Summer is in full swing, and there’s no better time than now to grab your nearest and dearest and head over to a Metro Park for a romantic picnic by the water. Or better yet, spend the day grillin’ n chillin’ with your family and friends at one of our open-air shelters or reservable facilities in celebration of July as national Picnic Month. Below are a few places to try when you want plenty of scenic settings perfect for a picnic.
Looking for a quiet picnic spot along a trail where you can watch wildlife? Pack a couple of sandwiches and snacks in your picnic basket and head to the Dyer Mill Trail at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park if you’re looking for a cozy and shady spot along the trail. Hike down the path till you get to the loop, turn left and you’ll go up a steep hill. Almost directly at the bottom of the hill is a lone picnic table in a grassy area next to Little Darby Creek.
Metro Parks reservable and non-reservable shelters are great places to relax and reconnect with family members for an all-day old-fashioned summer picnic.
Buzzards Roost, the non-reservable area, at Slate Run Metro Park features a shelter house that’s resembles a wooden barn that holds up to 200 people. There are plenty of grills and picnic tables, a play area for kids ages 3 to 12 and a large field for playing corn hole or volleyball. Walk off those brats and burgers with a stroll to the lake to see wildlife or cast your rod for bluegill.
Several parks feature rustic Adirondack lean-tos with picnic tables and grills that are ideal for a small intimate family gatherings. These small 3-sided shelters are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
For those who like to plan ahead, we’ve got several lodges, activity buildings and shelters that can be reserved a year in advance. For information about rentals and pricing go to metroparks.net and click on reservations.
Be sure and snap some memories of your picnic in the park and send them to mediagroup@metroparks.net so we can share them with other picnickers.