This 39-acre park in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, is a hidden gem for hiking and exploring.
Located at 8000 Kingsley Drive, where the road dead-ends into a small parking lot. Seven trails run through the tall pinewoods and a rocky gorge. French Run Creek runs through the park. French Run Creek (why it is called Run and Creek no one knows because run and creek mean about the same thing) starts at Blacklick Creek just west of Lancaster Ave. It runs east through Pine Quarry Park and ends just east of Taylor Road Southwest between Priestly Drive and Oak Street.
French Run Creek
The park's coordinates are 39.9627 N, 82.7880 W.6
The land was donated to the city in the 1970s for a recreation area. In 1980 the city began to develop Pine Quarry Park into what it is today with various trails and a small parking lot.
In 1995, Reynoldsburg spent $95,000 to buy the lot to the north, 1106 Waggoner Road. A house on the property since has been demolished and plans call for that site to be combined with the property at 1140 Waggoner Road for a second entrance and parking area. There is not a second parking lot at this time, but it is planned.
In 2018, the city replaced two dilapidated bridges that cross French Run Creek, which runs along the eastern portion of the park. The parking lot was resurfaced the same year and new timber fencing, a retaining wall and a trench drain were installed.
Note: Trails are not named or marked, but it would be hard to get lost since the park is small and nestled in a housing development.
Pets are allowed.
Pine Quarry Park History
Pine Quarry Park was originally a limestone quarry. It was opened by Henry Besse in 1828. Limestone from the quarry was shipped to many parts of Ohio.
The limestone is freestone. Freestone is rock that can be cut easily in any direction.
It was first used for bridging purposes. Most of the abutments on Broad Street and National Road bridges were originally made of this freestone limestone. An abutment is a structure built to support the lateral pressure of an arch or span, e.g. at the ends of a bridge.
Henry Besse sold the quarry to William Forrester. Mr. Forrester built a mill for sawing the limestone to use for building purposes. The cut blue freestone was popularly used in lentils and doorsteps.
The Livingston House
The foundation of the Livingston House was locally cut in the quarry. Also the limestone was used to construct the summer kitchen, washhouse floors and basement walls. Livingston House is located at 1792 Graham Road, Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
Alexander Livingston owned the Livingston House until 1880. Starting in 1870 he improved and stabilized the wild tomato for commercial use. Alexander W. Livingston (1821-1898) improved and stabilized the wild tomato for commercial use, producing disease-resistant tomatoes suitable for every taste, soil, and climate.
Beginning in 1870 with the red Paragon. It was the first tomato in the world that was large, uniform in shape and had smooth skin that was evenly red throughout. Most consumers today take tomatoes that are smooth, red and round for granted but when his tomato hit the market it was a huge success. He perfected fourteen or more new, stable varieties, including his purple Acme and yellow Golden Queen. Livingston's True Blue Seeds were nationally recognized as highest quality. Many Reynoldsburg residents worked there at the 136-acre A.W. Livingston Buckeye Seed Gardens, or grew seed tomatoes for Livingston on their own land.
In 1965, the Franklin County Historical Society recognized Reynoldsburg as "The Home of the Tomato." Reynoldsburg holds an annual festival in recognition of his vast accomplishments in agriculture. It is called the Tomato Festival and 2024 is the 58th.
In Reynoldsburg, there are only two houses built in town using entirely of limestone from William Forrester's quarry.
The quarry stayed operational until about 1909. Over the years the quarry land changed hands and eventually, landowners Bernard Redman, Evan Williams and others donated the land the old quarry stood on to the city for a park.
What is Limestone?
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed primarily of calcium carbonate in the form of the mineral calcite. It forms in shallow, warm and clear marine waters. It is usually an organic sedimentary rock that forms from shells, algae, and fecal matter.
My Personal Experience With Pine Quarry Park
Growing up in Reynoldsburg, Ohio in the 1970's I had no idea that a limestone quarry was ever located there. However, when I was graduating from high school in 1982, I did some exploring.
There was a sign denoting the Pine Quarry Park was located in the Green Tree Housing Development. Since this was the time before cellphones and Garmin, it took me a little time to actually locate the park. I was very glad I did.
The Park reminded me of the Hocking Hills with its cliff faces and the babbling French Run Creek. Frankly, it was one of the only times I ever felt at home in Reynoldsburg. My Dad had died when I was 14 and he was my hiking buddy, so finding places to hike made me feel closer to him. And since he was buried at Glen Rest Cemetery which is across the National Road (East Main Street), it was convenient for me to drop off flowers at his grave and go for a hike at Pine Quarry Park.
Friends of Pine Quarry Park Facebook Group
This is a quote from the Facebook page: 'The purpose of the Friends of Pine Quarry Park is to raise public awareness of the park and encourage more folks to visit. It is our hope that park visitors will appreciate this gift of Mother Nature, enjoy time spent in the park with family and friends and develop lasting relationships in our neighborhood community. We are advocates for the park; its preservation, upkeep and the safety of its visitors. '
They conduct clean-up days and community events such as "Dog's Night Out" at the park.
Bottom line, this small park has a lot to offer!
Some Pictures of Pine Quarry Park
