Great Southern Metro Park Opens April 1, Adding New Trails, River Access, and Fitness Features

A new Metro Park on the South Side

Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks is scheduled to open Great Southern Metro Park to the public on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, marking the system’s 21st park. The new park is on the city’s South Side, situated behind the Great Southern Shopping Center near the intersection of South High Street and Interstate 270.

Metro Parks lists the site as a 70-acre park at 125 W. Williams Road. The project adds a new public outdoor destination along the Scioto River corridor, with features that combine recreation infrastructure and access to natural areas.

What visitors will find at opening

Great Southern Metro Park is planned as a year-round destination. Core amenities include paved and gravel trails for walking and running, designated paved trails where biking is permitted, and overlook areas designed to provide views across the site and toward the river landscape. The park also includes picnic areas and a playground.

A signature element is a fitness-focused obstacle course. Metro Parks describes the obstacle course as roughly 230 yards long, designed for visitors seeking an outdoor physical challenge. Additional exercise stations are also part of the initial offering.

• Park location: 125 W. Williams Road, Columbus
• Park size: approximately 70 acres
• Key amenities: trails, playground, picnic areas, overlook areas, obstacle course, exercise stations
• Natural feature: access to the Scioto River corridor

Opening-day event and operating hours

A public celebration is scheduled for April 1 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., including a ribbon-cutting and activities for visitors. Metro Parks has also stated the park will be open year-round, with daily hours beginning at 7:30 a.m. and continuing until dark.

The opening adds a new public park destination in south Columbus, with trail access and recreation features designed for a range of ages and activity levels.

Future connections and longer-term buildout

Great Southern Metro Park is also tied to longer-term trail planning along the Scioto corridor. Metro Parks has said the Scioto Greenway Trail is expected to connect Scioto Audubon Metro Park to Great Southern in the future, extending continuous bike and pedestrian access farther south. Planning materials for a shared-use path crossing at State Route 104 have been associated with the broader concept of extending the Scioto Greenway network toward the new park.

As the park matures, additional trail segments and ongoing site improvements are expected to further shape how residents reach the site and how it links with other parts of Columbus’ regional trail system.