My earliest memories here are coming with Grandad and my grandparent's dog Howie in the mornings…read morebefore he went to work. Howie would run loose around the casting pond. As kids we also came for the playground and the library. I loved that my grandparent's lived close. Now, I come often for a variety of reasons. Of course, there's the library which is a favorite branch. I use the walking paths, and come for occasional free yoga at the gazebo. The casting pond has been renovated and is really beautiful.

This was my first time to visit the Park of Roses although my wife has been here several times in…read morethe past. We were here 4th week of June which means we missed the PEAK blossoms. Their website says that the peak time to visit in EARLY JUNE but our schedules didn't gibe with visiting in early June. Despite missing the PEAK, we were still able to see many gorgeous displays and blossoms. There are more differnt kinds of roses than I knew exisied. There is even a section devoted to HERTIAGE roses - that is roses cultivated BEFORE 1867 which, according to their literature was the birth of the era of today's roses. Whetstone Park is a huge park and the Park of Roses is just a part of the larger park. NOTE - there are no restrooms in the Park of Roses. There must be restrooms elsewhere in the park but they were not evident from the Park of Roses. This is well worth visiting and I'm going to mark my calendar to visit during EARLY JUNE next year.

This is a really nice park. A nice paved path that seems to go far. Over the covered bridge looks…read morelike there was a grass perimeter path. They had a nice size playground and a fitness type playground too. Good access to the creek as well. A few soccer fields and a putting green too. A climbing wall as well. There was a picnic shelter too.

This place didn't appear when I tried to "check in" on Yelp, nor did it show in its listing. I saw…read morea "Sycamore Park", but that's an address in Canal Winchester, so I figured I'd create it. It's located across the street from Victory Park in Pickerington and a few hundred feet down. I used to go to this park in the summer, over the years because they hosted a summer concert series in the amphitheater that included one group that I enjoyed more than others (anyone know if Paradise Island is still performing?). Outside of that, we never spent much time there. Yesterday, we decided to check out areas to relax and decided to give Sycamore Creek Park a look since we really hadn't seen the park itself. It's fairly decent, with a walking trail and a few picnic areas, in case you want to take family and friends for a cookout. It even has a section you can reserve. There's also a tennis and basketball court, if you're feeling active. I took interest in the pond area, in which several people were fishing. I walked over to the south side of it and found a nice vantage point or photos. However, if I wanted to take advantage of the sunset, there was a huge rock that I could pose my subjects on. I didn't walk around, but I may do it later to see if there is anything else of interest. I did add two photos so you can see what I'm taking about, regarding the pond. I understand that they have a sledding hill in the winter time. Something you might want to consider for the kids (and adults). Worth checking out.

Inniswood is one of my current favorite places to walk. It has beautiful paths smooth, many of…read morewhich are ADA accessible, and a few dirt ones, as well as little boardwalks. Not only is it a great space to come explore and learn about different types of plants, but it's pretty friendly for all ages! They have a little play area and a treehouse, as well as a path called the storybook trail where there are signs and illustrations for a nature based story along the path- all at small children's height. There are always parts of the park that are secluded, even on busy holidays or weekends - it's easy to find a peaceful place to sit, paint, journal, or relax away from too much noise. There are many benches all over so plenty of places to sit in the sun or shade.

It's a beautiful morning…read more I think I'll go outside a while and just smile Just take in some clean fresh air Ain't no sense in staying inside If the weather's fine and you got the time It's your chance to wake up and plan another brand new day Either way It's a beautiful morning at Innis Metro Park I am going to get there at 7 and stay till dark It's free year round with activities that abound With 2,000 species of plants to look at I'm sure you'll see something that will astound

I love to walk this trail when I have some time to wonder. The weather's been nice lately so I've…read morebeen taking longer strolls. I appreciate how clean the park is and always see people enjoying themselves whether it's cycling, skating, running, or walking like me.

Great park with so many birds. Would love to see it more during day as I went in evening to enjoy…read morebeer and birds before sunset at Nocterra. I even saw a rainbow.

This is a perennial favorite section of the fair! It's a quieter, relaxing bit of nature within the…read morehustle and bustle of the fair, but it is packed with plenty of things to do, see, and learn. Tour the tiny nature center, which was showcasing amphibians at the time of our visit, and step inside a yurt to see what makes it a unique overnight option. If you're taller than 50 inches, you can sign up for a kayak lesson in the pond. They offer good instructions on the basics and then let you try it out. The Discovery Pavilion has a lot of information, the kayak sign-up booth, a section that showcases state parks (this year, the focus was on the upcoming Great Seal State Park). They also offer a living stream exhibit where you can see some of the critters that can be found and hold a crayfish. There's also a sand dig area. A neat addition this year was the opportunity to try putting out a virtual fire with a light up fire extinguisher. A fire tower is located near the classic giant Smokey the Bear. Unfortunately, you can't climb it, but it does set the scene nicely. Smokey, who is turning 79 this year, will chat with you if desired. There are multiple playground options - the recycling express train is a kid favorite, a wildlife themed one, and a newer gas and oil themed one that has a very neat - and popular - OHIO structure in it. There is also a prairie to explore, a display of native animals (owls, hawks, fox, skunk, and more), a wetland area, a butterfly house, a geology walk, and a number of additional hands-on activities, including archery and shooting ranges, and a fishing pond for 14 and under using cane poles. A gift shop and information booth are also available. A lot of related organizations usually host booths back here too, with additional activities, games, and plenty of information. This is always the first place I recommend when asked about the fair!

Open during the run of the fair, The Natural Resources Park is an 8 acre oasis of green where…read moreyou'll find an abundance of trees, cooling shade and scenic views. Located in the SE corner of The Ohio State Fairgrounds, you'll find this cool micro-park is a nice getaway from the overload of the sights and sounds of the nearby Midway and Kiddie-land areas. This place is packed with plenty to see and do. Be sure to check out the amphitheater there where you can relax and watch a show, visit the butterfly house to watch the little winged ones and don't miss the aviary with it's premier resident, an American Bald Eagle. Take a stroll through the wetlands and prairie areas too while you're there. People preferring something more active might want to head over to the shooting range and try their hand at archery or target shoot with an air gun. The park also has a 7200 square foot pond so you can try your hand at some kayaking. And for the kiddos, let them do some fishing at the stocked pond or have a talk about fire safety with an animatronic 14 foot tall Smokey the Bear. Natural Resources Park is an educational park and there's a lot of Ohio Department of Natural Resources folk around to answer your questions. Looking for the best places in Ohio to hike, bike, fish, camp and boat? These men and women are eager to talk with you about what The Buckeye State has to offer us. Make it a point to visit the park while you're there this year. There's something for everyone and you just might learn a little bit if you do.

The park is well kept and feels safe. I love they pathways to the arches, and gardens. It's…read morealways seasonally decorated and looks lovely. It's a great place for all ages.

This is a beautiful little park with a lot of areas to explore. When you pull into the main parking…read morelot, you find yourself in a busy area featuring a large red barn, a playground, and an open air shelter. If you head to the left, you can cross a little bridge over a creek that takes you into a very nice natural play area, which includes a slide, a ring of boulders to climb and jump from, the aforementioned creek that you can enjoy some creeking in, and a little wooded area with a mini dirt trail. The playground and open air shelter were packed when we visited, but the natural play area was completely empty. We enjoyed the opportunity to fully explore and try out each of the activities. If you continue along the paved trail up the hill, you can take it to the left to visit a small prairie and head up a connector to a greenway trail, or you can take a right and loop through Gantz Park. As you loop around, you'll find a lovely gazebo surrounded by beautiful flowers, and then another bridge that takes you into the gardens area (which is located to the right of the parking lot when you are facing the playground and red barn, so you could also just go straight there if that's your interest). The gardens are very fun, such as a rain garden, a community-type garden, native plants, herb garden, knot garden, and the like. In addition to the beautiful plants, there is a lot of wonderful art and sculptures throughout, and a very nice labyrinth to walk and get some nice meditation in. It was very relaxing despite its proximity to the noisy parking lot and playground. Well worth a visit whether you're getting out with the kids or looking to enjoy the gardens!

Noticed this on the way between a couple of other parks- noticed the playground, specifically. And…read morewhen we went to the one nearest the road, noticed another farther back. K loved the larger playground; small one was fine, but definitely for younger kids. The big one is spread out a bit and has lots of play options. Plus, plenty of benches for tired adults. And a shelter with bathrooms, though in March those aren't open for the season yet. It's a good park in general. Lots of green space, some trees, quite a few shelters, the two playgrounds, plenty of parking, basketball and tennis courts, ball fields... Right in the middle of a growing area, so good for the neighborhood. Not busy on a spring weekday. We'll be back someday, though it's far from our usual routes.

I watched the eclipse here and it was a wonderful setting so, of course, I had to write up a review…read moreto tell you all about it. It's located in Powell, a hop, skip, or jump off of 315. It's pretty freakin' big and while I only explored a portion of it, what I did experience was great. For starters there is plenty of parking and they have restrooms on site. There's also a couple shelter areas so you can stay out of the sun or have a picnic. What I loved most was that there is a ton of green space, perfect for playing frisbee or throwing around a baseball. It's also well kept and had recently been mowed. While I was there, other than watching the eclipse, folks were playing cornhole and kids were practicing their soccer skills. Off in the distance was a lovely playground area that had swings, slides, and more. I heard there is also a small lake, but I did not have the pleasure of seeing it. Overall, it's a pretty solid park and the community around here is lucky to have such a place.

So many beautiful parks to discover, so little time!!! This hidden gem I "discovered" on a…read morebeautiful fall afternoon while attempting to be more social (and less of a hermit!!) in the Columbus area. It's almost a SIN to be indoors this time of the year, so as soon as the indoor stuff was over, I googled nearby parks and decided to check out Duranceaux. Small(ish), clean, quiet, scenic, right on the river, with just a few people walking their dogs, playing on the playground, and flying kites, what more could you ask for?? There is a nice looking educational facility available for groups on one end of the park and what appears to be an OSU boathouse on the other end. If you're from this area, maybe you're already away of this great, tucked away, "secret" spot, but I got the feeling even a few locals might not know it's there. Worth checking out... ENJOY!!

A long skinny park along the river, as is common in this area. We entered from the north, but if…read moreyou're going to the playground (as we were) or the shelters, nature center, etc., I suggest entering off Dublin Rd. The long drive down has plenty of picnic tables, etc., but not many spots to park. The playground is small, but nice. Right near a shelter, with a lot nearby. Shade and benches handy for the grownups. There's a big building that looks like a lodge house, where a wedding was going on. Signs say there is an "education center"- may just be a nature trail? It's south of the playground somewhere. A great resource for the community, and worth a return for more than just the playground.