Columbus Metro Parks Opens 70-Acre Great Southern Park on South Side
COLUMBUS, OHIO — Columbus Metro Parks has officially opened Great Southern Metro Park, a new 70-acre recreational facility located along South High Street on the city’s South Side. The park is the latest addition to the metro parks system and provides green space for residents in the southern portion of Columbus.
The new park features walking trails, open green spaces, and recreational amenities designed to serve the surrounding community. Park officials said the facility will offer residents opportunities for outdoor activities including hiking, picnicking, and nature observation.
Location and Access
Great Southern Metro Park sits along South High Street, providing convenient access for residents throughout the southern Columbus area. The 70-acre site was developed to fill a gap in park services for this part of the city.
Metro Parks officials selected the location to better serve communities that previously had limited access to large-scale recreational facilities. The park’s position along a major thoroughfare makes it easily accessible by both car and public transportation.
Park Features and Amenities
The newly opened facility includes multiple walking trails that wind through the property’s natural landscape. Park planners incorporated existing terrain features to create a system of paths suitable for various fitness levels.
Open green spaces throughout the park provide areas for community gatherings, recreational activities, and passive enjoyment of the outdoors. The design emphasizes preserving natural features while creating accessible spaces for public use.
Amenities include parking areas and basic facilities to support daily operations and visitor needs. The park was designed with sustainability principles in mind, incorporating native landscaping and environmentally conscious development practices.
Community Impact
The opening of Great Southern Metro Park addresses a long-standing need for recreational space in Columbus’s southern neighborhoods. Community leaders have advocated for increased park access in this area for several years.
Metro Parks officials expect the facility to serve hundreds of residents weekly once fully established. The park provides a venue for organized activities as well as individual recreation and exercise.
Local residents now have access to a significant green space within their immediate area, reducing travel time to other metro parks facilities. The addition strengthens the overall metro parks network by extending services to previously underserved areas.
Columbus Metro Parks continues to evaluate opportunities for expansion and improvement of recreational facilities throughout the metropolitan area. The Great Southern Metro Park opening is part of ongoing efforts to provide equitable access to outdoor recreation across all Columbus neighborhoods.
The park is now open to the public during standard metro parks hours. Visitors can access the facility immediately for walking, hiking, and other recreational activities.
Sources: WSYX, The Columbus Dispatch
