Metro Parks plans to build canopy walk at Blacklick Woods this year after delay

Metro Parks plans to break ground by spring on an observation tower and canopy walk through the trees at Blacklick Woods Metro Park in Reynoldsburg.

Tim Moloney, executive director of Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks, said construction on the proposed project was originally expected to begin last year, but supply issues and rising costs forced a delay in those plans.

"We'll break ground in the next month or so," Moloney said. "We’re working with the contractor to have an opening in September, to coincide with the fall colors."

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Blacklick Woods, located at 6975 E. Livingston Ave., has more than 640 acres of woods, seasonal swamp ponds, prairie and fields, plus a golf course. Established in 1948 and the first park in the Metro Parks system, it is a National Natural Landmark and has what is touted as one of the best remaining beech-maple forests in central Ohio.

The planned project will still have a 55-foot observation tower and deck, so the proposed 500-foot canopy walk will be accessible to all. But the plan also now includes a hammock-style rope structure and a rope swing bridge with planks that will be handicap accessible, Moloney said.

In addition, the proposed canopy walk will have a fort for kids to play in and a covered rest stop, he said.

The project is expected to cost $2.5 million to $2.7 million, Moloney said, up from a projected $2.1 million cost in 2022. The additional features are one reason the project cost is expected to grow, he said.

Moloney said one big reason park officials want to move ahead now is because they can get most parts a little easier now. "The five-month lead time on parts is down to five-week lead times," he said.

Supply issues remain a problem, however, and Moloney said the canopy plan now will include some wooden poles instead of steel. "Steel poles are tougher to get now," he said.

The Metro Parks board of commissioners is expected to take up the project at its meeting Feb. 21 at 3 p.m. at the nature center at Blendon Woods Metro Park, 4265 E. Dublin Granville Road.

Board member Aryeh Alex said he has not reviewed the updated costs but noted that people want unique experiences from the Metro Parks system and this is another way to provide that.

"If you have a mobility issue — sometimes trails are impassable — (the tower and canopy trail project) creates an experience amongst the trees," Alex said. "I think it will be unique for central Ohio."

The original canopy walk was to be a 400-foot loop — 30 feet off the ground — to and from the tower.

In December 2020, the Metro Parks board of commissioners budgeted as part of the district's 2021 budget $4.5 million for a new nature center with an observation deck, the canopy walk and a children's play area.

The new nature center, to be called the Blacklick Woods Treehouse, was scheduled to be finished in 2021. But Moloney said last year that construction costs kept rising and Metro Parks had to drop the new nature center when it scaled back is plans.

Harrison West resident Daniel Palmer said he was wondering what had happened with the stalled Blacklick Woods Metro Park improvements and is looking forward to the canopy walk opening.

Palmer moved to Columbus last year from South Carolina. He said he's never before seen anything like what's being planned at Blacklick Woods and might want to try some birdwatching.

"It's high up. That would be fun, too," he said.

mferench@dispatch.com

@MarkFerenchik

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Canopy walk through the trees planned for Blacklick Woods Metro Park