For the extreme walkers and bikers, or for those who are just out for a stroll in the park, there are options all over Westerville to enjoy the great outdoors.
Sharon Woods Metro Park, located at 6911 Cleveland Ave., is a large park with 761 acres of bike trails and walking paths of various lengths. There are a few programs available that are free to people of all ages as well. These programs are mostly educational, focusing on bees, bats and owls. There are also hikes like the Full Moon Hike on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7:45 p.m. and the Commit to Be Fit Healthy Hike on Sunday, Oct. 6 at 1:00 p.m.
Boyer Nature Preserve is a much smaller park at only 11 acres. Located at 452 E. Park St., it is roughly a 30-minute walk from campus. Although the area is very scenic, it is also very basic — there are no amenities or other activities provided. There is just the path and the surrounding nature.
Heritage Park, at 60 N. Cleveland Ave., is more of a medium-sized park. With 52 acres, the area is perfect for history buffs as it is a historical preservation area dedicated to showing what Westerville used to look like in the past. The Everal Barn and Homestead are the main attractions and are surrounded by a beautiful landscape and pond.
Paul Metzger Park, located at 137 Granby Place, offers many opportunities to be outside and enjoy the day. This 31-acre park has everything from soccer fields to baseball diamonds and basketball courts to an ice-skating rink that is open seasonally.
Our very own 19-acre Otterbein Lake, just off W. Main St., has a beautiful bike path for riding and walking that eventually leads to Schrock Road.
For a change of pace there is also the Westerville Farmers Market at 3 p.m. every Wednesday at the corner of Home and State streets in the Church of the Messiah parking lot. Local farmers offer fresh, seasonal fruits and veggies, fresh baked breads, cheese, honey, salsas, sauces and maple syrups, among many other things.
All of these parks offer bike paths and opportunities for walking and enjoying the beautiful world around you. For a full list of Westerville parks, click here.
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