Columbus Opens Its 21st Metro Park Along the Scioto River on the South Side

Columbus just added a big new place to play outside. Great Southern Metro Park opened April 1, 2026. It is the 21st park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system. You will find it at 125 Williams Road on the city's south side.

The park is 70 acres. According to Axios Columbus, it sits behind the Great Southern Shopping Center between the Scioto River and the road. That means new river access for a part of town that did not have much of it before.

So what can you do there? Quite a lot. Axios Columbus reports the park has a 230-yard obstacle course for a fitness challenge. There is also an overlook deck, a playground, a prairie, and picnic spots. Paved and gravel trails let you walk or run. Three paved trails welcome bikes. Pets are allowed on all the trails.

Why does a new park matter so much here? For years, south-side families had to travel north on High Street to reach a Metro Park. As WOSU reports, Metro Parks director Tim Moloney said south-side residents now have a park many can walk to. A park you can walk to changes daily life. It gives you a free place to move, rest, and meet neighbors.

Here is the real estate link. Green space is one of the strongest pulls in home shopping. People love living near trails and parks. Studies and agents both know homes near parks tend to draw more interest. A brand new 70-acre park can lift the appeal of the streets around it.

This park also helps an area that was often skipped over. New public investment on the south side sends a clear message. The city is putting real money into these neighborhoods. That kind of signal can bring more buyers and more care to nearby homes over time.

There is more to come. WOSU notes that money is already set aside for a future trail to connect the park to other spots. Work on that link has not started yet. But it shows the plan is to keep building out the trail network.

What should you watch for next? Watch for news on that connecting trail. Watch for new events and programs at the park through summer and fall 2026. And if you live nearby, just go use it. The more a park is loved, the more it helps the whole area.

If a walkable park sounds like your kind of life, look at the homes near it. You can find a home close to Great Southern Metro Park and the Scioto River.

The takeaway is clear. Columbus opened its 21st Metro Park on April 1, 2026, and it brings trails, river views, and green space to the south side. Parks like this make neighborhoods more livable and more wanted.

Sources: Axios Columbus, WOSU