JILL SNYDER
Visitor Engagement Manager
We are excited to invite all of our Metro Parks friends and visitors to participate in the Metro Parks 75 Year Challenge. Our challenge recognizes the opening of our first park, Blacklick Woods Metro Park, 75 years ago. In the beginning, the parks were great destinations for picnics, playgrounds, scout group outings and hiking. Over the years, more parks were added to the district and even more outdoor pursuits could be found at the parks. The main goal, to conserve open spaces and provide places for people to experience nature, continues to this day.
To celebrate connecting visitors to nature for 75 years, the Metro Parks 75 Year Challenge invites visitors to enjoy some classic Metro Parks pursuits, like visiting a playground or going on a picnic, and to try some new, modern adventures like archery or kayaking as well. Some tasks can be completed on your own time and at your own pace. Other exploits invite you to join a program with Metro Parks staff. And, of course, there will be prizes for completing activities!
Here’s how it works
• Click on the link to download the Metro Parks 75 Year Challenge activities card.
• Between July 1 and October 1, complete as many activities as you can!
• Mark the date and park where you complete the challenge on your card.
When you’ve completed the challenge, head to the Metro Parks 75 Year Challenge form to submit your activities. (Submission deadline is October 10.)
Prizes
For every activity you complete, you will earn three points. If you reach 36 points, you will receive a commemorative 75 Year Challenge enamel pin. If you reach 75 points, you will receive a Metro Parks picnic blanket. Everyone that completes at least one activity will receive a car decal or water bottle sticker. Prizes will be distributed at Slate Run Metro Park’s Fall Fest on October 14.
Suggested September Programs
• September 17 11:00am Mushroom Walk for adults only at Battelle Darby Creek Indian Ridge Picnic Area
• September 17 2:00pm River Walk at Highbanks River Bluff area
• September 20 8:00am Archery for Adults at Battelle Darby Creek Nature Center
• September 20 10:00am and 1:00pm Preschoolers: Tram and Creeking at Blacklick Woods Nature Center
• September 20 6:00pm Take a Hike and Watch the Sunset at Blendon Woods
• September 22 6:00pm Dog Walk at Blacklick Woods Nature Center
• September 22 8:00pm Night Hike at Battelle Darby Creek Indian Ridge Picnic Area
• September 23 & 27 10:00am Backcountry Hike at Clear Creek Park Office
• September 23 10:00am Wade in the Water and Go Off-Trail at Blendon Woods
• September 23 3:00pm Fall Fungi at Blacklick Woods Nature Center
• September 23 5:00-8:00pm Welcome to Fall at Highbanks Big Meadows Picnic Area
• September 23 8:15pm Outdoor Movie: Minions the Rise of Gru at Highbanks Big Meadows Picnic Area
• September 24 2:00pm Tree Walk at Inniswood
• September 24 4:00pm Forest Insects with the Naturalist at Battelle Darby Creek Nature Center
• September 29 8:00pm Full Moon Hike at Battelle Darby Creek Cedar Ridge Picnic Area
For more information, email info@metroparks.net, visit our website or follow Columbus & Franklin County Metro Parks on social media.
So excited for a challenge like this . Love the winter hiking one makes winter so much more fun. Thank you for this now looking forward to July 1st.
Getting people at work involved. It’s great!
How awesome to encourage Ohioans to get outdoors! Printed the challenge sheet and am also distributing this info to family and friends.
Really cool idea. As an Ohio transplant, this will be a great way to get to explore the area. I was hoping there would be user-friendly links/suggestions on this page to more info about specific activities like how to do some activities like archery, campfire programs, activities with Naturalist, etc. It’ll be a scavenger hunt for me just to do the planning prior to doing the actual activities 😀
Glad you are planning to explore the area! We’ve updated the blog post with some suggested programs. You can always find more by following this link and choosing the month or park you wish to visit!