First time Metro Parks visitor?
We’re glad you’re here!

Whatever you enjoy doing outdoors, Columbus & Franklin County Metro Parks has a great place to begin your adventure. Find adventurous things to do, new activities to try and places to explore every day of the year! For seven decades, your Metro Parks have been a treasured natural resource for generations of central Ohioans of all ages and abilities.

Metro Parks are free and belong to everyone… so get out, get active and have some fun.

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Discover & Experience Nature

The mission of Metro Parks is to conserve open spaces, while providing places and opportunities that encourage people to discover and experience nature. Your 20 Metro Parks cover more than 28,900 acres of land and water and are home to more than 2,400 plant and animal species.

Every year more than 12 million people visit Metro Parks to escape into a world teeming with wildlife and rich in recreational and educational opportunities. 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.

Lodges & Shelters

Find the perfect place for events of all sizes

Information on Lodges & Shelters

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

Get Outside, It’s Your Nature!

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