The Columbus Metro Parks are some of the best in the country. But the fact that the opening of their newest park flew entirely under the radar of, well, everybody, is crazy.
Great Southern Metro Park officially opened at the beginning of April 2026, sitting just south of downtown at 125 Williams Road. And while it’s not massive, it still packs a lot into its 70 acres… including an outdoor gym that’s like a Planet Fitness, just without all the purple paint and with a lot more stunning views.
Inside Columbus’ Newest Park, Great Southern Metro Park
This park offers views of the Scioto River, along with a look at the old riverboat canal. It’s the kind of spot where you can just walk around and forget you’re a few minutes from downtown. There are paved biking trails that make it easy to cruise through the park without thinking too hard about it. But if you do want to think about it, or at least challenge yourself a little, there’s more.
The park includes an obstacle course with:
- an over/under
- a ninja jump
- a cargo climb
- balance beams
- a wall climb
And then there’s the nearby outdoor fitness station. You’ve got:
- monkey bars
- pull-ups
- dips
- push-ups
- decline sit-ups
- inverted rows
- a box jump
Sounds like you should cancel your gym membership for the summer!!
Just the Beginning for Great Southern Metro Park
The Columbus Metro Parks plan to connect the Scioto Greenway Trail directly to Great Southern Metro Park. Once that’s finished, you’ll have easy access between here and Scioto Audubon Metro Park.
A brand new park, river views, workout stations, and future trail connections… all just spawning out of thin air with barely any buzz.
Not sure how long that’s going to last.
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