Location, Hours, Parking, and Park Rules

Address and Phone

The Wilma H. Schiermeier Olentangy River Wetland Research Park
Heffner Wetland Research and Education Building
352 W. Dodridge Street
Columbus, OH 43202

Telephone: (614) 292-9776

Hours

Regular park hours are from dawn until dusk.

The Heffner Wetland Research and Education building is closed to the public.

Parking

There is limited, free parking located in the surface lot just South of the Heffner Wetland Research and Education building. Visit our Directions page for detailed instructions on how to access this lot whether you are driving, walking, or biking to the park.

If our lot is full, you are welcome to park along the West side of the driveway, where we have laid gravel for overspill parallel parking. Be sure to leave space for large trucks, emergency vehicles, and/or trucks with trailers to easily pass through the corridor.

Park Rules

Our mission is to advance knowledge and stewardship of wetlands, riparian areas, and other native habitats through outreach, research, and education. As such, there may be research projects, OSU courses/labs, site tours, outreach programming, and/or restoration activities occurring at any given time on site. While the site is open to the public, our property is owned by The Ohio State University. As primarily a research and educational institution, we ask all visitors to be respectful of teaching, research, and outreach activities while on site.

Additionally, we ask all visitors to follow these posted rules:

  • Pets must be leashed.
  • Stay on marked trails.
  • Do not disturb research equipment or infrastructure.
  • Do not enter the water or let pets enter the water.
  • Alcohol is not permitted on site.
  • No groups larger than 10 without written permission.
    • Groups over 10 must coordinate their visit with ORWRP staff.
    • Groups who have not followed proper procedure will be asked to leave the property.