Tours

Nongkrong sambil berbahasa Prancis! Niveau minimum : A2 mais tout le monde est bienvenu ! Au programme mardi 19 mai : une plongée en grammaire, pour tout savoir sur les mystérieux pronoms "y" et "en" ! Et aussi bien sûr des discussions libres, sur tout sujet.

Hello, we already have members, so the game is always on!! New Normal for JEB Badminton To support government maintaining restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19, JEB will update the regulations by setting the game with limited player and applied the following conditions : Fee Join = Rp. 80.000,- / person with max 8 players /court . 2 courts' court no 6&7 Cancellation Policy : A. More than 10 hours before game - no penalty / charge from Fee Join. B. Less than 9 hours before game - a half penalty / charge from Fee Join. Thank you for your kind understanding. Cu soon 🤩

Hey, friend in Jakarta! Now that you joined JakFri... **are you a member of [Jakarta Writers (former Creatives)](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-creatives/) yet?** Want to see **pictures** of past events? **[Take a look here!](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends/photos/)** And feel free to upload a few pictures you might take at the event 😊 JakFri and JakCre are **the** biggest, first, most active, and most inclusive MeetUp community in Jakarta... and we invite you to join us for a **FREE CITY EXPLORE & dinner in South Jakarta!** Everyone is always welcome to join our events. Our community is all about creating authentic in-person connections in this urban jungle. Come as you are... It’s the best version of yourself. **ABOUT THE EVENT** Let's play tourists for a day. On March 14th this year, **BENDERA PUSAKA PARK** was officially opened by the Governor of DKI Jakarta along with Megawati Soekarnoputri, the 5th President of the Republic of Indonesia. This Park in South Jakarta combines three iconic parks—Ayodya Park, Langsat Park, and Leuser Park—into a single, integrated 5.6-hectare green open space (RTH). They have a beautiful Skybridge, free sports facilities + playgrounds, and are open 24 hours. We'll start from **Gate D** (in front of Tuang Coffee), and then take a break at **Ayodya Park** watching the sunset before heading to the restaurant for dinner. Here is the meeting point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/BDtDzXPgo9Cg6wco7 If you want to join only for dinner at the venue (see below 👇🏽), it's possible, but it's your responsibility to find the group and wait to have a free seat at the restaurant, etc. (the group cannot wait for you!) **We have organised this event before! Take a look here:** * [Let's be tourists for one day! Vol. III 🚶🚶🏻‍♀️ A walk in the park with JakFri](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends/events/313921106/) * [Let's be tourists for one day! Vol. II 🚌 SATURDAY CITY TOUR with JakFri](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends/events/313184303/?eventOrigin=group_events_list) * [Let's be tourists for one day! Vol. I 🚌 SATURDAY CITY TOUR with Jakarta Friends](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends/events/312589863) **ABOUT THE VENUE** After exploring the **Bendera Pusaka Park**, we'll stroll over to an Indonesian cuisine called AROEM (a roughly 5-minute walk). We can choose to order food to share or select individual dishes; we’ll make that decision together when we get there. See their social media presence here: https://www.instagram.com/aroem_mahakam?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== **ABOUT THE HOST** Your host for this event will be Gina, a seasoned local with a lot of knowledge about the city and eager to welcome new friends to our community. **HOW TO REGISTER TO THE EVENT?** To register, just click “Attend”! There are a few simple rules * We kindly ask attendees who cannot manage to join to **update RSVP at least 24 h before the event** as a courtesy to other attendees and event organisers. * Don't be late! We need to hop on the bus together * People in the waitlist **cannot** attend, and are encouraged to check a few hours before the event to see if they got a spot * 3X no-show = removal from the group. * Attendess who bring a +1 need to make sure that the guest understands and agrees to our rule of mutual respect and inclusivity * Cancellations within 2 hours of the event are unfiendly to organisers, venues, and fellow attendees, and will be **considered as a no-show**. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation! **WE HAVE A MEMBERSHIP FEE. HOW DOES IT WORK?** Membership can also be paid as a **yearly membership of 320k IDR** valid for 365 days after payment. Membership fee is offered with a **promo discount to first-timers**, who can become members for **240k IDR/year** **(Option A**). First-timers can decide to join with a **sneek peak price of 50k IDR & pay the remaining 270k IDR at the next event** they attend (**Option B**). Registered +1 can attend for free. Renewals (after 365 days) and upgrades (to join JakWri) are offered at a special rate. All this is aimed at encouraging people to sign up, and then to attend as many events as they like! Yearly membership can be paid at an event (cash/bank transfer/Gopay) or beforehand (bank transfer/Gopay). Text Corrado (+62 8211 489 3580) if you have any questions about membership. Membership to **both** Jakarta Friends and Jakarta Writers (former Creatives) is offered for **only** 390k IDR/year (**Option C**). Membership gives **access to all events** plus exclusive perks available only to paying members, like for example our [Give Away Birthday Celebrations with lucky draw](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends/events/300470498) (Sept 2024) or [FREE pasta cooking (and eating 😉) workshop](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends/events/304253623/) (Nov 2024) or [Museum visits with FREE GUIDED TOURS](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-creatives/events/301738408/) (Sept 2024). To many events, attendees can **bring a +1 for free**, and we have some events open to all (paid and unpaid) members. To all members we **guarantee** to keep organizing plenty of events. You will receive a **full refund** if the group closes down, or if there’s no event happening in three months. In the past 3 years we have organised up to 2-3 events per week (browse past event [of JakFri here](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends/events/?type=past) and [of JakWri here](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-writers/events/?type=past)). That is, with your membership you can attend up to 5-10 events/month! We **guarantee** to keep organising plenty of events. You will receive a **full refund** if the group closes down, or if there’s no event happening in three months. **THE RULES OF OUR COMMUNITY** Our communities are: * **Jakarta Friends**: [https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends) * **Jakarta Writers (former Creatives**: [https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-writers/](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-creatives/) Members often participate in events of both groups. Over the past two years, we held over 250 events with over 2,000 attendees. Attendees rate our events **very positively** and give wonderful feedback, with an average of **4.8**⭐ (out of 5⭐) afrom over 500 reviews ([take a look at our reviews here!](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends/feedback-overview/)) We value diversity, inclusivity, respect, and authenticity. We **do not tolerate** harassment or discrimination of any kinds. * You are invited to join our WhatsApp group where we announce our events regularly: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/BR0sC0BrPbc9xTqvj1qLfx](https://chat.whatsapp.com/BR0sC0BrPbc9xTqvj1qLfx) * Feel free to tag us on Instagram, and we will repost! [www.intagram.com/jakarta.friends.creatives](http://www.intagram.com/jakarta.friends.creatives) * For questions about the event, please post a comment on the event page, or DM the event organisers

Hello, Jakarta Writer! **Are you a member of [Jakarta Friends](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends/) yet?** Want to see **pictures** of past events? **[Take a look here!](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-creatives/photos/)** And feel free to upload a few pictures you will take at the event 😊 JakCre and JakFri is **the** biggest, oldest, most active, and most inclusive MeetUp community in Jakarta… and we invite you to join us for this **WRITERS' CLUS: Give and receive FEEDBACK** **on your writing! 📖✍️🤓** Everyone is always welcome to join our events. Our community is all about creating authentic in-person connections in this urban jungle. Come as you are... it’s the best version of yourself. **ABOUT THE EVENT** What's one of the most difficult part in writing? Getting high-quality feedback! This event addresses exactly this! Plus, writers will have the chance to be part of a friendly community and a support system for fellow creatives. **We want to help and elevate each other!** This is what we will do: We will meet at the indicated time (please don't be late) and everyone who wishes to can drop their name on a box for a lucky draw. One person is selected by chance and will need to have a text **of any kind** (poetry/fiction/non-fiction/essay/article/script/blog/music lyrics/whatever!) ready to share with everyone on a Google drive folder. Then everyone will take their time and read the piece(s) on their own. We allocate **about 90 minutes quiet reading time**. Readers will take notes on what they wish to give feedback to. The author is also welcome to brief readers on what they should pay attention to or give feedback on. People who wishes to be there as readers only (that is, without putting their name in the lucky draw box), are most welcome to! The crucial part is that everyone needs to be respectful of each other's craft and give **polite, constructive feedback**! After reading time, there is the feedback time! **For about 90 minutes, we will discuss what we have read, and give feedback to the author.** Sounds easy, fun, and productive? It is. Everyone will have the chance to learn something new! This event doesn't require any preparation! We will read and give feedback on the spot. It's important that everyone is **on time** and **ready to share their text on Google Drive** for everyone to read, so that we can start without delays! This will be a unique occasion to receive a feedback on your writings (of any kind) and to practice your ability to give and receive feedbacks on texts! Just be ready to share (not mandatory) **a piece of your writing of about 2,000 words** (1,000 to 10,000 words is OK, too, but be aware that a shorter piece is more likely to receive plenty of feedback) as a Google Drive link and grant people access to read. **We have done this event many times before! Take a look here:** * [GIVE & RECEIVE FEEDBACK on your writings 🤓 (May 2026) ](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-writers/events/314031386/) * [GIVE & RECEIVE FEEDBACK on your writings 🤓 (Feb 2026)](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-writers/events/313180424/) * [GIVE & RECEIVE FEEDBACK on your writings 🤓 (Jan 2026)](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-creatives/events/312723598/) * [GIVE & RECEIVE FEEDBACK on your writings 🤓 (Dec 2025)](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-creatives/events/312032052) * [GIVE & RECEIVE FEEDBACK on your writings 🤓 (hybrid) (Nov 2025)](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-creatives/events/311725541/) * [GIVE & RECEIVE FEEDBACK on your writings 🤓 (hybrid) (Aug 2025)](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-creatives/events/310122815/) * [GIVE & RECEIVE FEEDBACK on your writings 🤓 (online) (Aug 2025)](https://www.meetup.com/how-to-become-a-writer/events/308662343/) **ABOUT THE VENUE** **Mikkro Espresso Jakarta** is a lovely café and eatery with ample space inside in their semi-open terrace space. After the event, some of us might feel like going at Mad for Laugh, acomedy event just around the corner, where they have regular comedy shows Sundays at 4 PM. Link to be shared soon -- take a look here at a past free comedy event we attended together: https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-creatives/events/312964219/ (walk-ins at the comedy event are usually possible, too) * Let's meet directly there! There will be tables prepared for us * At the venue, ask for Corrado or MeetUp at the staff. There will be a MeetUp sign on our table to find us, too * Here is a link to the venue for more information: https://share.google/6112sh6GEsY4G1dVJ * We encourage you to reach the event by public transportation MRT Cipete Raya is just 15 minutes walk! **ABOUT THE HOST** Corrado Nai has a Ph.D. in microbiology and writes mostly about science. His feature articles has been published in Smithsonian Magazine, New Scientist, Asimov Press, and many more. Currently he's writing [a graphic novel about agar-agar's surprising role in science](https://fanny-hesse-graphic-novel.site/), called "The Dessert That Changed the World" which can be followed and supported through Patreon ([www.patreon.com/corradonai](https://www.patreon.com/corradonai)) **HOW TO REGISTER TO THE EVENT?** To register, just click “Attend”! There are a few simple rules * We kindly ask attendees who cannot manage to join to **update RSVP at least 24 h before the event** as a courtesy to other attendees and event organisers. * **Be on time! We need to start together.** * People in the waitlist cannot attend, and are encouraged to check a few hours before the event if they got a spot * Repeated no-show (3X) without updating RSVP will be removed from the group. * Cancellation at the last minute is unfriendly for other attendees, organisers, and venue. Please cancel whitin 2 hours for exceptional circumstances **only**. Otherwise it will count as no-show! * Attendees who bring a registered +1 are responsible to make sure that the guest understands and agrees to our rules of respect and inclusivity. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation! **WE HAVE A MEMBERSHIP FEE. HOW DOES IT WORK?** Our community has a **membership fee** that make sure we can keep organising hundreds of events as we did over the past 4 years. Membership can be paid as a **yearly membership** of 340k IDR valid for 365 days after payment. Pay online **ahead** of the event to get **10% off**! Membership gives **access to all events** plus exclusive perks\*\*(\*)\*\* available only to paying members. As a first-timer, you have several options: * **Option A**: Join with a *promo discount* for first-timers for 250k IDR/year. Get 10% if you pay online ahead of the event! * **Option B**: Not sure if you want to join for a year? Join with a 50k IDR *sneak peek option* & pay the remaining 290k IDR at the next event * **Option C**: *Bundle offer* to join both Jakarta Writers **and** **[Jakarta Friends](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends/)** for 390k IDR instead of 680k IDR. First-timers only. All three options can be redeemed with an additional **10% discount** when paid online **ahead** of an event. In the past 3,5 years we have organised **\~2-3 events per week** (browse past event [of JakFri here](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends/events/?type=past) and [of JakWri here](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-writers/events/?type=past)). That is, with your membership you can attend up to 5-10 events/month! \*\*(\*)\*\*This is a non-exhaustive list of special events we have had for paying members only. A [Give Away Birthday Celebrations with lucky draw](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends/events/300470498), a [Free pasta cooking (and eating 😉) workshop](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends/events/304253623/) or a [Museum visits with free guided tours](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-creatives/events/301738408/). We **guarantee** to keep organizing plenty of events. You will receive a **full refund** if the group closes down, or if there’s no event happening in three months. Yearly membership can be paid beforehand (bank transfer/Gopay) or at an event (cash/bank transfer/Gopay). Text Corrado (+62 8211 489 3580) if you have any questions about membership. It's easy! **THE RULES OF OUR COMMUNITY** Our communities are: * **Jakarta Friends**: [https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends) * **Jakarta Writers** (former Jak Creatives): [https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-writers/](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-creatives/) Members often participate in events of both groups. Over the past two years, we held over 250 events with over 2,000 attendees. Attendees rate our events **very positively** and give wonderful feedback, with an average of **4.8**⭐ (out of 5⭐) from around 400 reviews ([take a look at our reviews here!](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-creatives/feedback-overview/)) We value diversity, inclusivity, respect, and authenticity. We **do not tolerate** harassment or discrimination of any kinds. * You are invited to join our WhatsApp group where we announce our events regularly: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/BR0sC0BrPbc9xTqvj1qLfx](https://chat.whatsapp.com/BR0sC0BrPbc9xTqvj1qLfx) * Feel free to tag us on Instagram, and we will repost! [www.intagram.com/jakarta.friends.creatives](http://www.intagram.com/jakarta.friends.creatives) * For questions about the event, please post a comment on the event page, or DM the event organisers

Join us for an unforgettable night 7:30pm in Jakarta [[Click This Whatsapp Groupchat Link](https://chat.whatsapp.com/BQcHLsg2oJfLugoOG27jjk)] We’re not just a language exchange — we’re a roaming social experience for 20s and 30s who love new faces and open conversations. Whether you're an expat, traveler, or Seoulite looking for something beyond the usual Saturday, this is the place to be. Connect, talk, laugh, repeat.

Looking for something fun? Come hang out at *Mad For Laughs*, our English open mic featuring a curated lineup of fresh and fearless comics :) 📅 **Every Sunday** 📍 **Doors open at 3:30 PM \| Show starts at 4:00 PM** 🚪 **Doors will close at 4:00 PM when the show begins.** To keep the show running smoothly, late entry may not be allowed, and any unclaimed spots may be released to other walk-ins. We have weekly event every Sunday for more details please check it out [here](http://bit.ly/mfl-openmic)! Interested in performing? Sign up [here](https://forms.gle/x1YsKfoNBSsFXsd29)!

Hey, new friend in Jakarta! Now that you joined JakFri... **are you a member of [Jakarta Writers](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-writers/) yet?** Want to see **pictures** of past events? **[Take a look here!](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends/photos/)** And feel free to upload a few pictures you might take at the event 😊 JakFri and JakCre is **the** biggest, first, most active, and most inclusive MeetUp community in Jakarta... and we invite you to join us for **PIZZA NIGHT 🍕 at Zapoli Pizzeria in Menteng!** Everyone is always welcome to join our events. Our community is all about creating authentic in-person connections in this urban jungle. Come as you are... it’s the best version of yourself. **ABOUT THE EVENT** It's Firday night! Let's have the most delicious Neapoletan pizza in Jakarta at **Pizzeria Zapoli in MENTENG 🍕**. This is a new outlet from Zapoli and around the corner of MRT Bundaran HI. Neapoletan pizza means soft dough and simple ingredients. The pizza is cooked in a typical wood-fire oven for just a few minutes, and the ingredients remain very fresh. **ABOUT THE VENUE** Here's their IG: [https://instagram.com/zapoli](https://instagram.com/zapoli) The menu isn't big; the quality is. Pizza starts at around 70k up to around 140k. Pizzeria Zapoli have artisanal soda which is refreshing with the salty, spicy pizza. The place is 100% Halal. The place is "BYOB" (and your own glass with it) and "no reservation", that is, we might need to wait a bit to get a seat. The restaurant closes at 10 PM and after dinner we can go together to have a drink in a place nearby (location to be decided together). The place is small, and attendance to this event is limited to 6 persons. If you cannot join, please **update your RSVP at least 24h before the event** as respect to the organiser and people in the waitlist. **No-shows will be kicked out of the group.** Be on time as we want to eat together. Do not be early as we want to eat together. Just come and enjoy the company of new and old Jakarta Friends. **Everyone is welcome to join.** As no reservation is possible, we might need to wait a bit until a table big enough for us will be free. From experience, this should not take long. **HOW TO REGISTER TO THE EVENT?** To register, just click “Attend”! There are a few simple rules * We kindly ask attendees who cannot manage to join to **update RSVP at least 24 h before the event** as a courtesy to other attendees and event organisers. * Don't be late! We want to eat together. Don't be early! We want to eat together. * People in the waitlist **cannot** attend, and are encouraged to check a few hours before the event to see if they got a spot * No show at this event without updating RSVP = removal from the group. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation! **WE HAVE A MEMBERSHIP FEE. HOW DOES IT WORK?** Our community has a **membership fee** that make sure we can keep organising plenty of events as we did over the past 4 years. Membership can be paid as a **yearly membership** of 340k IDR valid for 365 days after payment. Pay online **ahead** of the event to get **10% off**! Membership gives **access to all events** plus exclusive perks\*\*(\*)\*\* available only to paying members. As a first-timer, you have several options: * **Option A**: Join with a *promo discount* for first-timers for 250k IDR/year. Get 10% if you pay online ahead of the event! * **Option B**: Not sure if you want to join for a year? Join with a 50k IDR *sneak peek option* & pay the remaining 290k IDR at the next event * **Option C**: *Bundle offer* to join both Jakarta Friends **and** **[Jakarta Writers](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-writers)** for 390k IDR instead of 680k IDR. First-timers only. All three options can be redeemed with an additional **10% discount** when paid online **ahead** of an event. In the past 3,5 years we have organised **\~2-3 events per week** (browse past event [of JakFri here](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends/events/?type=past) and [of JakWri here](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-writers/events/?type=past)). That is, with your membership you can attend up to 5-10 events/month! \*\*(\*)\*\*This is a non-exhaustive list of *special events* we have had for paying members only. A [Give Away Birthday Celebrations with lucky draw](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends/events/300470498), a [Free pasta cooking (and eating 😉) workshop](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends/events/304253623/) or a [Museum visits with free guided tours](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-creatives/events/301738408/). We **guarantee** to keep organizing plenty of events. You will receive a **full refund** if the group closes down, or if there’s no event happening in three months. Yearly membership can be paid beforehand (bank transfer/Gopay) or at an event (cash/bank transfer/Gopay). Text Corrado (+62 8211 489 3580) if you have any questions about membership. It's easy! **THE RULES OF OUR COMMUNITY** Our communities are: * **Jakarta Friends**: [https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends) * **Jakarta Writers** (former Creatives): [https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-writers/](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-creatives/) Members often participate in events of both groups. Over the past two years, we held over 250 events with over 2,000 attendees. Attendees rate our events **very positively** and give wonderful feedback, with an average of **4.8**⭐ (out of 5⭐) from around 600 reviews ([take a look at our reviews here!](https://www.meetup.com/jakarta-friends/feedback-overview/)) We value diversity, inclusivity, respect, and authenticity. We **do not tolerate** harassment or discrimination of any kinds. * You are invited to join our WhatsApp group where we announce our events regularly: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/BR0sC0BrPbc9xTqvj1qLfx](https://chat.whatsapp.com/BR0sC0BrPbc9xTqvj1qLfx) * Feel free to tag us on Instagram, and we will repost! [www.intagram.com/jakarta.friends.creatives](http://www.intagram.com/jakarta.friends.creatives) * For questions about the event, please post a comment on the event page, or DM the event organisers

Want to unwind after work with some fun? How about hitting the tennis courts at Anol Tennis Warehouse with people who are at your level (Intermediate)? It’s a weekly event, and we’re always welcoming new members, so you can get a great workout and make some new friends all at once. Looking forward to seeing you there soon! Fee is 198,000 Rp per person.

Let’s meet and wander the galleries! General admission on Sundays is free.

It’s time to take control of your mental health. How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind. Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself. Here is the secret of being positive and free: Thinking positively is not enough. You also have to get rid of the negative thinking. Your mind is like a garden. You can plant many beautiful flowers in it, but if you don't get rid of the weeds when you plant your flowers, the weeds will soon take over the whole garden. A positive thought is like a flower in your mental garden, and a negative thought is like a weed. You cannot expect to have a positive mindset if you continue to have negative thoughts dwelling and growing there. So, how do you get rid of the negative thoughts? That's what this Meetup is all about. Attend this local meeting and find out! The Meetup event will be led by a consultant who had helped many people live happier in life. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. This group is created by the Dianetics & Scientology life improvement center.

Join us this Thursday at 6:30 pm for a nice hike along the Big Walnut Trail along the Gahanna golf course, circling Creekside and back. This 2 mile hike is fully paved and a beautiful walk through the heart of Gahanna.

It’s time to take control of your mental health. How do you get rid of stress, anxiety and uncertainty? These emotions are buried deep in your reactive mind. Find out what the reactive mind is, and in the process find yourself. Have you ever suffered from a traumatic experience, a deep loss or been through a painful breakup? Has your ability to communicate suffered as a result? And after that, even though you "moved on" did you find that things were never quite the same? Have you ever looked at childhood photos, or reminisced your early life and wondered where that happiness and spark went? Are your emotions out of your own control? Have you ever felt, even if you aren’t aware of it, that possibly you are getting in your own way of your happiness and success? How does this affect your self-confidence? Find out what is at the root of all stress, anxiety, depression and self-doubt. Find out how and why you hold yourself back from achieving your goals and having the life you have dreamed of. As soon as you learn what is at the root of these unwanted conditions, you’ll see it is something you can DO something about. You will not be labeled or categorized at this MeetUp.

**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 park’s 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 park’s 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.

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