Columbus has a brand-new place to play. Great Southern Metro Park, the 21st park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system, opened on April 1, 2026, on 70 acres at 125 Williams Road, just south of downtown along the Scioto River corridor.
Nearly 700 people turned out for the grand opening celebration, rain and all, including the mayor of Columbus, to welcome a park that had been a decade in the making with Columbus Recreation and Parks and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
The park’s signature feature is hard to miss: a 230-yard obstacle course with a cargo net, balance beams and climbing walls, plus an outdoor fitness station right beside it. It is, in effect, a free gym set in nature, designed for visitors who want a challenge with their fresh air.
There is plenty for slower days, too. Overlook decks offer views over the river and the quarry, native prairie invites a quiet walk, and paved and gravel trails welcome walkers, runners and leashed dogs. Three paved trails are bike-friendly, and families will find a picnic area and a playground crowned by a giant pirate ship.
The park is open every day of the year from 7:30 a.m. until dark. In the future, the Scioto Greenway Trail will link it directly to Scioto Audubon Metro Park, making it an easy stop on a longer riverfront ride.
Photo: New Vision Media / Metro Parks
