I have been interested in learning about the metroparks for a while. Where I live (not in OH) they don't have these.

 

I found a website that shows all of them in the state of Ohio:

 

http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/dnap/links/default.htm

 

I'm curious to know, are these parks a huge draw throughout their respective metros, the state and from other states?

 

How are these parks maintained and funded?

 

Are their parks like these in other states? I know Louisville, KY has them.

 

 

I'm not sure why all metro areas don't have something similar, but it may have something to do with history.  I think Ohio may have started to urbanize and develop at a particular time where the conditions were just right. I know that the Cleveland Metroparks were founded out of the Progressive Era movement, and then expanded its development through Federal legislation passed in the New Deal aimed to create jobs for public works improvements.

 

I think metroparks in Ohio are all "county-wide" parks as opposed to local, state, or federal funded/operated parks. So whatever funding the metroparks get is probably at the county level. Levies on the county ballot could potentially increase funding for the park system, or a congressman could probably earmark federal legislation for metropark funds. But the Metroparks also receive funding from revenue generated from use of the golf courses, marinas, tobaggan run, stables, etc. The Cleveland Zoo for instance is a part of the Cleveland Metroparks system. Metropark operations are not all "free" to the public.

 

It's been my understanding that the parks are not necessarily huge draws for people outside the metro area. Most people I encounter from outside the metro area (and often  within the state) don't know about the Cleveland Metroparks or understand what they are when I try and describe it to them. I think its more natural for most visitors to visit a federal or state park before an Ohio metropark, especially if they aren't familar with this type of park system back home.