Exploring Metro Parks on pet-friendly trails

Do you love Metro Parks but miss leaving your furry companion at home? Well, do we have great news for you! Did you know that every Metro Park offers at least one pet-friendly trail or activity? With over 60 trails spanning more than 169 miles, ranging from easy strolls to moderate hikes, our 20 stunning parks offer leashed-pet access, ensuring that you and your four-legged friends can explore nature together like never before.

Whether you’ve got a dog waiting to unleash their zoomies or a curious cat – seriously, our trails aren’t just for dogs – our Metro Parks team have worked diligently to provide pet-friendly amenities across our park system.

While we’re on the topic of pets, it’s a great opportunity to remind you that Metro Parks are committed to inclusivity and we welcome service animals on all of our trails, buildings, and parks, regardless of ‘pet’ designation. Everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy the wonders of nature, and service animals play an essential role in making that possible.

In addition to pet-friendly trails, 6 of our parks feature fenced-in dog parks while 2 offer dog-swimming areas ensuring ample opportunity for your pup to run, swim, or sniff to their hearts’ content.

Friends of Metro Parks wants to make it easy for you and your fluffy friends to hit a trail and enjoy the incredible greenspaces not far from your front door. 

Below, we’ve compiled a handy list of every park offering pet-friendly amenities. To make your next Metro Park visit as simple as possible, we’ve also included pet-friendly trails, length, type of trail (some of us like paved paths while some of us want a little dirt and grass under our feet!), and the level of difficulty.

In addition to our pet-friendly amenities, we're excited to highlight upcoming events that are perfect for pet-lovers – follow @cbusmetroparks and @metroparkfriend for more event-specific details!

Yappy Hour

Join us for Yappy Hour, where you and your canine companion can mingle while enjoying refreshments and activities. It's the perfect opportunity to socialize, make new friends, and create lasting memories with your furry friend. Our next Yappy Hour is Friday, June 7, 2024.

Wag Fest

Don't miss WAG Fest, our annual celebration of all things furry and fun. From doggy fashion shows to pet-friendly vendors, WAG Fest offers a day of excitement and entertainment for pets and their humans alike. Don’t forget to mark your calendars and get ready for a tail-waggin’ good time! Will we see you at our next Wag Fest on Saturday, August 24, 2024?

Barktober Fest

Are you and your dog Halloween lovers? Then tails are going to be wagging for Barktober Fest. You and your fluffy friend can expect a doggy costume parade, treats, vendors and more. Join us on Thursday, October 17, 2024!

So, what are you waiting for? Grab your leash, pack some treats, and head out to Metro Parks for an outdoor adventure with your pets. We can't wait to see you and your furry companions enjoying all that our parks have to offer – and if you snap some pictures, be sure to tag @metroparkfriend or use #metroparkfriends so we can share in your good times!

Pet-friendly Trails

The following parks offer dog parks:

• Glacier Ridge

• Heritage Trail Park

• Rocky Fork

• Scioto Audubon

• Three Creeks

• Walnut Woods

And these parks are equipped with dog swimming areas:

• Battelle Darby Creek

• Prairie Oaks

Winter Hike Series 2024!

By Ben Shinabery: President FMP

Friends of Metro Parks is proud to recognize those who embrace the outdoors during The Metro Park’s annual Winter Hike Series - beginning December 1st and running through February 25th. During this time, Metro Parks will provide unique opportunities such as lighted trails and delicious treats at select parks all over Central Ohio throughout the winter. For details, visit The Metro Parks website.

Friends of Metro Parks is thrilled to offer members additional rewards for their extraordinary winter adventures…

Friends of Metro Parks Hiking Stick

Conquer All 19 Parks!

Embark on an extraordinary journey with the Friends of Metro Parks Hiking Stick challenge. Conquer all 19 parks and earn your exclusive hiking stick, a symbol of your dedication to exploring the natural wonders of our Metro Parks.

How to Earn Your Hiking Stick:

• Obtain a Winter Hike Card, available at any Metro Parks location or download it from The Metro Parks Winter Hike Series website.

• Have a Metro Parks staff member mark your Winter Hike Card whenever you visit the park and/or attend a Winter Hike Series event.

• If a Metro Parks staff member is unavailable, capture the moment by taking a picture of yourself at the park and mark your card yourself.

To be eligible for a Hiking Stick, you must be a Friends of Metro Parks member at the $10 level or higher. Not a member yet? Sign up anytime before February 25th, 2024, through the Friends Website. Memberships are renewed annually, so check your membership and renew if needed!

Friends of Metro Parks Medallions

Each year, at the conclusion of the Winter Hike Series, Friends introduces a new medallion, commemorating a different Metro Parks location—a tradition inviting you to collect and cherish memories from each Winter Hike Series. This year's feature is "Inniswood Metro Gardens" and will be available at the Winter Hike Celebration Event on February 25th.

If you've earned your hiking stick in previous years, you'll receive this year's commemorative medallion for free—a token to adorn your hiking stick, symbolizing your dedication to the Winter Hike Series! To receive a medallion for free, you must have earned a hiking stick in previous years and completed all 19 hikes. Alternatively, if you've completed all 19 hikes and prefer a medallion over a hiking stick, you can also get this year's medallion at no cost.

Missed a medallion from a previous year? No worries! Previous year's medallions (including this year’s) will be available for $10 each at the Winter Hike Celebration event. It's a fantastic way to complete your collection, showcase the diverse beauty of our Metro Parks, and highlight your commitment to winter exploration!

Metro Parks Patch

For information on how to receive the Metro Park Winter Hike Patch, please visit The Metro Parks website. Complete the challenge by attending 7 different Winter Hike Series Events and wear your achievement with pride!

How to Obtain Your Hiking Sticks, Medallions, and Patches

Hiking sticks, medallions, and patches can be obtained during the Winter Hike Celebration at Blacklick Woods Golf Course on Sunday, February 25th, 2004. Join us for a memorable day—hike along the paths of our Audubon Sanctuary Golf Course, collect your swag, and warm up by the fire with hot chocolate.

Questions?

Email: winterhikes@metroparks.net or friends@metroparks.net

3rd Annual Friends of Metro Parks Gala: Creekside Celebration

On October 27th, the Friends of Metro Parks put on our 3rd annual gala fundraiser at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park. This was our largest turnout yet, with over 100 people in attendance! A extra special thank you to our sponsors Korda Engineering, Setterlin Constructions, Shelly Materials and Paros Architecture & Development!

Of course, we it wouldn't have been an amazing night without our caterers, Together & Company, Straders Garden Center for providing decorations, our steadfast brewery partner Nocterra Brewing, our friends the Whirlybirds keeping the tunes up all night, and our great Keynote Speaker Coyote Peterson of Brave Wilderness.

Visitors ate, drank, and made merry during the event, and to top it all off, we made $1830 in raffle ticket sales alone! 
Huge thanks to our donors for the Raffle: Studio 35, Homage, Jeni's, ZipZone, Johnny Velo Bikes, Scioto Made, Pure Imagination Chocolatier, Local Yokels Trading Company, Columbus Running Company, The Plant Gays, Heritage Cycles, Jack Wolfskin, California Pizza Kitchen, Brave Wilderness, and Syd Lifshin! 

And of course, thank you to everyone who attended, and our board for doing such a great job planning. You are really the ones who made the event great!

How to Celebrate Earth Month in the Metro Parks

By: Ali Iovino

Happy Earth Month; a time to reflect on our environment, our impact, how we can do better, and our overall appreciation for our natural world and its biodiversity. As Friends of the Columbus & Franklin County Metro Parks, we are taking this time to express gratitude for our parks and their ability to keep us connected to our natural environment.

Our parks are for everyone. You don’t need to be an avid hiker or wildlife enthusiast to reap the physical and mental health benefits of our beloved parks and enjoy the outdoors. Here are some of our favorite ways to use our parks and celebrate year-round:

Explore opportunities to learn new things: There are always fun and informative programs happening! From eagle watches, to fungi hikes, to garden talks there is plenty to do and see for all ages. Visit the Metro Parks website to search for a program that interests you, follow both the Metro Parks and Friends of the Metro Parks on social media, and/or make sure you are signed up as a friend (free memberships are available too) to receive our monthly newsletter with updates and exclusive events.

Support our physical and mental health: Walking is beneficial for both our physical health and our mental health. Absorb some vitamin D, breathe fresh air, and enjoy the wildlife on your walks or runs. Our parks have trails of varying distance and difficulty for all fitness levels.

Find great spots to read a book: Our parks have plenty of park benches to sit and enjoy your surroundings. Bring a blanket or hammock and create your own cozy spot to relax and catch up on some reading.

Picnic with loved ones: So many perfect spots for the traditional basket and blanket or set up at an open table. We even have grills to help you curate the ultimate picnic. Just remember to make sure the grills are cool and any trash is cleaned up behind you.

Meet up somewhere new: Enjoy the parks as an alternative to traditional meetings, dates, and catch-up

sessions. Whether you connect on a trail or sit and chat, the parks can serve as a more refreshing locale with loved ones and colleagues alike.

Get an adrenaline boost: Looking for some extra adventure? There are plenty of trails for bike riding – like the Intermediate Mountain Bike Trail at Chestnut Ridge – and Scioto Audobon is home to a rock climbing wall, soon to be followed by Quarry Trails’ Via Ferrata and Rock-Climbing Area. If water is your element, you can enjoy kayaking at many of our parks as well.

Volunteer: We keep friends updated on volunteering opportunities, such as our butterfly garden clean ups. Sign up for notifications by clicking here if you’re interested in being notified about our clean ups this season.

Bond with your pup: Every metro park has at least one dog-friendly trail, plus some even have their own dog park for you to enjoy with your furry loved ones. Throughout the warmer months be on the lookout for Friends’ Yappy Hours, annual WagFest, and other pet-friendly events.

Enjoy the outdoors with your kids: Introducing children to nature is something we believe is critical! There are always family friendly events throughout the year and designated playground areas at most of our parks. We are also big fans of our storybook and trivia trails that keep your little ones entertained on some of our favorite trails.

How do you enjoy our parks?

Friends of the Columbus & Franklin Country Metro Parks is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to enhance public use and enjoyment of our parks, seek out public support, and advocate for our parks for current and future generations.

September 30: Inniswood Garden Party Fundraiser

Join Friends of Metro Parks for a casual Garden Party at Inniswood Metro Park. Enjoy heavy appetizers, drinks (including a signature mimosa), live music, garden tours, a silent auction, lawn games, and more!

Buy a single ticket, or buy a whole table and bring your friends! We will be celebrating the Metro Parks while enjoying a relaxing evening in the picturesque Inniswood Metro Gardens.

Buying tickets for a table of six? Email mameyer@metroparks.net for a discount code.

This event will be held primarily outdoors.

Winter Hike Series 2022

Winter is here! And it’s time once again to hike with your Friends and earn a hiking stick or medallion! This year, the park featured on the medallion is Highbanks Metro Park! We would like to extend our sincerest thanks, because they also helped us out and branded all of the walking sticks we have this year!

How do you earn a stick? Easy! Become a Friend of the Metro Parks at the $10 level or more, and walk all 18 winter hikes! Turn in your completed card (or email mameyer@metroparks.net) and we will set up a time for you to come pick up your stick! We will be having an end-of hike celebration at Blacklick Woods Golf Course on Sunday, February 27th from 11-3, and we hope to do all of our stick pick-ups there.

Friends of Metro Parks T-Shirt Contest

Want to see your design on a shirt and help out your Metro Parks? Submit your design through our contest! We will be announcing deadlines for submissions through our social media (Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter) and also through email, so please be sure to sign up for our email list and follow us to get the most up to date information.

Winners will receive a free one-year Friends of Metro Parks membership and a free shirt featuring the winning design! This contest is open to all ages and all skill levels! Designs will be narrowed down by a panel of judges, and then voted on by the public.

Please attach your design, this submission form and the signed second page of the submission form to an email with the subject line "T-Shirt Submission" and your last name to friends@metroparks.net.

Designs must clearly feature the name of the park and should showcase the "spirit" of the park. See below for image and file specifications!

Questions?

Email Melissa at mameyer@metroparks.net for any questions regarding image specifications.

Take some time to hike in the featured parks to get some inspiration for your design!

We are accepting submissions for Clear Creek Metro Park. The deadline is August 26th. We are excited to see what you think up!

Fun Ways to Enjoy your Metro Parks this Fall!

Post By: Laura Schneider

It’s fall, the leaves are gorgeous, there’s a chill in the air, and all of us with the Friends of Metro Parks are excited and grateful that soooo many of you have been visiting the parks this year. Park attendance is way up from last year! The wonderful Metro Parks staff has been working tirelessly to keep the parks open and safe for all of us, and we owe them a giant collective THANK YOU!

This has been a tough year, but we’ve at least had beautiful, clean, safe parks to visit. We love the parks and it makes us very happy that so many of our neighbors do too.

SO, LET’S KEEP THE PARKS LOVE GOING!

This fall, there are tons of opportunities to stay active outdoors in your favorite Metro Park. Whatever activity you’re into, there’s a park for that. 

Looking for ideas of things to do? Here are a couple of recommendations:

The Explorer’s Challenge

This is a new program this year, and it consists of 5 different challenges that you can complete in order to win a prize. And the best part? Each challenge gives you the chance to get out to several different parks, so that you can check out what makes each park special and maybe visit one you haven’t been to.

The Explorer’s Challenge runs through October 31, so you still have time to get out there and get it done.

The 5 challenges are:

1. The River Rambler: spend 10 hours or more canoeing, paddle-boarding, or kayaking on one of Metro Parks’ many scenic waterways. Checking out the fall colors from the water? Yes please!

2. The Trail Trotter: hike the 5 trails identified in the challenge, totaling 10.9 miles. The trails are at 5 different parks – lots of variety!

3. Pet Trail Prowler: this challenge is for you and your adorable doggie (or cat, I suppose, if you can actually get your cat to walk. I’ve tried to get my cat to walk on a leash and it’s a big NOPE from her.). You’ll hike 5 of Metro Parks’ pet-friendly trails, totaling 12.3 miles. If you don’t have a pet, you can always hike the trails by yourself, but that doesn’t sound as fun. I’d recommend borrowing a dog. Message me and I can hook you up with a crazy terrier ;)

4. Greenways Go-Getter: For this challenge, you can hike or bike! Metro Parks manages 100 miles of paved Greenway Trails, offering everything from scenic nature to views of downtown Columbus. If you decide to bike, you’ll pedal 52.9 miles along 5 different sections of Greenway Trails (sore butt included at no extra charge). If you decide to hike instead, you’ll do 10 miles.

5. Ridge Runner: if you’re like, “yeah, I prefer hiking, but I’m not going to be outdone by those show-off cyclists doing 52.9 miles,” then the Ridge Runner challenge is for you! It involves 10.8 miles of hiking or running on 5 of the Metro Parks’ more difficult trails in 5 different parks. 

6. Thru-Hiker: But wait, I thought you said there were 5 challenges…? Think of this one as a bonus. If you just can’t get enough hiking this fall, and you complete all 4 of the hiking challenges, then you’ve also completed the Thru-Hiker challenge! If you do this, you will have hiked 44 miles in at least 12 different parks. We will all be super impressed. And, if you’re one of the first 200 people to complete Thru-Hiker, you’ll get a patch and a t-shirt!

Be sure to check out the official site for all the details of the Explorer’s Challenge. And remember, it runs through October 31, so you still have plenty of time!

The Chase Columbus Turkey Trot

Here’s another chance to get out, be active, and do some good at the same time. The Chase Columbus Turkey Trot benefits Easterseals of Central & Southeast Ohio, an outstanding organization that provides services and advocacy for people in our community who are living with disabilities.

Pre-pandemic, the Chase Turkey Trot was a race held on Thanksgiving morning in Upper Arlington. This year, it’s going virtual, so you can do it anywhere – and I’m biased, but I think you should do it in your favorite Metro Parks! Just think, you’ll spend some much-needed time outdoors and help raise money for Easterseals. 

(The Friends of Metro Parks and the Metro Parks aren’t affiliated with this event, but it’s a great cause and, as always, we just want to encourage folks to use the parks!)

Here’s how the Turkey Trot works this year:

• You can complete your race on your own time, anytime from November 1st through December 1st. Wanna run and work up a monster appetite on Thanksgiving morning? You can still do it! Prefer to get out in the evenings? You can do that too! There are no rules! Well, actually there are *some* rules, but you know what I mean ;) 

You can spread out your virtual “race” so that it works with your schedule. It would be a perfect excuse to visit a new Metro Park or two!

• You pick any activity that you want. Really – any activity you want! When you register for the race, you download an app that keeps track of your activities, so just log what you do and you’ll earn points toward prizes.

So let’s look at some of the activities you could choose as part of your virtual Chase Columbus Turkey Trot, and I’ll recommend a great Metro Park where you could do it!

Kayaking/Paddleboarding

My personal favorite is Big Darby Creek at Battelle Darby Creek Metro Park. It’s so scenic and peaceful. But then again, so is the Olentangy River at Highbanks! It’s so hard to choose just one favorite. 

For a nice variety, check out Prairie Oaks, which has two lakes that you can paddle in, and also offers access to Big Darby Creek.  

Running

Up for a challenge? One of my favorite trails in all the parks is the 2.5 mile Cemetery Ridge trail at Clear Creek. Whether you run it or hike it, be prepared for a tough workout at the beginning of the trail, if you start it at the trailhead. It has about 300 feet of elevation change early on, and then takes you along the top of the beautiful ridge and by a very cool old barn.

If you’re looking for something flatter, the Ancient Trail at Battelle Darby Creek is a nice run and takes you by a Fort Ancient mound too.

Yoga

Every park has spots that are perfect for yoga. But if I had to choose one park, I’d recommend Scioto Audubon. The deck outside of the Grange Audubon Center would be an inspiring place to practice, and the boardwalk that runs along the wetlands would too! If you go at a less-busy time, you’ll feel like it’s just you, the fish, and the ducks – and the water is smooth and calming.

Archery

Disclaimer – the only time I’ve ever shot a bow & arrow was in high school gym class. But it was fun, and I wasn’t THAT bad at it! If you’re into archery, there’s a course at Scioto Grove that you should check out. While you’re there, you can also swing by the disc golf course!

Hiking

Since we’re talking about where to do your virtual Turkey Trot, I recommend hiking the Overlook Trail at Highbanks. Why? I’ve seen lots of wild turkeys on that trail! And you never know, you might even get lucky and see a bald eagle at the overlook (but I’ve never gotten that lucky).

Obstacle Course

The obstacle course at Scioto Audubon is a blast! Rope ladders, tires, tubes...and the best part is that there are almost always other people nearby to watch you make a fool of yourself – or at least, that’s been my experience when I’ve tried it :) There’s also an obstacle course at Glacier Ridge. Since you’re earning points for all the activities you do during your virtual Turkey Trot, why not do both? 

Biking

If you’re into mountain biking, Chestnut Ridge is the place to go. It has a 9-mile trail with an easy segment and a harder segment, so everyone can give it a try. If you prefer nice flat pavement under your tires, you can also cycle through parts of several parks on the Greenways Trails.

This list includes just a few of the activities you could do in our wonderful Metro Parks as part of the Chase Columbus Turkey Trot. So why not get creative, spend some time outdoors, and help support a fantastic organization?

If you do either the Explorer’s Challenge or the Chase Columbus Turkey Trot, make sure to tag us @metroparkfriend! We LOVE seeing folks enjoying the parks!

Happy fall!

Get a Taste of the Tropics in Ohio! And not just because of the humidity ;)

Post by: Laura Schneider

Hey Friends!

There are days here in the O-H that feel downright tropical because of the high humidity and – if you’re really unlucky – lots of mosquitoes.

Ohio’s tropical-tasting native fruit, the Paw Paw

But tropical-tasting fruit? Growing in Ohio? Say whaaaat?

Yes, there is such a thing. I’m talking about the humble pawpaw, of course!

Nicknamed “the poor-man’s banana” and overlooked for years, pawpaws are finally getting some love and attention. Pawpaws are the only edible fruit that’s native to Ohio, and in 2009 they were recognized as the official state native fruit.

But maybe pawpaws shouldn’t be so humble. According to several sources, they were George Washington’s favorite dessert and he planted them at Mt. Vernon. In 1806, pawpaws also saved the Lewis & Clark Expedition: they ran out of food about a week away from home, and were fortunate enough to find plenty of ripe pawpaws to eat to hold them over.

Pawpaw Trees

Pawpaw trees (Asimina triloba) grow all over Ohio, and are native to the eastern, southern, and midwestern states. They don’t like direct sunlight or overly wet soil, and are generally pretty small trees that grow in the understory of a forest. They can grow to about 35-45’ feet tall, but they’re often shorter and look more like shrubs than trees. They usually grow in patches.

The leaves of pawpaw trees are almond-shaped and range from about 5–11” long. They turn yellow in the fall, making it easier to spot clusters of trees.

Here’s something you probably didn’t know about pawpaws: most of them are clones (cue the Star Wars music). Pawpaws mainly reproduce through “root suckers,” which is when new shoots grow out of existing roots. So when you see a cluster of pawpaw trees, they’re often genetically the same! Pawpaws can also reproduce through seeds, but this happens less often.

It may seem hard to believe, but these cute little pawpaw trees are kind of...standoffish. Their leaves and bark contain a natural insecticide, so they don’t really attract insects and they also aren’t appealing to deer or rabbits. The bark also contains a known neurotoxin!

The Fruit – Part I

When you walk through your favorite Metro Park in late summer, you’ll probably see lots of pawpaw trees, but not many that have fruits growing on them. What gives? 

It turns out that pawpaw trees aren’t all that great at producing fruits, and it all has to do with pollination. 

Pawpaws flower in the early spring, but the flowers don’t let off a strong smell the way that other flowers do, so they don’t attract many pollinators. For example, bees apparently couldn’t care less about pawpaws. And why would they, when there are so many other wonderful-smelling flowers to check out? 

There are a lot of fruit trees that can self-pollinate, but pawpaws can’t do that either. There are only a few flies and beetles that pollinate pawpaws, so this is one reason why they don’t produce a lot of fruit.

Super-gross side story: people who grow pawpaw trees will sometimes hang dead things nearby (like roadkill) to attract flies so that hopefully they’ll pollinate the blooms. Ewwww.

Another reason for lots of trees but no fruit – remember how most pawpaws are clones and grow together in patches? In order to produce fruit, pawpaws require cross-pollination from a genetically unrelated tree. This can be hard to come by when you live in a big patch full of nothing but clones of yourself. When you think about it, it’s kind of a miracle that we ever get any pawpaw fruits at all! 

The Fruit – Part II

OK, so once a pawpaw tree has overcome all that and finally produces fruit – what does it look and taste like?

Pawpaws are 2-6” long, and resemble short, fat bananas. Unripe pawpaws are hard and green, and as they ripen they become more yellow-green (and can get brown or black splotches) and soften. Ripe pawpaws will feel like a ripe peach and let off a fruity smell.

There’s a short window of time to find ripe pawpaws. They usually ripen in September, but only for about a week to ten days. Ripe pawpaws easily come off the tree and will eventually fall off on their own. 

Once ripe, the inside of pawpaws are yellow and mushy (often described as “custardy”), with black seeds. 

And what about the taste? Remember how I said “tropical tasting” fruit? It’s true! Pawpaws are most frequently described as tasting similar to bananas and mangos, and some people get a hint of pineapple too. It’s basically like someone took all the fruits in Chiquita Banana’s basket, squished them all together and voila – the pawpaw! Crazy as it sounds, we have that sweet little tropical fruit on some finicky little trees right here in Ohio :)

Paw Paws wouldn’t be out of place in a tropical marketplace!

Pawpaw fruits are also pretty solid, nutritionally speaking. They contain:

• Three times as much Vitamin C as an apple

• Iron (about 39% of the recommended daily value)

• Manganese (more than 100% of the recommended daily value)

• Potassium

• Copper

• Significant amounts of calcium, phosphorus, and zinc

• Protein (the protein in pawpaws contains all the essential amino acids, which makes them a “complete” protein – there aren’t many plants that can boast this!)

A Big Increase in “Paw”pularity!

Pawpaws were a staple in the diets of many Native Americans and early Europeans in North America, but really fell out of favor once fruits and vegetables started to be grown commercially. Ripe pawpaws only last a few days before they start to ferment, so they’re hard to store and transport, which is one reason why you don’t see them in grocery stores.

But, as many of us have started to become more conscious about where our food comes from, pawpaws have recently surged in pawpularity (sorry, it just doesn’t get old). Plus, pawpaws can easily be grown organically, since they don’t attract many pests. So, folks have started to rediscover the pawpaw for that reason too.

Several states have pawpaw festivals to celebrate the little green guys, with the one right here in Ohio being one of the largest. It’s held annually in September in Albany, which is near Athens. (Unfortunately it had to be cancelled this year due to the pandemic, but will be worth checking out next year.)

A quick Google search shows you a plethora of recipes to make pawpaw pies, cookies, guacamole, gelato, pudding, and about a million other things.  Lots of Ohio craft brewers use pawpaws in a seasonal brew, like Thirsty Dog in Akron and Jackie O’s in Athens. You can even order fresh pawpaws or frozen pawpaw pulp from Integration Acres in Albany, one of the largest pawpaw processors and organizer of the Ohio PawPaw Fest.

There’s even a National Pawpaw Day – it’s celebrated each year on the third Thursday in September.

So, next time you’re out and about in our wonderful Metro Parks, keep an eye out for pawpaw trees – and now when you see them, you’ll probably think about clones, Chiquita Banana, roadkill, and beer too. Enjoy!

"Every Trail Project" with Nick Kiger

Want to follow along Nick Kiger as he runs every trail in the Metro Parks?

Follow his blog: Nicks Blog!

From the Blog: August 29, 2020

In March when, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic Ohio issued a stay-at-home order, I know I’m not the only one who said to myself “I hope this doesn’t include Metro Parks.” I was relieved when through the hard work and diligence of the Metro Parks staff that the parks would be staying open and now, almost 7 months into the pandemic, they remain a gift to all of us. Since March 23 (the beginning of the Ohio’s first stay-at-home order) I have run over 430 miles in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks alone. The parks have been an escape for me, a place to find peace  and a connection to nature during these challenging times.

A few weeks ago as I reflected on how important the parks have been to me and to so many, I decided I wanted to do something that could celebrate, bring awareness to and even raise a few dollars for our Metro Parks. That is when the idea for the Every Trail Project came to life. Our Metro Parks have over 230 miles of trails within 19 parks and I plan to run every mile of trail in the Metro Park system (except for a few bridle trails) during the month of September. As I run, I want to take in all that our parks have to offer and write about what I see and feel here. And, I hope to raise some money for Friends of Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks, who work to support and advocate for our Metro Parks. To support this effort you can visit this donation page and select “Every Trail Project” in the Donation Details section.

I hope you will join me in appreciating and celebrating this wonderful resource! You can follow along here and on my Instagram page. Get outside, stay healthy and find joy!