Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks is opening its 21st park, the Great Southern Metro Park, on Wednesday.
The park is located on the city's south side behind the Great Southern Shopping Center. The 70-acre park will include an obstacle course, overlook deck and access to the Scioto River.
Metro Parks Executive Director Tim Moloney said the park expands access to the Metro Parks for south side residents.
“Some of the things that we're most excited about is really getting a metro park in a neighborhood that doesn't have immediate access to a metro park,” Moloney said. “The residents of the south side, whether it's Merion Village or even further south or even the far south side now have a metro park many people can walk to, and that's exciting that we're able to put that right at the front door of many of our residents who up until now would have had to go up High Street.”
Moloney added that park staff have already seen patrons excited to try out the obstacle course.
There is a planned celebration on Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. to open the park that includes carnival games, hot air balloons and tram rides.
