Biking this summer is not cancelled…read more In fact, unless one is extra susceptible to the plague, cycling is recommended. To bath in sunshine key in building a strong immune system, to improve fitness key in successfully fighting off infection, and to raise serotonin key in bating off anxiety caused by the media's panic-porn are three reasons to take Freddie Mercury's advice to "get on your bike and ride." Of the many outstanding bike trails in Columbus the Olentangy River Greenway is my top choice. As multi-use trail, it garners excellent reviews for runners, biker, and rollerblades alike. My ranking has not changed since my review in 2014. I update to include the northern stretch I had of yet to explored then. The origin is behind The Hills market there off Rt 315, Worthington Hills, beside Rusty Bucket and that weird coffee shop Subway place. Going south, it hugs the river going by the boulders of Worthington Hills Park and off into the woods of Olentangy Parkland. There are many splits, bypasses, off-trails, and alternate surfaced byways in this area to spice up your ride. Going under the rumbling ramps and bridges of 270 will reveal Olentangy Park with a skatepark attached. From there the trial breezes through Highgate Park, then up the grasses of John Galipault Field to 161, across the river, and down into the woods near the Olentangy split. Here it spans next to 315 until Antrim park, where a large quarry sparkle. From there the trail once again hugs the highway. This section can be noisy with the varooms, and clonks, and rumble of the gas hogs flying by. But soon the greenway lightly sways away following the bends of the river into scenic greenery, wooden bridges, under ancient trees. Nearby, a new connector way to Bethel has recently been built, a convenience for me who lives nearby. Coming to Henderson Road is beautiful in the juxtaposition of the low rusted bridge and rustic background. Down the other side is Whetstone ravine with the correspondingly named school and park. Found here is a pedestrian bridge, an urban relic connecting to the quiet environs of the Knolls to the west--often I connect to the trail via it. South are trail leading to the Park of Roses, a Japanese pond, and shelter houses. On the trail is a maze of prairie grass that you can spend some time exploring. Staying on the greenway leads to Northmoor Park, a great place for a rest and a cool view of the river. From here the trial runs over the back streets of Clintonville by Rockwellian houses and quiet yards. Crossing North Broadway, it swoops down a back alley by a picketed fence with WB cartoons painted on it. A left at the river and it becomes pedestrian only again. Here it goes over the former grounds of the Olentangy Park, once the largest amusement park in the nation. Crossing over the river brings OSU Nature Reserve and Union Cemetery. Going under Dodridge takes you to a darker ravine. A side loop leads to a photogenic gothic staircase climbing to Hudson. From there it runs by Tuttle Park, under Lane Avenue, and by Ohio Stadium. Beyond the University hospital the scenery becomes more desolate. A look out plaza shows the inside plumbing of the city, with 315 on ramps above the river it is so ugly its scenic. Keeping on you reach Harrison West and Side-by-side park. You have a choice: turn left and hit a ramp under 3rd Ave. that will take you through a tunnel and off into the final stretch, or go straight to Harrison Park and over a reused railroad bridge, right at Goodale St, down a ramp onto the original trail. Here it will turn more urban, graffiti take the place of nature for viewing pleasure. This stretch runs under train tracks and highways with a romantic darkness, like the feel of the Lost Boy film or a Doors song. This will take you to route 33 where it terminates. I usually go on to the connected Scioto trail from here. The diversity of sights, neighborhoods, and different feels is what makes this trail my favorite.

Really awesome path to run, walk, or bike! A lot of it is shaded and it's mostly flat, signs are…read moresuper clear and the miles are marked clearly as well. Not too many people on weekday mornings (went on a Friday and Monday), quiet from the general city noise. Many entry points from the neighborhood streets, really awesome spot, would recommend!

This nature preserve has a nice location adjacent to both Big Bear Farms Park and Adventure Park,…read moreand is located behind Scioto Ridge Elementary School. It also connects to a paved greenway trail. Because of this location, there are multiple entrances into this beautiful woods - there are several behind the school, and several that meet up with the greenway trails. The trail itself is nicely mulched, which helped decrease the amount of mud, although there were some muddy spots so keep that in mind for footwear selections. There are several nice basic bridges that get you across a stream and near vernal pools and a small wetland. It's very pretty and relaxing, and your visit to the area can easily be extended by continuing your walk on the greenway trails. Very nice area!

This is a fine neighborhood park, just not a standout. Playing fields, a small pond, a little…read moreplayground, etc. A loop trail, which connects to other parks. A creek along the back. Plenty of parking, well-kept, easy to get to. I went to ride my bike, and that's where things went a bit downhill. There's not much room to ride in the park- great for kids, not for anyone interested in a longer ride. The paths connect to the Mudsock trail, which is mostly gravel. On the other end you can try to get to Hilliard Municipal park, which isn't much better. I recommend the many fine trails in other parts of central Ohio. In Hilliard, maybe start at Homestead Park and work north.

Decent playground and the usual soccer fields. There's also a little pond to feed the ducks. It's…read morenot bad if you live in the neighborhood. There's a creek here that they recently restored back to its original winding way and replanted native trees and plants. They also put a new bridge over it. It looks decent now. It had been just a straight trench filled with mostly stagnant water. In the 1800's the creek had been straightened for farm irrigation. Now it has been restored back to its original natural look. There's a paved trail that goes around the pond. It's good for joggers and bike riders or your kid's power wheels. There's plenty of parking here and a portapottie if you can stomach it. I usually just hold my pee.

It's quite a nice little playground especially for being near Carriage place. Much of the equipment…read moreis actually pretty accommodating for larger children too!

This park offers a nice large playground, with both a big traditional climbing/slides/monkey…read morebars/etc area, baby and traditional swings, and a somewhat natural-style play area with things to climb and jump on. There is a walking path around the area, which includes sports fields and courts for baseball, basketball, and more. It is also shares a a good-sized parking lot with the Carriage Place Community Center. It provides some nice green space in the midst of a lot of retail.

The Olentangy Trail is one of the best multi use paths in the area. It connects many parks and…read moreother attractions. The trail is kept clean and it's always pretty safe. It gets busy some times but not too much. There's beautiful scenery whether it's in the city or outside. I like using this trail to get from one place to another. It's usually busy in the summer when everyone's out. The weekends get crazy so watch out for the bikers in the spandex uniforms. It seems there's always some crazy person training for a triathlon or something. The people on the trail have been friendly for the most part. I recommend the Olentangy Trail for anyone who likes to exercise. It's a good way to avoid construction and traffic on the roads. There's also great scenery along the trail.

We started at the north end in Worthington Hills Park…read more *****free bike pump at The Hills Market***** This came in very handy as we forgot to check the tire pressure before leaving the house. The trail is beautiful and very scenic. There is a portable toilet when you first enter the park. As far as water goes, be sure to take your own. However, once you get to Antrim Park, about 4 miles south, there is a drinking fountain.

Overbrook Ravine is another one of the fascinating and scenic ravines that are located in the…read moreClintonville area. The floor of the area here is a park, while houses and neighborhoods surround it on the walls and hills of the ravine. The park itself is located on Overbrook Drive for the section that runs between High Street and Indianola Avenue. This is a very pretty section that contains Adena Brook. A paved road crosses through it, so you can walk, bike, or drive through. There's also a small nature trail set to the side with some benches. Two large deer crossed right in front of our car, just casually strolling without a care. There was also some neat shale in the stream area. Very pretty area!

Westerville is known for having great parks and playgrounds, but the Johnston-McVay Park is a gem…read moreamong Westerville's network of parks. It is a relatively new park (about 5 years old) and has a somewhat non-traditional playground. The playground at Johnston-McVay is actually divided into two sections: * the upper section (closest to the parking lot) features the HAWK, a large wooden climing structure and some "roller slides". This area offers a lot of opportuity for climbing and creative play. * the lower section (closer to the road) has both traditional swings as well as a very unique swing that aloows up to 5 or 6 kids to swing togehter at the same time. My granddaughter and four or five newly found friends were swinging and singing a pirate ditty - pretending that the swing was a pirate ship. One of the nicest features of the park is that there are plenty of benches (some traditional - some large blocks of stone) for parents and grandparents to sit. The park also offers a nice mix of sunny and shady areas.

What a fantastic local park! Way to outdo yourself Westerville!…read more Just opened down the street near McVay Elementary its a beautiful addition to the neighborhood. Modern Nature inspired playground equipment: swings, climbing structures, and most recognizable - Hawk/Nest. The trail around the park has placards that mark a "story path" sponsored by Westerville Library. From the looks of it, it will be a rotating story every few months. Natural play area includes creek access and some large stones for crossing the creek. Park does have a restroom. Great fun for a variety of ages of children. Be sure to stop by!

This is a lovely and peaceful park accessible via either the nearby neighborhood, which connects by…read morea short trail, or via the Alum Creek Greenway Trail, where it's located between Strawberry Farms Park and Parkridge Park. This is a wild space with no real amenities outside of the greenway trail. It has a beautiful wooded area and some meadow space. It is a nice and relaxing place to walk or bike through. The bridge on the side that connects to Parkridge Park is a very neat looking one that offers a good view of the creek. It's excellent as part of the trail connection.