Three Creeks Park (note, the official name does not include the word ‘Metro’ although it is often referenced as Three Creeks Metro Park) became the 11th Columbus & Franklin County Metro Park in 1998, but a 410-acre park called Three Rivers Park had existed on site since the early 1970s.
The City of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department operated Three Rivers Park on land that encompassed the confluence, or coming together, of the three rivers (creeks, actually), Alum Creek, Blacklick Creek and Big Walnut Creek.
In June 1998, the City of Columbus leased its then 500-acre site to Metro Parks for management and development of what became known as the Three Creeks Park Project. Renamed from Three Rivers Park to Three Creeks Park, Metro Parks acquired new land through purchases and easements, for what is now a 1,100-acre park and one of the major hubs in the Central Ohio Greenways system.
Both Metro Parks and the City of Columbus are major partners in the Greenways project, developed by MORPC (the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission) to connect our region’s scenic river corridors with local neighborhoods, parks and attractions.
Three Creeks Metro Park has four addresses:
- Three Creeks: 3860 Bixby Road, Groveport, Ohio 43125
- Heron Pond: 3400 Williams Road, Groveport, Ohio 43125
- Canoe Access: 2820 Watkins Road, Groveport, Ohio 43125
- Canoe Exit: 4999 Old Rathmell Court, Groveport, Ohio 43125
Hours and Info
April 1-September 30: 6:30am-10pm
October 1-March 31: 6:30am-8pm
Phone: 614-208-2874
The 1,100-acre park is a partnership with the City of Columbus Recreation and Parks Department.
A MEETING POINT FOR TWO GREENWAY TRAILS:
Metro Parks opened the first 7.5-mile section of the Alum Creek Greenway Trail in 1999, and the first 2.8-mile section of the Blacklick Creek Greenway Trail in 2001. Both trails have their start points in the Confluence Trails Area, one of five distinct areas of Three Creeks Park.
The Blacklick Creek Greenway Trail has now been extended beyond the park, connecting Three Creeks Park with both Pickerington Ponds and Blacklick Woods Metro Parks, over a length of 16 miles.
The Alum Creek Trail now extends north of Three Creeks Park and terminates at Polaris over a distance of nearly 25 miles.
These wide, paved trails are very popular with bikes and they also have plenty of room for hikers, with or without leashed pets.
Hiking Trails:
Alum Creek Greenway
24.5 miles
Easy – ADA – Hike – Bike – Pets – Paved
Runs alongside Alum Creek and crosses a 300-foot bridge below the confluence of the Alum, Big Walnut and Blacklick creeks. Continues north to Westerville.
Blacklick Creek Greenway
16 miles
Easy – Hike – Bike – Pets – Paved
Connects three Metro Parks and several small parks from Reynoldsburg to Groveport.
Bluebell
1 mile
Moderate – Hike – Dirt
Runs alongside Blacklick Creek. The confluence of the creeks can be viewed by guests who walk either the Confluence or Bluebell Trails. These beautiful nature trails are for hikers only.
Confluence
1 mile
Moderate – Hike – Dirt
Runs alongside Alum Creek with a view of the confluence, passing giant sycamores, cottonwoods and American elms. The confluence of the creeks can be viewed by guests who walk either the Confluence or Bluebell Trails. These beautiful nature trails are for hikers only. The
Robert ‘Tad’ Jeffrey Off-Trail Reserve is located in the center of the Confluence loop trail, right at the confluence of the three creeks. Here, visitors are encouraged to go off-trail, bushwhack through the foliage, get muddy, and swing from tree branches. You will not leave this area clean!
Natural Play Area is a 12-acre natural play area for kids to have fun with nature. Located along the Confluence loop trail.
Evergreen
0.5 miles
Easy – Hike – Pets – Grass, Dirt and Boardwalk
Goes through a white pine tree grove and loops around the natural play area.
Heron Pond
0.6 miles
Easy – Hike – Bike – Pets – Paved
Loops around Heron Pond.
Madison Mills
0.2 miles
Easy – Hike – Bike – Pets – Paved
Short loop around a play area for kids.
Turtle Pond
0.4 miles
Easy – Hike – Pets – Gravel
Loops around Turtle Pond.
Sycamore Fields and Smith Farm
1.2 miles
Easy – Hike – Bike – Pets – Paved
Loops around athletic fields, with a spur that crosses the Alum Creek Greenway and leads to Smith Farm.
In addition to Metro Parks Park Rangers, Naturalists, and Maintenance Technician Team Members, guests are likely to encounter City of Columbus staff. City of Columbus manages the Sycamore Fields Area, which has fenced-in dog parks for both large and small dogs, plus four baseball/softball diamonds and seven playing fields for soccer and football.
The Witten Smith Farm Market History:
The Smith Farms Area is also maintained by the city’s Recreation and Parks Department. For many years, the city hosted a Fall Harvest Jamboree on site in October, to celebrate the history of Smith’s Famous Farm, a once-thriving vegetable farm.
Smith Market in Columbus and Gahanna became part of The Witten Farm Market family in 2011.
Timeline of Smith Farm:
1938
Fourth-Generation Farmer, Lot Smith, begins working full time on the family farm and gets married to his wife, Bettie Jane. They go on to raise a family of four daughters.
1940’s – 1960’s
Lot and his dad Arthur run a booming wholesale business with turnips, 75 acres of asparagus and 300 acres of sweet corn.
1973
Lot opens Smith Farm Market on a corner just up the road from the farm where he sells his family’s homegrown fruits and vegetables.
1975
Lot adds “home bakery pies” to the list of items available at Smith Farm Market.
1978
Lot retires from wholesaling asparagus, sweet corn and turnips but continues farming and operating Smith Farm Market.
1980
After being introduced to Lot during his college career at The Ohio State University, Bill Kline joins Smith Farm Market as Lot’s business partner and the market’s operations manager.
1986
Bill purchases the farm market from Lot and sources produce from local farms across the state of Ohio, including The Witten Farm and their world famous sweet corn. Lot continues farming his pick-ur-own fields and hosting educational farm tours until his retirement in 1994.
1994
Lot sells the famous 325-acre Smith Farms to the city of Columbus for a fraction of its value to be used as parkland rather than being developed.
1995
Julie Witten has her first experience with Smith Farm Market working as an intern while attending The Ohio State University.
1999
Bill expands the Smith Farm Market name and opens a roadside farm market in Gahanna, OH.
2011
Julie, Tom and Scott Witten purchase Smith Farm Market and introduce the Columbus area to more of their locally grown flowers, fruits and vegetables. They also replace the roadside farm market in Gahanna with one of their well-known produce wagons.
2018
The bakery undergoes a complete remodel and re-opens its doors with all the traditional favorites and a new signature pie collection.
Things to do at Three Creeks Park:
- Picnic: Several picnic shelters are available for public use.
- There are two picnic areas in the park. One is in the Madison Mills area, with a playground and seasonal restrooms. The other is in the Confluence Trails area with a playground, restrooms, and a non-reservable shelter house which is enclosed on three sides, seats 16, and has grills.
- Playgrounds: Kid-friendly play areas are scattered throughout the park.
- Restrooms: Facilities are conveniently located.
- Parking: Ample parking lots near major trailheads.
- Fishing: Designated areas for fishing in the park's creeks.
- Heron Pond, Turtle Pond and all the creeks allow fishing. Please check with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for licensing requirements.
- Canoeing and Kayaking: There are no canoe and kayak rentals available, but you can bring your own. The access point is at Alum Creek, leading to Big Walnut Creek where the exit point is.
- Wildlife Watching: A habitat for diverse wildlife, with opportunities for birdwatching and other nature observation.
- Over the years, the park has become a popular destination for wildlife lovers, especially birdwatchers. Over 100 species of birds have been sighted at the park, including owls, eagles, great blue herons, and more.Visitors may catch a glimpse of beaver, mink, coyote and deer.
- And TURTLES
Conclusion:
Three Creeks Park is a great place to visit. We have gone there quite often to ride bikes with children. Most of the trails are loops so it is easy to keep them safe.
We have ridden our bikes from Alum Creek Greenway Trail to Three Creeks Park. It was an awesome ride and a good workout.
We have explored the Confluence Trail and enjoyed the Bluebells in the spring.
If you are in the Columbus area, carve out some time to visit Three Creek Park. You will be glad you did.
If you have any questions or would like to contact us, please let us know.
