Parks, Progress, and a Balanced Future for Worthington

As we shape Worthington’s future together, our comprehensive plan update—Worthington Together—is an opportunity for the entire community to think big about what comes next. This process is built on listening to our community and balancing the things that make Worthington special today with what will sustain us in the years ahead. One of the important conversations we are having is about how to thoughtfully balance our love of parks with the need for housing, economic vitality, and long-term sustainability.

We Are a City Rich in Parks

Worthington has one of the strongest park systems in Central Ohio:

• 12.1 acres of parkland per 1,000 residents, well above the national median (7.8) and average (11.2) for cities our size. The National Recreation and Park Association recommends 6-10 acres per 1000 residents. 

• A top-ranking number of playgrounds, tennis courts, basketball courts, and athletic fields relative to our population.

• Nearly every neighborhood is within easy walking distance of a park, trail, or playground.

• Regional assets like the Olentangy Trail and multiple protected ravines, streams, and wooded areas.

Our Parks Master Plan affirms that our priority should be maintaining and enhancing this exceptional system, not diverting resources to creating more parkland when other pressing community needs are growing.

The Real Costs of Expanding Parkland Without Growth

Creating more parkland sounds appealing until we confront the very real financial trade-offs. Every acre of new park space comes with ongoing costs, including:

• Maintenance, safety, infrastructure, and staffing.

• Lost opportunities for new tax revenue that supports our schools, public safety, infrastructure, and even the upkeep of existing parks.

When prime, developable land is removed from the potential for housing or commercial uses, we also limit our city’s ability to address urgent challenges. Those challenges include:

• The need for more diverse, affordable, and attainable housing for current and future residents.

• Support for local businesses, job creation, and economic vitality.

• Growing our tax base in ways that help keep Worthington financially sustainable without putting more burden on existing homeowners.

Greenspace Can Coexist with Thoughtful Development

This is not about sacrificing nature for growth. Worthington has strong protections for environmentally sensitive areas like ravines, streams, and floodplains. Well-designed development incorporates these features as part of the landscape. It preserves tree canopy, protects habitats, and often provides public access to green spaces as part of new neighborhoods and commercial, mixed use areas.

Modern planning does not separate parks from development. It integrates them, with trails, small neighborhood parks, open spaces, and landscaping that enhances walkable, connected neighborhoods.

A Future That Balances Needs

Worthington is largely built out. The few remaining areas of undeveloped or underutilized land represent some of our best opportunities to thoughtfully address community goals:

• Expanding housing choices for people of all ages and incomes.

• Attracting and retaining local businesses.

• Supporting walkability and transit-friendly development.

• Continuing to protect and enhance our natural features and community character.

Everyone loves parks—they’ve always been a valued part of Worthington. But prioritizing parkland over other critical needs comes with real costs. Parks are essential to our quality of life, but so are housing, jobs, and a strong local economy. A healthy, sustainable community balances all of these priorities rather than focusing on just one. 

It’s Not Either/Or. It’s Both/And.

The real question isn’t “park or development?” The real question is how we design a future that includes both. A future where tree canopy, trails, streams, and parks continue to define Worthington alongside welcoming, diverse neighborhoods and a resilient local economy.

This is exactly the kind of conversation we are having through the Worthington Together comprehensive planning process. It’s a chance for all of us to weigh in, share ideas, and help shape a future that balances environmental stewardship with housing needs, economic opportunity, and community well-being.

Learn more, get involved, and share your voice at worthingtontogether.org. Together, we can create a plan that reflects our values, priorities, and aspirations for a thriving Worthington—for today and for generations to come.