Inniswood Metro Gardens in Westerville, Ohio, blends formal gardens with the feel of a wooded nature preserve. The 123-acre site is known for its streams, woodlands, wildflowers and landscaped gardens, offering a setting that feels both cultivated and natural. Today, it includes more than 2,000 plant species, specialty collections and themed garden areas, making it one of central Ohio’s best-known public gardens.
The site began as the estate of sisters Grace and Mary Innis, who bought the property in 1960 and moved there the following year. Grace, who studied art and horticulture at Ohio State, took a strong interest in gardening, while Mary was especially drawn to the woods and wildlife. Together, they developed extensive gardens while preserving the land’s natural character. After Grace died in 1966, Mary arranged to donate the property to the Metro Parks system while retaining the right to live there for the rest of her life.
Most of the land was deeded in 1978, and additional acreage was later added to protect the site from development. Inniswood Metro Gardens opened to the public in 1984 as the eighth Columbus and Franklin County Metro Park.