Updated: July 10, 2026
Long before it was part of the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system, Bank Run was known to a lot of us as Hoover YMCA Park.
Located at 1570 Rohr Rd. in Lockbourne, it was the kind of place where you could spend an entire afternoon without ever checking the time. Flying down the giant slide. Wandering through the woods looking for frogs and whatever else you could find. Celebrating birthdays under a shelter with a cooler full of snacks and a cake that never quite survived the heat.
Now, that familiar space has officially entered its next chapter. Over its grand-opening weekend on May 16, 2026, Metro Parks welcomed the community back to the newly reimagined Bank Run Metro Park. And yes, the giant slide is back.
Bank Run Metro Park: the essentials
| Address | 1570 Rohr Rd., Lockbourne, OH 43137 |
| Phone | 614-935-1974 |
| Open now | The event center side |
| Still to come | The nature side along the quarry lake, expected later in 2026 |
| Lodges | Two indoor lodges, 99 guests each |
| Largest shelter | The Grand Shelter, 299 people |
| Event booking | bankrunspecialevents@metroparks.net |
A new kind of Metro Park
Bank Run Metro Park is designed as two connected experiences. One side is built for gathering. The other, still on the way, focuses on nature and exploration.
The first phase to open is the event center, and it’s a pretty big shift from what you might expect when you think “Metro Park.”
Instead of a few picnic tables and a shelter, the Bank Run Event Center is built to host everything from weddings and nonprofit events to large community gatherings, all while still being surrounded by green space.
There are two indoor lodges, including the River Rock Lodge, that can each host up to 99 guests, plus outdoor shelters that scale up significantly. The largest outdoor pavilion can accommodate nearly 300 people, perfect for receptions and bigger celebrations. There’s also a stage built for concerts and presentations, along with a paved 5K loop designed with races and events in mind.
If you’re eyeing it for a wedding or a big event, reservations are already open: full-site rentals for 1,000-plus guests book 12 to 18 months in advance, large-scale events like 5Ks book 8 to 12 months out, and individual lodges and shelters can be reserved up to 8 months ahead. Email bankrunspecialevents@metroparks.net to start.
The giant slide is back
If there was one thing longtime visitors made a beeline for on opening weekend, it was the slide.
Metro Parks brought back the beloved “Granddaddy Slide” from the old Hoover Y days and made it even more thrilling. The new version runs 100 feet long and drops 25 feet down the hillside.
Seeing it back in action felt like a full-circle moment for anyone who grew up coming here before the property became part of Metro Parks. Kids were climbing to the top as fast as they could, while adults pointed and immediately launched into stories that started with “I used to come here when…”
166 acres along Big Walnut Creek
Set on 166 acres along Big Walnut Creek, Bank Run sits on the site of the former Hoover Y Park and an old quarry.
Between what’s open now and what’s still being built, the full property includes:
- Two reservable lodges with warming kitchens and room for 99 people each
- Two outdoor shelters: the 299-person Grand Shelter and a second that seats 120
- An outdoor stage with power hookups for live performances or presentations
- A paved 5K trail that loops around a quarry lake and into the woods
- On-water experiences like kayaking and paddleboarding, led by the Metro Parks Outdoor Adventure team once the quarry-lake side opens
- A reimagined Optimist Lodge (the old wedding gazebo wasn’t rebuilt, though Metro Parks says it could return as the park grows)
- Plenty of green space and picnic tables to enjoy
When the full vision is complete, the park is built to host more than 10,000 people across festivals, weddings, 5Ks, and giant family reunions, all with a healthy dose of nature.
The park side is still to come
While the event center is open and already booking events (the Central Ohio Folk Festival in June was among the first to call it home), the natural side of Bank Run is still in development, with an expected opening later in 2026.
Once it’s complete, it’ll feel much more like the Metro Parks people already know and love, with open fields, wooded areas, water views, additional trails, picnic areas, fishing access, kayaking, and a floating dock along the water. The kind of place where you can slow down a bit and just be outside.
Bank Run Metro Park FAQ
How do you book the event center?
Email bankrunspecialevents@metroparks.net. Full-site rentals (1,000+ guests) book 12 to 18 months out, large-scale events (500+) book 8 to 12 months out, and individual lodges or shelters can be reserved up to 8 months ahead.
When does the rest of the park open?
Metro Parks expects the nature side, with the quarry lake, fishing access, and kayaking, to open later in 2026.
Where is Bank Run Metro Park?
1570 Rohr Rd. in Lockbourne, just south of Columbus.
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There’s something nice about seeing a place tied to so many childhood memories get a second life instead of disappearing entirely. Especially when the giant slide survives the upgrade. To learn more about Bank Run and the other Metro Parks, head over to metroparks.net.
