The mission of Friends of the Ravines is to protect, preserve and restore ravine areas for the benefit of the urban community as well as the wildlife that utilize them. The stability of the ravines has been directly threatened by development, human activity. Utility placement and uncontrolled invasive plant species have disturbed the natural ecosystem. Our goal is to educate and involve the community in the City of Columbus in conservation efforts to restore and preserve these natural areas. Through education and involvement we can prevent and alleviate further environmental damage.
Friends of the Ravines grew out of the Clintonville Area Commission’s Ravine Committee, which published its first issue of Ravines Quarterly in 1996.  In response to growing interest in ravine preservation, Friends of the Ravines, a non-profit volunteer organization with no paid staff, was born. It has grown into an umbrella organization that assists and supports various ravine groups including Iuka Ravine Association, Adena Brook Community, Worthington Condomium Association, Bainbridge Condominium Association, and Glen Echo Ravine Association. 

Since its inception, Friends of the Ravines’ restoration activities and educational outreach programs have been funded through grants from The Columbus Foundation, The Ohio Environmental Challenge Fund, ComFest Grant, The Clintonville Fund, and Keep Franklin County Beautiful. Supporting memberships are the primary source of income for our official publication, Ravinia, which is printed twice a year.   

Every year, Friends of the Ravines sponsors two community outreach activities: a Community Forum and a Plant Walk, which are open to the public without charge.  

This year’s Community Forum was held on Tuesday, March 18, in the multipurpose room of Whetstone Library.  The Columbus Dispatch Home and Garden Editor, Cindy Decker, was the keynote speaker. Director of  Recreation and Parks, Alan McKnight, and City Council Member, Priscilla Tyson, discussed appropriate recreational use of public ravine areas.   

The 2008 annual Plant Walk will be held at Highbanks Metro Park at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 20.  Participants will meet inside Highbank’s Nature Center where there is a public parking lot.  See Upcoming Events for more details.