The Story Behind: Alum Creek South Sledding Hill

Few winter pastimes are so cherished as zipping down a sledding hill. In a region that is decidedly flat, good sledding can be hard to find. That is unless you come to Westerville’s Alum Creek Park South (535 Park Meadow Rd.).

Standing 33 ft. tall at its highest peak, the City’s monument to winter fun occupies more than two acres. It first opened to the public in the winter of 2019 after three years of careful construction. With a 33% slope at its steepest, down to an 11% for sledders with less experience, the hill was designed with the whole family in mind.

“This was the brainchild of the community and called for in the Westerville Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces (PROS) Master Plan,” said Laura Ball, Parks and Facilities Administrator. “It was important to create an opportunity for people to use their City parks throughout the year.”

Ball is in charge of seeing through the development of the City’s many signature parks spaces. She took on the mountainous task to create a hill from flat land when she started with the City in 2016.

Ball partnered with City departments and developments to source the right fill-dirt to build up the earth needed for the project. For about a year, residual dirt from sidewalk, roadway and some commercial development projects was trucked over to the park and carefully placed to create the hill. With the fill in place, the City contracted EMH&T to design the slopes for maximum winter fun.

“It’s fun to see kids bundling up and enjoying time outside during the winter. You expect to see kids on playgrounds and splash pads, but to see our parks used year-round is wonderful,” Ball said.

In its third year, the hill once again eagerly awaits the arrival of snow and happy sledders.

With its flag firmly planted as the epicenter of winter activity, the hill could someday entertain sledders yearround. The PROS Master Plan calls for a portion of the hill to be dressed with a special surface that would someday entertain visitors during the warm months. This portion of the project remains in early planning stages.

You can review the PROS Master Plan for your City parks at www.westerville.org/masterplan.