Winter Hike Series 2022

Winter is here! And it’s time once again to hike with your Friends and earn a hiking stick or medallion! This year, the park featured on the medallion is Highbanks Metro Park! We would like to extend our sincerest thanks, because they also helped us out and branded all of the walking sticks we have this year!

How do you earn a stick? Easy! Become a Friend of the Metro Parks at the $10 level or more, and walk all 18 winter hikes! Turn in your completed card (or email mameyer@metroparks.net) and we will set up a time for you to come pick up your stick! We will be having an end-of hike celebration at Blacklick Woods Golf Course on Sunday, February 27th from 11-3, and we hope to do all of our stick pick-ups there.

Friends of Metro Parks T-Shirt Contest

Want to see your design on a shirt and help out your Metro Parks? Submit your design through our contest! We will be announcing deadlines for submissions through our social media (Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter) and also through email, so please be sure to sign up for our email list and follow us to get the most up to date information.

Winners will receive a free one-year Friends of Metro Parks membership and a free shirt featuring the winning design! This contest is open to all ages and all skill levels! Designs will be narrowed down by a panel of judges, and then voted on by the public.

Please attach your design, this submission form and the signed second page of the submission form to an email with the subject line "T-Shirt Submission" and your last name to friends@metroparks.net.

Designs must clearly feature the name of the park and should showcase the "spirit" of the park. See below for image and file specifications!

Questions?

Email Melissa at mameyer@metroparks.net for any questions regarding image specifications.

Take some time to hike in the featured parks to get some inspiration for your design!

We are accepting submissions for Clear Creek Metro Park. The deadline is August 26th. We are excited to see what you think up!

Fun Ways to Enjoy your Metro Parks this Fall!

Post By: Laura Schneider

It’s fall, the leaves are gorgeous, there’s a chill in the air, and all of us with the Friends of Metro Parks are excited and grateful that soooo many of you have been visiting the parks this year. Park attendance is way up from last year! The wonderful Metro Parks staff has been working tirelessly to keep the parks open and safe for all of us, and we owe them a giant collective THANK YOU!

This has been a tough year, but we’ve at least had beautiful, clean, safe parks to visit. We love the parks and it makes us very happy that so many of our neighbors do too.

SO, LET’S KEEP THE PARKS LOVE GOING!

This fall, there are tons of opportunities to stay active outdoors in your favorite Metro Park. Whatever activity you’re into, there’s a park for that. 

Looking for ideas of things to do? Here are a couple of recommendations:

The Explorer’s Challenge

This is a new program this year, and it consists of 5 different challenges that you can complete in order to win a prize. And the best part? Each challenge gives you the chance to get out to several different parks, so that you can check out what makes each park special and maybe visit one you haven’t been to.

The Explorer’s Challenge runs through October 31, so you still have time to get out there and get it done.

The 5 challenges are:

1. The River Rambler: spend 10 hours or more canoeing, paddle-boarding, or kayaking on one of Metro Parks’ many scenic waterways. Checking out the fall colors from the water? Yes please!

2. The Trail Trotter: hike the 5 trails identified in the challenge, totaling 10.9 miles. The trails are at 5 different parks – lots of variety!

3. Pet Trail Prowler: this challenge is for you and your adorable doggie (or cat, I suppose, if you can actually get your cat to walk. I’ve tried to get my cat to walk on a leash and it’s a big NOPE from her.). You’ll hike 5 of Metro Parks’ pet-friendly trails, totaling 12.3 miles. If you don’t have a pet, you can always hike the trails by yourself, but that doesn’t sound as fun. I’d recommend borrowing a dog. Message me and I can hook you up with a crazy terrier ;)

4. Greenways Go-Getter: For this challenge, you can hike or bike! Metro Parks manages 100 miles of paved Greenway Trails, offering everything from scenic nature to views of downtown Columbus. If you decide to bike, you’ll pedal 52.9 miles along 5 different sections of Greenway Trails (sore butt included at no extra charge). If you decide to hike instead, you’ll do 10 miles.

5. Ridge Runner: if you’re like, “yeah, I prefer hiking, but I’m not going to be outdone by those show-off cyclists doing 52.9 miles,” then the Ridge Runner challenge is for you! It involves 10.8 miles of hiking or running on 5 of the Metro Parks’ more difficult trails in 5 different parks. 

6. Thru-Hiker: But wait, I thought you said there were 5 challenges…? Think of this one as a bonus. If you just can’t get enough hiking this fall, and you complete all 4 of the hiking challenges, then you’ve also completed the Thru-Hiker challenge! If you do this, you will have hiked 44 miles in at least 12 different parks. We will all be super impressed. And, if you’re one of the first 200 people to complete Thru-Hiker, you’ll get a patch and a t-shirt!

Be sure to check out the official site for all the details of the Explorer’s Challenge. And remember, it runs through October 31, so you still have plenty of time!

The Chase Columbus Turkey Trot

Here’s another chance to get out, be active, and do some good at the same time. The Chase Columbus Turkey Trot benefits Easterseals of Central & Southeast Ohio, an outstanding organization that provides services and advocacy for people in our community who are living with disabilities.

Pre-pandemic, the Chase Turkey Trot was a race held on Thanksgiving morning in Upper Arlington. This year, it’s going virtual, so you can do it anywhere – and I’m biased, but I think you should do it in your favorite Metro Parks! Just think, you’ll spend some much-needed time outdoors and help raise money for Easterseals. 

(The Friends of Metro Parks and the Metro Parks aren’t affiliated with this event, but it’s a great cause and, as always, we just want to encourage folks to use the parks!)

Here’s how the Turkey Trot works this year:

• You can complete your race on your own time, anytime from November 1st through December 1st. Wanna run and work up a monster appetite on Thanksgiving morning? You can still do it! Prefer to get out in the evenings? You can do that too! There are no rules! Well, actually there are *some* rules, but you know what I mean ;) 

You can spread out your virtual “race” so that it works with your schedule. It would be a perfect excuse to visit a new Metro Park or two!

• You pick any activity that you want. Really – any activity you want! When you register for the race, you download an app that keeps track of your activities, so just log what you do and you’ll earn points toward prizes.

So let’s look at some of the activities you could choose as part of your virtual Chase Columbus Turkey Trot, and I’ll recommend a great Metro Park where you could do it!

Kayaking/Paddleboarding

My personal favorite is Big Darby Creek at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park. It’s so scenic and peaceful. But then again, so is the Olentangy River at Highbanks! It’s so hard to choose just one favorite. 

For a nice variety, check out Prairie Oaks, which has two lakes that you can paddle in, and also offers access to Big Darby Creek.  

Running

Up for a challenge? One of my favorite trails in all the parks is the 2.5 mile Cemetery Ridge trail at Clear Creek. Whether you run it or hike it, be prepared for a tough workout at the beginning of the trail, if you start it at the trailhead. It has about 300 feet of elevation change early on, and then takes you along the top of the beautiful ridge and by a very cool old barn.

If you’re looking for something flatter, the Ancient Trail at Battelle Darby Creek is a nice run and takes you by a Fort Ancient mound too.

Yoga

Every park has spots that are perfect for yoga. But if I had to choose one park, I’d recommend Scioto Audubon. The deck outside of the Grange Audubon Center would be an inspiring place to practice, and the boardwalk that runs along the wetlands would too! If you go at a less-busy time, you’ll feel like it’s just you, the fish, and the ducks – and the water is smooth and calming.

Archery

Disclaimer – the only time I’ve ever shot a bow & arrow was in high school gym class. But it was fun, and I wasn’t THAT bad at it! If you’re into archery, there’s a course at Scioto Grove that you should check out. While you’re there, you can also swing by the disc golf course!

Hiking

Since we’re talking about where to do your virtual Turkey Trot, I recommend hiking the Overlook Trail at Highbanks. Why? I’ve seen lots of wild turkeys on that trail! And you never know, you might even get lucky and see a bald eagle at the overlook (but I’ve never gotten that lucky).

Obstacle Course

The obstacle course at Scioto Audubon is a blast! Rope ladders, tires, tubes...and the best part is that there are almost always other people nearby to watch you make a fool of yourself – or at least, that’s been my experience when I’ve tried it :) There’s also an obstacle course at Glacier Ridge. Since you’re earning points for all the activities you do during your virtual Turkey Trot, why not do both? 

Biking

If you’re into mountain biking, Chestnut Ridge is the place to go. It has a 9-mile trail with an easy segment and a harder segment, so everyone can give it a try. If you prefer nice flat pavement under your tires, you can also cycle through parts of several parks on the Greenways Trails.

This list includes just a few of the activities you could do in our wonderful Metro Parks as part of the Chase Columbus Turkey Trot. So why not get creative, spend some time outdoors, and help support a fantastic organization?

If you do either the Explorer’s Challenge or the Chase Columbus Turkey Trot, make sure to tag us @metroparkfriend! We LOVE seeing folks enjoying the parks!

Happy fall!

Get a Taste of the Tropics in Ohio! And not just because of the humidity ;)

Post by: Laura Schneider

Hey Friends!

There are days here in the O-H that feel downright tropical because of the high humidity and – if you’re really unlucky – lots of mosquitoes.

Ohio’s tropical-tasting native fruit, the Paw Paw

But tropical-tasting fruit? Growing in Ohio? Say whaaaat?

Yes, there is such a thing. I’m talking about the humble pawpaw, of course!

Nicknamed “the poor-man’s banana” and overlooked for years, pawpaws are finally getting some love and attention. Pawpaws are the only edible fruit that’s native to Ohio, and in 2009 they were recognized as the official state native fruit.

But maybe pawpaws shouldn’t be so humble. According to several sources, they were George Washington’s favorite dessert and he planted them at Mt. Vernon. In 1806, pawpaws also saved the Lewis & Clark Expedition: they ran out of food about a week away from home, and were fortunate enough to find plenty of ripe pawpaws to eat to hold them over.

Pawpaw Trees

Pawpaw trees (Asimina triloba) grow all over Ohio, and are native to the eastern, southern, and midwestern states. They don’t like direct sunlight or overly wet soil, and are generally pretty small trees that grow in the understory of a forest. They can grow to about 35-45’ feet tall, but they’re often shorter and look more like shrubs than trees. They usually grow in patches.

The leaves of pawpaw trees are almond-shaped and range from about 5–11” long. They turn yellow in the fall, making it easier to spot clusters of trees.

Here’s something you probably didn’t know about pawpaws: most of them are clones (cue the Star Wars music). Pawpaws mainly reproduce through “root suckers,” which is when new shoots grow out of existing roots. So when you see a cluster of pawpaw trees, they’re often genetically the same! Pawpaws can also reproduce through seeds, but this happens less often.

It may seem hard to believe, but these cute little pawpaw trees are kind of...standoffish. Their leaves and bark contain a natural insecticide, so they don’t really attract insects and they also aren’t appealing to deer or rabbits. The bark also contains a known neurotoxin!

The Fruit – Part I

When you walk through your favorite Metro Park in late summer, you’ll probably see lots of pawpaw trees, but not many that have fruits growing on them. What gives? 

It turns out that pawpaw trees aren’t all that great at producing fruits, and it all has to do with pollination. 

Pawpaws flower in the early spring, but the flowers don’t let off a strong smell the way that other flowers do, so they don’t attract many pollinators. For example, bees apparently couldn’t care less about pawpaws. And why would they, when there are so many other wonderful-smelling flowers to check out? 

There are a lot of fruit trees that can self-pollinate, but pawpaws can’t do that either. There are only a few flies and beetles that pollinate pawpaws, so this is one reason why they don’t produce a lot of fruit.

Super-gross side story: people who grow pawpaw trees will sometimes hang dead things nearby (like roadkill) to attract flies so that hopefully they’ll pollinate the blooms. Ewwww.

Another reason for lots of trees but no fruit – remember how most pawpaws are clones and grow together in patches? In order to produce fruit, pawpaws require cross-pollination from a genetically unrelated tree. This can be hard to come by when you live in a big patch full of nothing but clones of yourself. When you think about it, it’s kind of a miracle that we ever get any pawpaw fruits at all! 

The Fruit – Part II

OK, so once a pawpaw tree has overcome all that and finally produces fruit – what does it look and taste like?

Pawpaws are 2-6” long, and resemble short, fat bananas. Unripe pawpaws are hard and green, and as they ripen they become more yellow-green (and can get brown or black splotches) and soften. Ripe pawpaws will feel like a ripe peach and let off a fruity smell.

There’s a short window of time to find ripe pawpaws. They usually ripen in September, but only for about a week to ten days. Ripe pawpaws easily come off the tree and will eventually fall off on their own. 

Once ripe, the inside of pawpaws are yellow and mushy (often described as “custardy”), with black seeds. 

And what about the taste? Remember how I said “tropical tasting” fruit? It’s true! Pawpaws are most frequently described as tasting similar to bananas and mangos, and some people get a hint of pineapple too. It’s basically like someone took all the fruits in Chiquita Banana’s basket, squished them all together and voila – the pawpaw! Crazy as it sounds, we have that sweet little tropical fruit on some finicky little trees right here in Ohio :)

Paw Paws wouldn’t be out of place in a tropical marketplace!

Pawpaw fruits are also pretty solid, nutritionally speaking. They contain:

• Three times as much Vitamin C as an apple

• Iron (about 39% of the recommended daily value)

• Manganese (more than 100% of the recommended daily value)

• Potassium

• Copper

• Significant amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and zinc

• Protein (the protein in pawpaws contains all the essential amino acids, which makes them a “complete” protein – there aren’t many plants that can boast this!)

A Big Increase in “Paw”pularity!

Pawpaws were a staple in the diets of many Native Americans and early Europeans in North America, but really fell out of favor once fruits and vegetables started to be grown commercially. Ripe pawpaws only last a few days before they start to ferment, so they’re hard to store and transport, which is one reason why you don’t see them in grocery stores.

But, as many of us have started to become more conscious about where our food comes from, pawpaws have recently surged in pawpularity (sorry, it just doesn’t get old). Plus, pawpaws can easily be grown organically, since they don’t attract many pests. So, folks have started to rediscover the pawpaw for that reason too.

Several states have pawpaw festivals to celebrate the little green guys, with the one right here in Ohio being one of the largest. It’s held annually in September in Albany, which is near Athens. (Unfortunately it had to be cancelled this year due to the pandemic, but will be worth checking out next year.)

A quick Google search shows you a plethora of recipes to make pawpaw pies, cookies, guacamole, gelato, pudding, and about a million other things.  Lots of Ohio craft brewers use pawpaws in a seasonal brew, like Thirsty Dog in Akron and Jackie O’s in Athens. You can even order fresh pawpaws or frozen pawpaw pulp from Integration Acres in Albany, one of the largest pawpaw processors and organizer of the Ohio PawPaw Fest.

There’s even a National Pawpaw Day – it’s celebrated each year on the third Thursday in September.

So, next time you’re out and about in our wonderful Metro Parks, keep an eye out for pawpaw trees – and now when you see them, you’ll probably think about clones, Chiquita Banana, roadkill, and beer too. Enjoy!

"Every Trail Project" with Nick Kiger

Want to follow along Nick Kiger as he runs every trail in the Metro Parks?

Follow his blog: Nicks Blog!

From the Blog: August 29, 2020

In March when, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic Ohio issued a stay-at-home order, I know I’m not the only one who said to myself “I hope this doesn’t include Metro Parks.” I was relieved when through the hard work and diligence of the Metro Parks staff that the parks would be staying open and now, almost 7 months into the pandemic, they remain a gift to all of us. Since March 23 (the beginning of the Ohio’s first stay-at-home order) I have run over 430 miles in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks alone. The parks have been an escape for me, a place to find peace  and a connection to nature during these challenging times.

A few weeks ago as I reflected on how important the parks have been to me and to so many, I decided I wanted to do something that could celebrate, bring awareness to and even raise a few dollars for our Metro Parks. That is when the idea for the Every Trail Project came to life. Our Metro Parks have over 230 miles of trails within 19 parks and I plan to run every mile of trail in the Metro Park system (except for a few bridle trails) during the month of September. As I run, I want to take in all that our parks have to offer and write about what I see and feel here. And, I hope to raise some money for Friends of Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks, who work to support and advocate for our Metro Parks. To support this effort you can visit this donation page and select “Every Trail Project” in the Donation Details section.

I hope you will join me in appreciating and celebrating this wonderful resource! You can follow along here and on my Instagram page. Get outside, stay healthy and find joy!

The 5 Coolest Mushrooms You Might See in your Favorite Metro Park (ranked entirely by their names!)

By Laura Schneider

The 5 Coolest Mushrooms You Might See in your Favorite Metro Park (ranked entirely by their names!) Mushrooms are just cool. They pop up in all kinds of weird places, grow in a huge variety of shapes and colors, and some people even think that they may have come from outer space (no, really!)

Oh, and many species grow in huge underground networks, like Armillaria, the “humongous fungus”– a single fungus in Oregon that spreads over 37 acres and weighs over 10 tons!

Mushrooms look like plants, but they’re actually more closely related to animals. The biggest difference is that plants can make their own food, but mushrooms (and animals) can’t. Mushrooms rely on decaying plants, animals, and even other fungi to get the nutrition they need.

But the coolest thing about many mushrooms? Their names, of course!

(Drum roll…)

So – here’s the definitive ranking of the 5 coolest mushrooms you might see in your Metro Parks. The only thing we used to rank them is their common names, so this is maybe not what you’d call “scientific,” but who cares! Next time you’re at a Metro Park, look up, down, and all around, and you might see one of these fun fungi:

1. Witch’s butter: Tremella mesenterica

This one makes me think of everyone’s favorite gruesome and disturbing fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel. Remember it? There’s a witch who lives in the woods and she traps Hansel and Gretel, keeps them in a cage, and tries to fatten them up so she can eat them. I mean, WHAT. THE. HECK?

Anyway, when I think of witch’s butter, I think of her stocking up on butter for her upcoming, uh, cooking needs. Sorry.

But forget all that! Witch’s butter is beautiful. It’s a lovely shade of yellow, and is smooth and jellylike, with folds that kind of remind you of a brain. You’ll mainly find it growing on the wood of deciduous trees.

2. Destroying Angel: Amanita bisporigera

Photo By: Kathie Hodge, via inaturalist.com

“Cool name! Oh…wait…is it called ‘destroying angel’ because it’s pois-” YUP.

Sadly, these poisonous little suckers cause most of the mushroom-eating fatalities in North America. So “angel” is maybe not the choice I would’ve gone with, but at least the “destroying” part is spot-on. Doesn’t it sound like it would be a good female wrestler’s name or something?

Destroying angels are rather delicate-looking, with a smooth white cap and narrow stem. They are pretty widespread, and you’ll see them growing from the ground. Interestingly, this type of fungus forms a symbiotic relationship with a few different types of trees, like oaks. Destroying angels can also be found in lawns or grassy meadows, but usually still near trees.

Another interesting tidbit? There are some animals that can eat destroying angels, but – and I can’t stress this enough! – humans are not one of them. Unless you’re a mushroom expert (in which case, I doubt you’d be reading this blog!), you should give mushrooms their space – and keep kids and pets away from them too.

3. Chicken of the Woods: Laetiporus sulphureus

Not to be confused with Chicken of the Sea, or with wild turkeys, Chicken of the Woods is a bracket fungus that can grow pretty large, with irregularly-shaped orange-yellow “shelves” that can get up to 16” or more across. They’re quite common and can be found growing on hardwood trees (often oaks) and also conifers. There are several species of Chicken of the Woods. They are sometimes parasitic, causing rot on trees. Chicken of the Woods mushrooms also do feed on dead and decaying trees (the word to describe fungi that eat dead organic material is “saprotrophic” if you want to sound super well- informed).

Oh, and if you enjoy this name, there are other poultry-inspired ‘shrooms you should look up, like Hen- of-the-Woods, fried chicken mushrooms, and chicken fat mushrooms.

4. Bearded tooth: Hericium erinaceus

This type of mushroom has several names: bearded tooth, pompom, and lion’s mane. I’m using bearded tooth because it’s the weirdest one. I’m curious, did the person who named this one actually look at it and think “It looks like a tooth with a beard” or…?

This mushroom is just all-around cool. It looks kind of like those trendy chandeliers you see in every house on HGTV, right? You’re most likely to see a bearded tooth in the fall, high up in a tree (they like beech and oak). Like Chicken of the Woods, they can be parasitic or saprotrophic.

Apparently, bearded tooth mushrooms are so sought-after that you can buy kits online to grow them. Imagine how bougie your yard would look if each of your trees had one of these fancy fungi on them!

5. False turkey tail: Stereum ostrea

Michael Kuo: mushroomexpert.com

Beware this lyin’, cheatin’, deceivin’ mushroom! Not because it’s poisonous (it’s not), but because it’s trying to bamboozle us all by looking like an actual turkey tail mushroom!

Isn’t there enough trickery in the world already?

Anyway, as the name suggests, this mushroom is shaped like a turkey tail or like a fan. It’s colorful with really interesting patterns, and grows on decaying branches and logs of deciduous trees.

Not to sound superficial, but its looks are kind of the only thing that the false turkey tail has going for it. True turkey tail mushrooms have medicinal uses, but false turkey tails do not. False turkey tails are also not edible because they’re super tough.

How can you tell an honest turkey tail mushroom from this sneaky poser? Look on the underside of the brackets. False turkey tails have a smooth underside, while the underside of a true turkey tail is very porous.

I find it really amusing that the mushroom-naming powers-that-be couldn’t just give it its own name, but decided to make it sound like a phony :)

Honorable Mentions

I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least point out these other cleverly-named mushrooms, so that you can keep an eye out for them too:

Dead Man’s Fingers (Xylaria polymorpha) – because everyone loves a dose of the macabre with their hikes.

Eyelash cup (Scutellinia scutellat) – this sounds like something your lash artist would use for storage, but it’s actually a hairy red-orange mushroom. It’s also known as eyelash fungus, which SOUNDS HORRIBLE!

And, my personal favorite…

Dog Vomit Slime Mold (Fuligo septica) The only reason this one didn’t make the list is that it’s not a mushroom, or any other type of fungus. “Slime molds” used to be classified as fungi, but they were kicked out of the kingdom, so to speak, and are now considered protists.

Doesn’t matter – you’ve seen it. You’ve definitely mistaken it for doggie barf. It’s gross looking and it’s everywhere, especially when it rains. You’ve been meaning to look up what the heck it is, but you keep forgetting. And now you know! You’re welcome :)

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Well folks, there you have it! The top 5 coolest mushrooms that you might see in your fabulous Metro Parks! When you see them, or any others, post a picture and tag us @metroparkfriend – we can’t wait to see what you find!

Oh, and one more thing. We know you know this, but it’s a friendly reminder. It’s not safe – or legal – to pick or take any mushrooms from any of your Metro Parks. No matter what type of fungi you come across in the parks, just observe and appreciate them from a safe distance – and be sure to take lots of photos to share with us!

State of the Metro Parks: Friends of Metro Parks Annual Meeting & Volunteer of the Year

Friends and Metro Parks volunteers gathered on January 12 at Blacklick Woods Golf Course for the Friends of Metro Parks annual meeting and the Volunteer of the Year awards. Friends of Metro Parks President Aryeh Alex recapped some of the exciting things that the Friends of Metro Parks did in our annual report including three Friends-Only hikes, multiple park cleanups, and taking part in Scioto Fest!

Tim Moloney, director of Metro Parks, then presented on the "State of the Metro Parks" and went into detail about some of the fun new developments that are in the works for the next few years.

Finally, the winners of the Metro Parks Volunteer of the Year awards were announced! The winners are as listed:

Battelle Darby Creek: John Lorenz
Blacklick Woods:Bobbie Cox
Blacklick Woods Golf Course: Jim Dugan
Blendon Woods & Rocky Fork: Molly Scott
Clear Creek: Russ Kessler
Glacier Ridge & Homestead: Don Kloss
Highbanks: Tim Carpenter
Honeybee Project: Mike & Jody Jones
Inniswood: Jeanie Wall
Resource Management: John Lorenz
Scioto Audubon & Greenways: Trent Hager
Scioto Grove: Kelly Dodd
Sharon Woods: Terry Nichols
Slate Run Farm: Kerry Sherrill
Three Creeks: Casey Bolin
Walnut Woods: Megan Conaway

Metro Parks Volunteer of the Year: John Lorenz
 

This Black Friday #OptOutside and Opt to Act!

A few years ago, REI created a movement by shutting its doors on Black Friday and asking its members to Opt Outside. This year they've decided to make a difference with Opt to Act, a nationwide clean up challenge.

On November 29th at 10 am, join the Friends of Metro Parks, Hashtag 59, One80Out Supply, Cliff Original, JustMe5K, 52HikeChallenge & REI as we Opt Outside and Opt to Act at Scioto Audubon Metro Park.

We will meet at the Grange Insurance Audubon Center, then head out to clean up a 3 mile stretch of the Scioto Greenway Trail. All are invited to join. We'll have some fun with coffee, donuts, raffles & giveaways from our hosts. We hope that  you will Opt Outside with us, but if you can’t, check out one of these other cool #OptOutside hikes hosted by the Metro Parks!

Hike All The Trails: Blacklick Woods: 6 miles: 9:00 AM

Opt Outside Hike: Battelle Darby Creek, Cedar Ridge: 4 miles: 11:00 AM

Opt Outside Hike: Clear Creek, Creekside Meadows: 4 miles: 10:00 AM

Inniswood Campfire Celebration

Inniswood Metro Gardens is a 123 acre park featuring woodland boardwalks, streams, and beautifully manicured landscapes. The many areas of Inniswood showcase different types of gardening and collections of plants, including a rock and crevice garden, a cutting garden, and an herb garden. Plants are switched out and strategically planted so something is always in bloom at Inniswood!

This Inniswood Metro Gardens is one of a kind in our park district, making it the perfect place for the Friends of Metro Parks to host their first gala-type fundraiser, the Inniswood Campfire Celebration! Special Metro Parks experiences were auctioned off at our silent auction, as well as other items donated from local businesses.  Live music by Whirlybirds, catered hors d'oeuvres from Together & Company, gourmet s’mores and apple cider mimosas rounded out the night and made this event extra special for everyone.

And when the sun went down, the lights went on! The inniswood staff spent weeks lighting up the herb and rock garden just for this event! Guests were given exclusive access to the park after dark with the chance to explore it in a whole different kind of light. It was truly magical!

Special thanks to our sponsor, Scotts Miracle-Gro, for helping us make this event so great!  

Check out the gallery to see what you missed! We hope to see you next year

Scioto Fest: Part 2

September 13 - 15

Scioto Audubon Metro Park has a fascinating history. The land that used to be the impound lot was turned from blighted brownfield to an amazing urban Metro Park with help from the City of Columbus and Ohio Audubon. The park features wetlands, fields and river banks, creating an oasis where wildlife and birds are abundant. In addition to the natural habitat created by the conversion to a park, there are also many exciting recreational features for visitors including bocce and volleyball courts, an obstacle course, a dog park, and a rock climbing wall, all watched over by the water tower viewing deck, a remnant of the industrial landscape that used to dominate the space.

For a few years now, Scioto Audubon Metro Parks has held a Rock Climbing festival. This year, the festival has evolved into Scioto Fest, a celebration of the park featuring rock climbing, camping, music, and a very special treat from our friends at Land Grant.  

Day one of Scioto Fest featured some casual climbing and slack lining, gourmet s’mores with REI and Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse on the big screen after dark. This was also the first chance to taste the new beer from Land Grant, “Outpost Rustic Lager.”

The Outpost Lager wasn’t just any old beer though! This brew was crafted specifically for Scioto Fest, featuring our iconic water tower right on the label. Even more exciting, this beer was made with honey harvested right from the Metro Parks beehives! Many of these beehives were purchased through the Tad Jeffrey Memorial Grants that the Friends award the parks each year.  This beer was light and refreshing, and paired perfectly with the toasty weekend we had to celebrate Scioto Fest!

Day two of Scioto Fest started with a “Rise and Climb” and breakfast provided by REI for those who camped out overnight. Hikes were led by the Grange Insurance Audubon Center and DJ George Brazil provided tunes for the Learn The Ropes program at the climbing wall. The rest of the evening included live music from Hebdo, Brother Hill, and Steven Fox and the Whiskey Sneaks as visitors climbed, danced, enjoyed Land Grant beers, food from our food trucks, and watched the sunset over the city skyline. 

Scioto Fest was a lot of fun for us! We hope anyone who came out had a great time! If you have photos, please send them our way to friends@metroparks.net