photo of the month we share a pair of photos by Joe from his trip to Slate Run Living Historical Farm. On th...
05/27/2026

For the May photo of the month we share a pair of photos by Joe from his trip to Slate Run Living Historical Farm. On the left we have some of the farm's sheep and some of their babies, and on the right the farm cat, Chester. Joe says "Chester is very friendly and came to see me after I sat down on the bench."

📸: Joe Koldys

Address

1069 W Main Street
Westerville, OH
43081

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