COLUMBUS, Ohio — Blacklick Woods Metro Park opened its new canopy walk Friday surrounded by dozens of guests eager to see the view from the treetops.
The Reynoldsburg park’s new structure gives visitors a bird’s-eye view of the forest floor and swamp below. An elevator provides access to the 35-foot-high boardwalk and 99 stairs take visitors to an observation platform.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Friday with representatives from the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks and visitors wanting to climb 55 feet into the treetops.
The canopy features rope bridges, a two-story play area, a cargo net and an observation deck to look for birds or enjoy the views of nature. It’s open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. until August, and from September to March it will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The park plans to keep birds in the area coming back to the area near the observation deck by installing special feeders along the walk. A pulley system will allow them to fill the feeders easily and guests can expect to see a large number of woodpeckers, warblers, nuthatch, phoebe, tufted titmouse and vireos.
Blacklick Woods Metro Park is 652 acres and is filled with woods, fields, seasonal swamp ponds and a small prairie and golf course.
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