HILLIARD, Ohio — Amazon is spending nearly $1 million to restore 66 acres of wetlands and grasslands at two central Ohio metro parks, an effort the company says will filter and improve more than 72 million gallons of water flowing into the Scioto River each year.
The restoration work is being carried out in partnership with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks at two sites: Prairie Oaks Metro Park in Hilliard and Glacier Ridge Metro Park in Plain City, according to the company.
At Prairie Oaks, crews will create and enhance 18 acres of wetland habitat, including dense grass meadows designed to slow water flow so soil can absorb nutrients before they reach nearby waterways, and shallow seasonal pools that fill with rain and snowmelt to provide breeding habitat for wildlife. The project targets the Darby Creek watershed, a tributary of the Scioto River, and is intended to reduce the nutrient runoff that can fuel harmful algae blooms, the company said.
At Glacier Ridge, the project will restore 45 acres of grassland, create 3 acres of shallow seasonal pools and plant new trees to help absorb and filter stormwater runoff from nearby development before it reaches the Scioto River, according to the release.
Beyond water quality, the restored grasslands and wetlands are expected to provide nesting and foraging habitat for declining grassland bird species, including the Henslow’s sparrow, savanna sparrow, bobolink, and eastern and western meadowlark, as well as the upland sandpiper. Other wildlife, including red fox, coyote, eastern cottontail and black racer snakes, are also expected to benefit, the company said. Work at both sites is expected to wrap up in 2027.
The investment comes as Amazon’s rapid data center expansion across Ohio has drawn scrutiny over its water and power demands. According to the company, its Ohio data centers withdrew about 93 million gallons of water in 2025 — roughly the volume that flows past downtown Columbus in the Scioto River in just over two hours. Amazon said its Ohio data centers operate at a water use effectiveness rate of 0.06 liters per kilowatt-hour, more than nine times better than the U.S. data center industry average.
The company said it has now cumulatively contracted projects across Ohio watersheds that are designed to replenish 97 million gallons of clean water annually.
The information contained in this story was obtained from Amazon.
