Work is scheduled to start this summer on the first trails at the new Quarry Trails Metro Park. Designed specifically for mountain biking, the facility will take advantage of the unique topography of the former quarry site to offer a variety of challenging downhill runs.

Steve Studenmund, Metro Park’s Strategic Planning/Land Acquisition Manager, said that the mountain bike area will be the first part of the park to be developed – the plan is for it to open to the public in the fall.

Previously-announced plans for the first phase of the new Metro Park have called for a 118-acre park that includes two large lakes and a waterfall, among other features, although a schedule for opening up access to those other elements has not yet been set, according to Studenmund.

Future phases could bring the total amount of parkland to about 220 acres.

Meanwhile, site work on the adjacent residential and commercial development is about to begin. Steve Bollinger, Partner & VP of Development at Thrive Companies (formerly Wagenbrenner Development), told Columbus Underground that vertical construction is on track to start this spring.

“Our hope is to start sales by year’s end and [to have] tenants moving into our apartments late first quarter of 2021,” he said.

The first phase of the development calls for up to 50 single family homes, 315 apartments and 100 for-sale multifamily units.

Quarry Trails is located at the northeast corner of Trabue and Dublin roads, west of the Scioto River.