Clintonville Area Commission

Rush Run Park

The City of Worthington is seeking to acquire approximately 3.5 to 4.0 acres of land, which is currently a part of the Rush Run Park, to expand the Walnut Grove Cemetery that abuts the eastern boundary of Rush Run Park.

Rush Run Park and Walnut Grove Cemetery are located approximately 1.5 miles north of the intersections of Morse Road and North High Street. Both are located west of North High Street and north of Broadmeadows Boulevard. The land in question is owned by the City of Columbus but is located within the City of Worthington.

The land for Rush Run Park was set aside as a public parkland by the 1966 Referendum Approving the Olentangy Parkway. The use as a cemetery would not keep the Rush Run Park as parkland in perpetuity.

The Clintonville Area Commission has voted on several occasions to oppose the transfer of any of the Rush Run Park land to be used as an expansion for the Walnut Grove Cemetery. These votes have voiced the consensus of the CAC that the potential loss of parkland, either at Rush Run or at any other park, must be avoided. Rush Run represents an especially sensitive area because of the dense tree environment.

The loss of parkland and greenspace is of considerable concern to the residents of District 9 of the Clintonville Area Commission. District 9 currently has very little open public greenspace and no regulated parkland. The district is in jeopardy of losing this portion of Rush Run Park and the open greenspace surrounding the Sharon Elementary School.