Franklin County Metro Parks

The Columbus and Franklin County Metropolitan Park District was created in 1945 and Blacklick Woods was the first park dedicated on October 21, 1948. Since the 1980s, at least three new metro parks have opened every decade. Today, the Metro Park system has grown to 19 parks on over 27,700 acres.

A recent 558-acre land acquisition in 2017 of an abandoned limestone quarry led to the development of the Quarry Trails Metro Park, located north of Trabue Road and bounded on the east by the Scioto River and on the west and north by Dublin Road. The new 62-acre Metro Park features activities such as hiking, fishing, rock climbing, mountain biking, and kayaking.

Plans for the Big Walnut Creek Parkland were announced in 2018. The district purchased 150 acres of land in Blendon Township in northeastern Franklin County for $5.3 million dollars. The land is just north of Little Turtle Golf Club; to the west is Big Walnut Creek. The land includes 100-foot cliffs and deep ravines that slice through the property. The Shafer family, who had a home nearby on Lee Road, owned 98 acres on the site. The land for the Big Walnut Creek Parkland was purchased from the family trust in 2017. The park has few amenities but showcases the natural beauty of the area.