A New Place to Play: Great Southern Metro Park Opens April 1
LIZ CHRISTIAN Social Media & Marketing Specialist UPDATE Wednesday April 1, 2026 was a great day in the life of Metro Parks. With the opening of Great Southern, there are …Read More
Don’t miss the blooms – spring wildflowers
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
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
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
One park’s trash is a giraffe’s feast!
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
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
Behind the Parks: Meet Gabriel at Highbanks
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
Metro Parks celebrates two statewide honors from OPRA
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
From War Strategy to Recreation: The History of Via Ferratas
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
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
Alan Rosenbeck: Helping Eagle Scouts Soar
CARA CHATFIELD Highbanks Park Ranger Alan Rosenbeck is a commissioned park ranger and assistant manager at Highbanks Metro Park. Since 2011, he has been working closely with scouts from Scouting …Read More
State Nature Preserves in Your Metro Parks
LIZ CHRISTIAN Marketing & Social Media Specialist When you visit a Metro Park, you’re already stepping into protected green space, but did you know that some Metro Parks contain areas …Read More
The Metro Parks Holiday Crossword 2025
THE METRO PARKS 2025 HOLIDAY CROSSWORD IS HERE! As well as nature and general trivia, the theme of this year’s crossword adds Outer Space, to complement Metro Parks’ Wild and …Read More
Hike under the lights at Metro Parks 2025-26
CHECK OUT OUR VIDEO OF SOME OF THE STUNNING LIGHTS AVAILABLE FOR YOU TO ENJOY THIS WINTER. THEY LOOK GREAT ON VIDEO, BUT LOOK EVEN BETTER OUT THERE IN THE …Read More
Got a Question About Nature? Ask a Ranger or a Naturalist!
Curious about something you saw on the trail? Wondering why owls hoot at night, how salamanders find their way back to their breeding pools, or which Metro Park is best …Read More
Behind the Parks: Meet Amanda at Quarry Trails
Amanda Sugerik Park Ranger, Quarry Trails Metro Park Amanda Sugerik is talking with Communications Coordinator, Virginia Gordon About me I was born in Westerville and have lived my whole life …Read More
Come to Ohio, the winter heart of it all
STEPHANIE WEST Blendon Woods Naturalist Of all winter travel destinations, Ohio hardly seems like the perfect getaway. There’s no warm tropical sand, nor towering ski slopes. Vistas are often gray …Read More
Preserving habitat for sandhill cranes
LOGAN DUNN Assistant Resource Manager Sandhill cranes are large majestic birds that capture the attention of almost anyone found within the area of them. They are still listed as “Threatened” …Read More