Highlands Metro Park, Ohio Randy Brown
Feb 28, 2007


Highbanks Metro Park is a strip of undeveloped land located between 
the Olentangy River and a recently suburbanized stretch of US highway 
23, between Columbus and Delaware Ohio.  It gets it's name from the 
high cliff-like bluffs above the river (just short of 100' at their 
highest.  Leading back from these bluffs are a series of steep sided 
ravines which shelter a nice second growth forest composed mainly of 
White Oak, Red Oak, ash, Suger Maple & American beach;  with 
Bitternut & Shagbark hickory, black walnut, and slippery elm making 
occasional appearances.  I don't have measuring equipment yet but I'd 
guess the largest trees average ~2.5' dbh, and perhaps 80-90' high.  
Judging from other trees this size cut in Ohio I would guess the 
largest trees range 120-150 years old.

MG_0462.jpg (51028 bytes) MG_0454.jpg (45730 bytes)
MG_0456.jpg (52377 bytes) IMG_0463.jpg (51203 bytes)


However, the real star of the show is perhaps the largest sycamore 
I've laid eyes on.  It is sheltered on an isolated riverside bench, 
with the river on three sides and steep 30' bluffs at it's back.  The 
sycamores are clearly visible at the crook of the river in this 
google maps view.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=highbanks+metro+park&sll=41.385084,-81.545141
&sspn=0.013733,0.025041&ie=UTF8&om=1&t=h&z=17&ll=40.142115,-83.033177
&spn=0.003691,0.010579&iwloc=addr
 

Three pictures show different views of the tree.  The last picture is 
a sycamore with unusually thick bark.