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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Check out mazda miata events happening today here. These are in-person gatherings where you can meet fellow enthusiasts and participate in activities right now.
Discover all the mazda miata events taking place this week here. Plan ahead and join exciting meetups throughout the week.
Absolutely! Find mazda miata events near your location here. Connect with your local community and discover events within your area.
Mazda Miata Events Today
Join in-person Mazda Miata events happening right now
Short North Street Skate | Weekly Rollout
Short North Street Skates return Saturday, April 4 and weโre excited to get back rolling together.
These weekly rollouts are a chance to move through the city as a group, build community, and create more visibility for skating and small-wheeled movement in Columbus.
Details:
Meet: 1160 N High St
9:30 AM meet
10:00 AM rollout
All wheels welcome
Weโll be skating through the Short North and surrounding areas at a steady, social pace. Routes will use a mix of streets and bike lanes, so comfort navigating the city is helpful, but you donโt need to be an expert.
If youโve been meaning to come out, this is a great place to start.
Come solo or bring a friend!
Saturday, Cookout, corn hole, yard games, racing, bonfire, karaoke, social
Columbus Super Foodies **we love food, drinks, and hangout time, right**? ๐๐ฅ๐ป
Letโs join Central Ohio Friends and Columbus Social Connection for their first **BYOB** **Cookout** & **Bonfire** **Party of 2026** this Saturday, May 9th at Shadybowl Speedway. Free camping. Sleep or sober up in your car! Do not drink and drive under the influence!
**You can arrive anytime,** but this is definitely a full-day, full-night **experience** if you want to enjoy it all.
**2:30 PM โ Adult Field Day**
Field-day-inspired games like tug of war, dodgeball, and other fun challenges. No athletic experience needed, and there is no pressure to participate.
**4:30 PM โ Cookout**
There will be a communal grill available, plus plug-ins for crockpots, Instant Pots, roasters, etc. Please **bring something to share** and use the **signup link** so everyone can see whatโs being brought.
**sign up link** https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49ABA92EA2FAC70-63781787-saturday
**Around 7:30โ8:00 PM** โ Stock Car Racing
Weโll head into the track to watch some wild, action-packed racing. If youโve never been to a race, or think racing isnโt your thing โ come for the beer, stay for the wrecks. ๐คฃ
**Shadybowl is BYOB.** No glass. Cash only.
**Race admission is $15 cash only.**
After the races, **around 11:30 PM,** weโll kick off the bonfire party with **music**, **cornhole**, and stargazing. You can even **sing karaoke** if you want.
Bring:
* **A chair**
* **BYOB**, no glass
* Cash for race admission
* S**omething to share** for the cookout
please **use sign up link**
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0E49ABA92EA2FAC70-63781787-saturday
**I would bring pants, hoody or jacket, and a case or gallon of water for yourself**
If you find value in these events, please consider making a contribution using the contribution link in the comments.
Stop scrolling. Start doing stuff. ๐ฅ
Brushes & Brunch: A Mother's Day Painting Event
๐ธ Motherโs Day deserves more than flowers ๐ธ
Join us for an elevated outdoor paint experience designed for creativity, connection, and unforgettable memories.
โจ Brushes & Brunch: Motherโs Day Garden Edition โจ
Beautiful garden vibes
Brunch bites
Signature refreshments
Guided painting
Soft music
Luxury energy
Whether you're celebrating your mother, your daughter, your friends, or simply honoring yourself โ this experience is your invitation to slow down and create something beautiful.
No painting experience needed โ just bring your good energy.
This is not your typical paint party.
This is intentional.
This is elevated.
This is your moment.
๐ Limited seating available to keep the experience intimate.
Reserve your spot early
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/brushes-brunch-a-curated-mothers-day-painting-experience-tickets-1987709930911
Psychic Development Series II - Pueo Group
Private Group. Closed to the Public
Knowing ourselves and understanding our abilities is the first step toward wielding our gifts with control and accuracy.
In subsequent classes we will verify and hone our talents with activities and discussion. These are hands-on workshops and participation is expected.
The goal of our series will be to develop expertise in areas of particular interest such as mediumship, channeling, divination, healing and, etc.. Our ultimate directions will be determined by class members as we evolve.
I look forward to sharing and discovering with you. - Cynthia
Saturday Mornings @ East Market
Let's grab some coffee/food and share a morning chat! The East Market has an ample parking lot and outdoor and indoor seating.
Grab a cup of coffee from Winston's Coffee & Waffles or on your way to East Market and meet us on the second floor - table behind or east of the elevator.
Per what this group is about:
"Everyone is welcome! International transplants to Columbus who want to improve language skills, Columbus residents who enjoy talking to people from other countries, and those who would like to discuss international travel and culture, and who enjoy getting together for good conversations."
CABS Boardgaming Saturday, May 9th
Thanks for being a part of the CABS Meetup Group! We meet @ the COFFEE UNDERGROUND on Indianola Avenue. We play many different games @ CABS - bring your own or play one of the OVER 2000 in our library. What are your favorite games? What was the last game you played? Hope to see and game with you soon! Check us out on Facebook! Doors open early on Saturday Mornings at 10am and around 4pm on Fridays if you are interested in learning new / simpler games ... or new to the hobby or just want to check us out come in early just after noon and we will show you around before the crowd grows. Stay for a game or two, an hour or two or for the day! Your first visit is free and after that it's $5 a meeting or you can join for the year! It's Your Move
Mazda Miata Events This Week
Discover what is happening in the next few days
Detroit Interactive Virtual Speed Dating Locals
๐ **Online Speed Dating for Detroit Singles โ Real Connections, Long-Term Thinking**
This is for singles who are done with apps that go nowhere. Done with casual. Ready for a genuine conversation with someone who might actually matter.
Live on Zoom. Personality matched. Built for people who want something that lasts.
**Choose your age group to register:**
- Ages 18-32: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Detroit&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=18-32&face_v=2.0)
- Ages 30-46: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Detroit&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=30-46&face_v=2.0)
- Ages 40-58: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Detroit&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=40-58&face_v=2.0)
- Ages 55+: [Register Here](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Detroit&groupurlname=foster-meaningful-relationships-through-outdoor-exploration&ar=55+&face_v=2.0)
๐ฟ RSVP here alone does not hold your place. Complete your registration through the link above and finish the short personality quiz.
---
**How it works:**
1. Register via your age group link and complete the personality quiz.
2. Join Zoom at the event time โ works on any device, no downloads needed.
3. Meet Detroit singles in short one-on-one rounds matched by age and personality.
4. Mutual matches are shared after โ take it forward at your own pace.
๐ค Spots are kept small to keep things personal. If you are serious about finding the right person, this is where it starts.
Toledo Beginner Friendly Home Speed Dating
**๐ Zoom-Hosted Speed Dating for Toledo People Done with Apps**
Each evening, you'll be guided through rapid one-on-one Zoom dates with people from Toledo sorted by age and compatibility, while a live host keeps things smooth throughout.
Right after registering, you submit a short personality questionnaire โ the quiz results inform who you meet to match you with Toledo singles who are likely to click with you, meaning your rounds are curated and not random.
Once it is wrapped up, mutual match details are distributed โ exclusively for mutual selections โ and it is yours to follow up without any rush.
**Find your bracket and register:**
- **Ages 18-32** โ [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Toledo&groupurlname=collective-of-singles-planning-dinner-parties&ar=18-32&face_v=3.0)
- **Ages 30-46** โ [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Toledo&groupurlname=collective-of-singles-planning-dinner-parties&ar=30-46&face_v=3.0)
- **Ages 40-58** โ [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Toledo&groupurlname=collective-of-singles-planning-dinner-parties&ar=40-58&face_v=3.0)
- **Ages 55+** โ [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Toledo&groupurlname=collective-of-singles-planning-dinner-parties&ar=55+&face_v=3.0)
**โ ๏ธ Important:** An rsvp on this page is not a confirmed spot, so use the link for your age bracket above, sign up, and finish the short personality quiz โ spots go quickly so register now rather than later, and both steps together are what confirm your place.
---
**Here is how the evening goes**
1. **Lock in your place** โ by selecting your age group and following the link, then finish the compatibility quiz, because this step is your confirmation not the RSVP.
2. **Hop on** โ via your Zoom registration link at the right time, any device works and no download is required, and the host introduces everyone and gets the rounds started.
3. **Have your dates** โ timed one-on-one speed dates with age-matched Toledo locals paired by quiz, as the host handles all transitions so conversations stay natural, since every person you meet was matched to you on purpose.
4. **Review your matches** โ after the night mutual match results are sent to both parties, since non-mutual choices are never shared with either party, and you reach out whenever you feel ready.
**Who it is for:**
- Individuals in Toledo finished with profiles that never convert to actual dates and are ready for a genuine first impression.
- Those based in Toledo who are tired of endless scrolling and zero real dates and need a better way to meet people.
- Anyone locally in Toledo moving beyond swiping left and right with no results and are ready for a genuine first impression.
- Daters around Toledo who no longer want app fatigue and empty match queues and are serious about meeting someone.
- People calling Toledo home wanting to escape swiping left and right with no results and are after something more than a swipe can offer.
**Event Info**
- **Format:** Host-managed through Zoom video built around curated one-on-one dates, personality-first and age-grouped at every stage.
- **Where:** From home โ on any screen with a camera and mic, Wi-Fi and a front-facing camera covers it completely, and any quiet space with good lighting will do fine.
- **Host:** A welcoming host runs the session from the opening to the final round, so every conversation gets your full attention โ there is nothing on your end to organise or manage.
- **Vibe:** Comfortable short conversations with Toledo people who are ready for something real, and the whole thing is better than you would expect.
- **Duration:** Roughly 60 to 75 minutes from host intro to final round, with most rounds feeling short.
โญ *"Tried it once and booked again โ did not feel awkward at all"* โ Toledo attendee
๐ก **Helpful hint:** prepare one or two opening questions, and the host takes care of everything else from there, and the host handles everything else from that point.
---
โจ Your next match could be one Zoom call away โ grab your spot above and all the logistics are covered this time. See you on the other side. ๐ โจ
Indianapolis Faceless Online Speed Dating Event
**๐ Zoom Speed Dating for Indianapolis Locals from Home**
In each session, you'll move through private one-on-one video rounds with Indianapolis people in your age bracket who match your profile, with someone hosting live from start to finish.
When booking your spot, you take a quick personality and preferences survey โ those results are used to match you with Indianapolis people who are actually compatible, so the format works harder than any dating app.
When it is all over, we send mutual match results โ with privacy guaranteed for all non-mutual picks โ and everything that follows is on your schedule.
**Age groups โ click yours to register:**
- **Ages 18-32** โ [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Indianapolis&groupurlname=collective-of-singles-planning-dinner-parties&ar=18-32&face_v=3.0)
- **Ages 30-46** โ [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Indianapolis&groupurlname=collective-of-singles-planning-dinner-parties&ar=30-46&face_v=3.0)
- **Ages 40-58** โ [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Indianapolis&groupurlname=collective-of-singles-planning-dinner-parties&ar=40-58&face_v=3.0)
- **Ages 55+** โ [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Indianapolis&groupurlname=collective-of-singles-planning-dinner-parties&ar=55+&face_v=3.0)
**โ ๏ธ RSVP is not enough:** Rsvping on meetup does not confirm your spot at the event, so follow the age group link above, register, and complete the personality quiz to lock in your spot โ numbers are intentionally limited so register early, and only the combination of both confirms your attendance.
---
**The breakdown**
1. **Register** โ through the link corresponding to your age range, then complete the personality assessment, because registration closes once spots fill.
2. **Log on** โ by opening the session link at the right time, works on any device without requiring a download, and from there a live host guides everything.
3. **Start the rounds** โ brief timed one-on-one chats with Indianapolis singles curated for you by age and personality, as the host signals each transition calmly and clearly, knowing the matching already happened before you got on Zoom.
4. **Discover your matches** โ mutual selections are shared privately once the evening wraps, with contact info only shared when both of you said yes, and from there you call every shot.
**Ideal if you are:**
- Someone near Indianapolis who have had enough of apps that waste evenings for no return and are ready for something that feels natural.
- Professionals from the Indianapolis area moving on from dating apps that go nowhere and want actual face-to-face conversation.
- Someone in the Indianapolis area moving beyond apps that waste evenings for no return and are ready for a genuine first impression.
- Members calling Indianapolis home who have given up on profiles instead of real people and are looking for real connection.
- Daters from around Indianapolis moving beyond shallow connections that never lead anywhere and want to talk to real people tonight.
**The Basics**
- **Format:** Real-time via a live video call centred on focused one-on-one video dates, age and personality sorted before the event begins.
- **Where:** Fully remote โ on whatever device you prefer, no special equipment โ just a device with a camera and internet, and wherever you feel at ease is effectively your venue.
- **Host:** A professional host handles everything so you just show up and enjoy, meaning you never have to think about the format โ every transition and every call to move on is handled.
- **Vibe:** Welcoming private Zoom chats with real people from Indianapolis not filtered profiles, and the format itself removes most of the pressure.
- **Duration:** Total time is around 75 minutes or so across all rounds, and you will barely notice the time.
๐ก **Tip:** clear your background or find a tidy corner, so the rounds feel natural from the very start, since small prep leads to a noticeably better experience.
---
โจ One Zoom call, real conversations, real matches โ grab your spot above and the evening takes care of itself tonight. Can not wait to see you there. ๐๏ธ โจ
Detroit Verified Home Speed Dating Experience
**๐ Speed Dating without the Venue for Detroit Singles Tonight**
You'll rotate through short virtual speed dates with Detroit singles your age curated by personality quiz, as a welcoming host takes care of everything.
As part of your registration, you take a short personality assessment โ those results are used to pair you intelligently with Detroit locals, so every round is informed by more than just looks.
After all the rounds, we share who chose whom โ exclusively for mutual selections โ and you reach out whenever you are ready.
**Registration โ choose your age group:**
- **Ages 18-32** โ [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Detroit&groupurlname=collective-of-singles-planning-dinner-parties&ar=18-32&face_v=3.0)
- **Ages 30-46** โ [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Detroit&groupurlname=collective-of-singles-planning-dinner-parties&ar=30-46&face_v=3.0)
- **Ages 40-58** โ [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Detroit&groupurlname=collective-of-singles-planning-dinner-parties&ar=40-58&face_v=3.0)
- **Ages 55+** โ [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=476.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Detroit&groupurlname=collective-of-singles-planning-dinner-parties&ar=55+&face_v=3.0)
**โ ๏ธ Do not skip this:** Clicking rsvp is only the first step not the whole process, so register through the age group link, complete the form, and take the two-minute personality quiz โ capacity is restricted so act soon, and your place is confirmed only once you have done both.
---
**Made for:**
- Members around Detroit moving on from matches that ghost after two messages and are ready for something genuine instead.
- Women and men living in Detroit bored of endless scrolling and zero real dates and are serious about meeting someone.
- Returners living in Detroit wanting to escape app fatigue and empty match queues and want to try something that actually works.
- Members from the Detroit area leaving behind apps that waste evenings for no return and are after something more than a swipe can offer.
**Four simple steps**
1. **Complete registration** โ through the link corresponding to your age range, then take the brief personality quiz, because this is the only way to be confirmed.
2. **Show up on Zoom** โ via your Zoom registration link at the right time, any device works and no download is required, and everything from that point is handled by the host.
3. **Go through the rounds** โ quick private video rounds with age-matched Detroit locals paired by quiz, as the host signals each transition calmly and clearly, given that the matching was done before the evening started.
4. **Review your matches** โ we reveal mutual matches once the session ends, as your data only goes to someone who matched you back, and the next move is completely yours to make.
---
โจ Detroit singles worth meeting are in this event โ grab your spot above and we will do the rest while places last. Your next chapter might start tonight. โค๏ธโ๐ฅ โจ
Mazda Miata Events Near You
Connect with your local Mazda Miata community
CBusData - Practical AI for Power BI Developers
Practical AI for Power BI Developers
A year ago, โagentic AIโ was mostly hype for Power BI teams. Today, it deserves your undivided attention. For Power BI pros, there is now a real opportunity to reduce repetitive development work, accelerate delivery, and help developers do more, but only when strong DataOps practices are in place to make AI workflows effective.
This session is a no-nonsense introduction to effective AI patterns for Power BI and Fabric development. Along the way, we will make sense of the growing pile of terminology, including skills, plugins, hooks, and MCP. You will see examples of how modern AI tooling can help with development tasks across Power BI and Fabric, along with the prerequisites, guardrails, and DataOps principles needed to use it responsibly.
Whether you're burned out on AI hype or already using Copilot CLI daily, this session will show you the foundations that are finally making AI-assisted development genuinely useful.
Building Scalable Customer Identity Resolution Pipelines on AWS Using AI
Customer identity resolution becomes increasingly complex as organizations scale across multiple systems, regions, and data formats. Traditional rule-based approaches often fail to keep up with data variability, require constant manual tuning, and struggle with real-time processing needs.
This session presents a practical approach to building a scalable identity resolution pipeline using AWS services and modern AI techniques. The architecture combines data ingestion through Amazon S3 and AWS Glue, transformation pipelines using Spark on EMR, and machine learning models deployed via SageMaker for entity matching and standardization. Graph-based relationship modeling is implemented using Amazon Neptune to improve resolution accuracy by incorporating household and shared attribute context.
We will walk through how machine learning models can be used for name and address normalization, how intelligent blocking strategies improve matching efficiency, and how feedback loops can be introduced to continuously improve accuracy. The session also highlights how serverless components such as AWS Lambda can be used for orchestration and real-time processing.
**SPEAKER BIO**
Mosaic Syed is a Senior Data Engineering and Cloud Solutions Architect with over 20 years of experience designing and delivering scalable, secure, and high-performance data solutions across global enterprise environments.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mosaic-basha-syed-92300856
**CALL FOR SPEAKERS**
Learn more: [https://www.awscolumbus.com/get-involved/](https://www.awscolumbus.com/get-involved/)
**THANK YOU** *VEEAM* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Veeam*, please visit their website: [https://www.veeam.com/](https://www.veeam.com/)
**DIRECTIONS**
8800 Lyra Dr #450 ยท Columbus, OH
go to 4th floor.
**Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?**
Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com
๐ฅ Lincoln Street Salsa ๐ฅ Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue Dancing!๐ฅ
**๐ฅ Join us THIS Saturday and EVERY Saturday!**
**๐ฅ At Columbusโ Hottest New Salsa Venue!**
**.**
Lincoln Street Salsa
THIS Saturday and EVERY Saturday!
8 pm โ 1 am
**.**
**๐ฅ Gorgeously Renovated Studio!**
**๐ฅ Free Parking!**
**๐ฅ BYOB!**
**๐ฅ Easy Access from Highway!**
**.**
Lincoln Street Salsa
1717 Brice Rd
Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43215
**.**
**ENTRANCE IS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BUILDING**
**Behind Anthonyโs Pharmacy!**
**.**
**PLEASE SHARE and help get the word out!**
**.**
**๐ฃ Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue Dancing!**
**.**
**๐ฃ** 8:00 pm โ 8:30 pm
**๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป**
**.**
**๐ฃ** 8:30 pm โ 9:30 pm
**๐๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ Class!**
**.**
**๐ฃ** 9:30 pm โ 1 am
**๐ข๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐!**
**.**
**โ
Questions?**
**Visit [LincolnStreetSalsa.com](https://columbussalsadancing.com/)**
Or Text Todd: 614-774-8146
**.**
**โ
No Experience Necessary!**
**โ
No Partner Required!**
**โ
Plenty of People to Dance With!**
**.**
**โ
$15 Cash / $16 Card**
**โ
College Students $5 Off with Valid ID!**
**โ
BYOB**
**โ
Age 18+**
**.**
**โ
Lincoln Street Salsa is the perfect place forโฆ**
**.**
**๐ Learning to Dance**
**๐** Social Dancing
**๐ Birthday Celebration**
**๐** Bachelorette Parties
**๐ Girlโs Night Out**
**๐ Date Night**
**๐** Getting Fit / Burning Calories
**๐ Meeting New People**
**๐** Having Fun, Fun, Fun!
**.**
โ
**Questions?**
Visit [LincolnStreetSalsa.com](https://columbussalsadancing.com/ "https://columbussalsadancing.com/")
Or Text Todd: 614-774-8146
.
Data & Analytics Wednesday - Mapping and Dashboards
**Total Eclipse of the Chart: School Redistricting Dashboards**
In this presentation, we will explore the utilization of maps, sets, and SQL within a Tableau dashboard to help provide โwhat-ifโ analyses generated through the use of a mapped dashboard, providing different scenarios and the potential implications of these.
While in this use case we are focused on a large school district, the concepts of utilizing existing data to explore the future impacts of modifying different geographic boundaries can be useful to many industries, balancing the mix of maps with visual analytics.
**About Our Speaker**
Robert Kramer is the Data Systems and State Reporting Coordinator at South Western City Schools in Grove City. He has worked there for 17 years, serving previously in the roles of Data Analyst, Programmer, and Operations Coordinator. Prior to working at South Western, he worked as a Systems Engineer at Pinnacle Data Systems in Groveport. He graduated in 2005 from The University of Toledo with his Bachelorโs in Computer Science and Engineering, and a minor in Mathematics. Robert resides in Obetz with his wife, and their 15 and 12 year-old daughters. He was also just elected to his 3rd four-year term on the Obetz City Council.
Thanks to our 2026 sponsors:
[Clarivoy](https://www.clarivoy.com), [What Box Consulting Group](https://www.whatboxconsultinggroup.com), [Conductrics](https://www.conductrics.com), and [Piwik PRO](https://piwik.pro)
More info at [cbusdaw.com](https://cbusdaw.com)
Trails & Ales! Blendon Woods Metro Park / Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery
**History**
The history of [Blendon Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/blendon-woods/) began long before its 1951 opening, rooted in a landscape of rugged ridges and deep ravines that made the land unsuitable for traditional farming. In 1945, a report proposing a metropolitan park system for Franklin County specifically highlighted these cliffs of Bedford Shale as some of the "wildest land in the vicinity". Following this recommendation, the recently formed park district purchased the first 229 acres in early 1949. Because the terrain was so uneven, developers had to cut a mile-and-a-half-long roadway through dense woods just to bring in heavy equipment. This initial preservation effort ensured that the mature second-growth hardwood forests remained largely untouched by the urban expansion spreading toward Westerville.
Opening day arrived on Labor Day, September 3, 1951, marking Blendon Woods as the second park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system. The final push to open was a frantic race; the State Highway Department only finished the primary gravel access road four days before the gates opened. Early staff members, consisting of just four full-time employees, had to hand-dig pit toilets and learn construction skills on the fly to build the first picnic shelters. Despite the dusty conditions and limited facilities, the park was an immediate success, drawing massive crowds from across Central Ohio. By the end of the 1950s, annual visitation had already climbed to over 190,000 people.
As the surrounding suburbs grew in the 1960s, the park faced severe overcrowding that threatened its natural habitats. In response, Franklin County voters passed the first Metro Parks levy in 1960, providing the funds necessary for a decade of steady expansion. During this era, the park nearly doubled in size, growing from 264 acres to over 570 acres by 1968. Planners also addressed a critical water shortage by collaborating with the U.S. Soil and Conservation Service to build a lake in 1964. This body of water originally served as a temporary reservoir before its role shifted toward conservation and wildlife support.
The 1970s marked a transition toward the specialized wildlife and educational focus for which the park is known today. In 1971, the Walden Waterfowl Refuge was established around the 11-acre Thoreau Lake, creating a sanctuary that remains restricted to provide a quiet habitat for migratory birds. A formal nature center was also developed during this period, expanding on the guided Sunday walks that had been a park staple since the early 1950s. The parkโs famous "Monarch Mansion" also became a prominent fixture, starting a long tradition of raising and releasing thousands of monarch butterflies each September. These initiatives cemented the parkโs reputation as a premier destination for birders and nature enthusiasts.
In more recent decades, Blendon Woods has continued to modernize while maintaining its wilderness character. The 10-acre Natural Play Area was added in 2017, encouraging kids to explore the ravines and woods off-trail. This was followed by the opening of a $1.5 million inclusive playground in April 2025, designed to accommodate children of all physical abilities. The nature center also underwent major renovations to include immersive, three-dimensional exhibits and a new butterfly house. Today, the park encompasses 653 acres, preserving a unique geologic and biological corridor amidst the bustling Westerville and Northeast Columbus area.
**Map of the Park**
Here is a map of [Blendon Woods](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BLN_map_Inclusive-Playground-and-Butterfly-Trail_May-2025_1980px.png).
**Summary**
For this event, we will hike the Lake View, Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook, Brookside, and Sugarbush Trails. This sounds like a lot, but it will really be only a little over five miles. Blendon Woods has a few hills here and there, but it's not one of the more strenuous metro parks.
**Where We'll Meet**
We'll meet just in front of the Nature Center. This is about a mile into the park from the main entrance. You have to go past the Ranger Station and the Shadblow Reservable Area to get to it, so don't stop too early at the Ranger Station and get it confused with the Nature Center.
**After the Hike**
Afterward, we will head over to [Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/) at Easton for [drinks](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/#dinner-menu) and [food](https://forbiddenroot.com/wp-content/uploads/Cbus-Food.pdf). We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks.
The brewery's actual address is [4080 Worth Ave, Columbus, OH 43219](https://www.google.com/maps/place/4080+Worth+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43219/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88388a86d10b6619:0x4d42b470a5cf11d3?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111); however, I recommend pointing your GPS to the [Worth Garage](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Worth+Garage/@40.0542293,-82.9137962,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88388b4df6082825:0x17582f0eccd9dda1!8m2!3d40.0542293!4d-82.9137962!16s%2Fg%2F11rzfvvv8b?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) across the street. Parking in this garage is free as long as you're not on the first floor, and it is literally right next to the brewery.
Short North Street Skate | Weekly Rollout
Short North Street Skates return Saturday, April 4 and weโre excited to get back rolling together.
These weekly rollouts are a chance to move through the city as a group, build community, and create more visibility for skating and small-wheeled movement in Columbus.
Details:
Meet: 1160 N High St
9:30 AM meet
10:00 AM rollout
All wheels welcome
Weโll be skating through the Short North and surrounding areas at a steady, social pace. Routes will use a mix of streets and bike lanes, so comfort navigating the city is helpful, but you donโt need to be an expert.
If youโve been meaning to come out, this is a great place to start.
Come solo or bring a friend!


















