First time Metro Parks visitor?
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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 space, while providing place and opportunities that encourage people to discover and experience nature. Your 20 Metro Parks cover more than 28,700 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 a Metro Park 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.

A Win for Native Plants

LOGAN DUNN Assistant Resource Manager For years, native plant enthusiasts and conservation minded individuals have adored sharing stories and photos of their gardens, prairies, forests and other landscapes. Lush with …Read More

Winter in Metro Parks

There’s mountains of fun to be had in Metro Parks when winter weather drapes everything in the ghostly sheen of snow and ice, and wildlife is easily seen against the …Read More

Behind the Parks: Meet Renee Telfer at Metro Parks HQ

Renee Telfer Human Resources Director Hometown and Background I was born in Beckley, West Virginia, but my family moved to Columbus when I was just nine months old. My dad …Read More

Climbing Wall and River work is a winter staple at Scioto Audubon

KATIE LOFTON Scioto Audubon Park Technician At Scioto Audubon in the winter, we are able to tackle unique maintenance needs to be sure we continue operating clean, safe parks for …Read More

Lodges & Shelters

Find the perfect place for events of all sizes

Information on Lodges & Shelters

Get Outside, It’s Your Nature!

MAPS & DIRECTIONS