Crews continue work on multiple projects across Bank Run Metro Park off Rohr Road on the southeast side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Columbus Recreation and Parks is expanding the Big Walnut Trail with a 3.5-mile section on the city’s southeast side, connecting Nafzger Park to East Main Street.

 

Have ideas? Join us for a public open house on Wednesday, March 12, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Far East Community Center, 1826 Lattimer Dr., 43227

On 3/3/2025 at 11:12 PM, CbusOrBust said:

 

Crews continue work on multiple projects across Bank Run Metro Park off Rohr Road on the southeast side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are so many quarries down in that area, it would be amazing if they all could become metro parks. 

 

Blendon Woods Metro Park opens first inclusive playground in Columbus

 

Thursday morning, the first inclusive playground in Columbus was dedicated at Blendon Woods Metro Park on the city's northeast side.

 

The playground is "exclusively inclusive," meaning groups can reserve the space for private events, and it was designed not only for children, but also adults of all abilities to be able to play safely.

 

This $1.5-million project included the creation of the playground, renovation of the restroom facilities to make them more accessible and the installation of play structures. A $20,000 grant from the Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities assisted with restroom renovations.

 

https://www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyle/kindness/2025/04/10/columbus-metro-parks-inclusive-playground-blendon-woods/83031346007/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 10Apr 10 by Luvcbus

 

The northern part of the new Great Southern Metro Park is open off of Williams Road near South High 

 

 

 

 

*The entire park isn't open as work still progresses in other areas

 

24 minutes ago, CbusOrBust said:

 

The northern part of the new Great Southern Metro Park is open off of Williams Road near South High 

 

 

 

 

*The entire park isn't open as work still progresses in other areas

 

That park will be great, but yeah it doesn’t look like much currently. Hopefully in the future they can snag up the other half of the quarry and expand this even more. Excited for any metro parks and happy they did something on the south side 

1 hour ago, VintageLife said:

That park will be great, but yeah it doesn’t look like much currently. Hopefully in the future they can snag up the other half of the quarry and expand this even more. Excited for any metro parks and happy they did something on the south side 

I could be wrong, but something tells me Metro Parks wouldn't have put all the money into this if they didn't see a bigger picture for the new park. Rumor is most of the shopping center will become mixed use with apartments and retail but who knows if that will fall into place. You could be right about them snagging up more land to the west where the current quarry is. I just don't see them creating this narrow strip of land into a park and calling it finished. 

41 minutes ago, sono4315 said:

I could be wrong, but something tells me Metro Parks wouldn't have put all the money into this if they didn't see a bigger picture for the new park. Rumor is most of the shopping center will become mixed use with apartments and retail but who knows if that will fall into place. You could be right about them snagging up more land to the west where the current quarry is. I just don't see them creating this narrow strip of land into a park and calling it finished. 

Well it’s part of the connection for the Scioto river trail, if I remember correctly, so it is for sure part of a bigger picture. I trust the metro parks to always make great things, so I’m excited to see what they do with the site in a few years. 
 

I have seen those rumors about the shopping center and it seems to mostly be coming from nimby south side residents. I’m sure there is some truth in it, and hopefully it does happen. It would be great for the area for it all to move to the road and have the parking behind, with the park being able to expand somewhat. 

Those rumors were wrapped up in a bunch of "I simply can't believe they closed the Wal-Mart. Means everything else is going to close and it will get turned into Manhattan."  

2 minutes ago, GCrites said:

Those rumors were wrapped up in a bunch of "I simply can't believe they closed the Wal-Mart. Means everything else is going to close and it will get turned into Manhattan."  

Yep, that’s what I remembered from seeing stuff online. A lot of racist people mad that an apartment might be built somewhere close to them. They also threw in that it would be for “illegals” that Joe Biden sent to the city 

Hopefully the entire strip is redeveloped. Not to mention, there's zero single family homes facing this development, who's this impacting? 

Edited April 14Apr 14 by KyleofColumbus

16 minutes ago, KyleofColumbus said:

Hopefully the entire strip is redeveloped. Not to mention, there's zero single family homes facing this development, who's this impacting? 

It was a few super racist old people. They don’t care if they life 20 miles from it, they will spew their idiocy all over Facebook saying how this will ruin the neighborhood. 

I wonder if the apartments south of Lowes will ever be developed. I drove past and noticed a few more pieces of equipment on site. 

Edited April 14Apr 14 by sono4315

5 hours ago, sono4315 said:

I wonder if the apartments south of Lowes will ever be developed. I drove past and noticed a few more pieces of equipment on site. 

 

Me too!

They just seem to be doing everything at a snails pace.

 

 

Bank Run — The Shape of Things to Come

 

Bank Run Metro Park, located just off of Rohr Road on the far south side, is founded on the former Hoover Y Park and an adjacent disused quarry site, stretching to a combined 166 acres. The vision for Bank Run moves beyond the typical Metro Park and places greater emphasis on this new park as an event and meeting space. In particular, large events that Metro Parks struggles to host at its existing parks will be welcome and easily accommodated at Bank Run, such as organized 5K runs, festivals and very large picnics. A 5-kilometer trail has been laid out that will wend its way through woodland and around a large quarry lake. Users of the facilities will have an option to have Metro Parks Outdoor Adventure staff provide kayaking or paddleboarding try-it sessions on the lake.

 

Building renovations are underway at Bank Run that will yield two beautiful lodges, each accommodating 99 people for sit-down functions, plus a newly-built 299-person outdoor shelter. All of these facilities will be available for renting separately or in combination. With lots of additional picnic tables and grills and plenty of green space, Metro Parks expects it can accommodate gatherings of up to 10,000 people and more, a far larger capacity than for any of the 20 current Metro Parks. A large stage with electrical connections is being renovated at Bank Run and can be used on site for music performances or presentations.

 

The park is bordered on its northern-side by a beautiful stretch of Big Walnut Creek and trails will lead down to the river bank, where visitors can freely enjoy the scenic views. Acquiring the land that will become Bank Run Metro Park also allows Metro Parks to protect this section of the Big Walnut Creek watershed.

 

Lots more info on Bank Run Metro Park found here:

 

https://www.metroparks.net/blog/bank-run-the-shape-of-things-to-come/

 

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, Luvcbus said:

 

Bank Run — The Shape of Things to Come

 

Bank Run Metro Park, located just off of Rohr Road on the far south side, is founded on the former Hoover Y Park and an adjacent disused quarry site, stretching to a combined 166 acres. The vision for Bank Run moves beyond the typical Metro Park and places greater emphasis on this new park as an event and meeting space. In particular, large events that Metro Parks struggles to host at its existing parks will be welcome and easily accommodated at Bank Run, such as organized 5K runs, festivals and very large picnics. A 5-kilometer trail has been laid out that will wend its way through woodland and around a large quarry lake. Users of the facilities will have an option to have Metro Parks Outdoor Adventure staff provide kayaking or paddleboarding try-it sessions on the lake.

 

Building renovations are underway at Bank Run that will yield two beautiful lodges, each accommodating 99 people for sit-down functions, plus a newly-built 299-person outdoor shelter. All of these facilities will be available for renting separately or in combination. With lots of additional picnic tables and grills and plenty of green space, Metro Parks expects it can accommodate gatherings of up to 10,000 people and more, a far larger capacity than for any of the 20 current Metro Parks. A large stage with electrical connections is being renovated at Bank Run and can be used on site for music performances or presentations.

 

The park is bordered on its northern-side by a beautiful stretch of Big Walnut Creek and trails will lead down to the river bank, where visitors can freely enjoy the scenic views. Acquiring the land that will become Bank Run Metro Park also allows Metro Parks to protect this section of the Big Walnut Creek watershed.

 

Lots more info on Bank Run Metro Park found here:

 

https://www.metroparks.net/blog/bank-run-the-shape-of-things-to-come/

 

 

 

 

 

Buy all the land!! I love seeing this and hope they are able to continue to purchase large areas 

A dedicated 5k race trail is such a slick move by MetroParks