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 28,900 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
GORDON MITCHELL Land Management Coordinator Long before the United States was established, many Europeans traveled this country in search of pelts to export to Europe. Although many mammal species were …Read More
ERIC FRISCH Guest Blogger Hiking in the Metro Parks has been part of our relationship from the very beginning. My first date with Amanda was a long walk at Sharon …Read More
TIFFANY GUO Glacier Ridge Seasonal Naturalist The time of dinosaurs would seemingly be forever lost in the instant that a massive chunk of rock and metal hurled into Earth at …Read More
HOLLY WILLER Visitor Engagement Administrative Assistant Go Ahead – Complete the Metro Parks Community Survey I have a confession. I LOVE filling out surveys. A quick survey at the end …Read More