Glenmeadows - Reynoldsburg, OH

Glenmeadows is part of the larger Columbus suburb of Reynoldsburg, which was founded as a mercantile settlement in the early 19th century. Reynoldsburg began to grow in central Ohio with the construction of the National Road. This was the first main route through the city, allowing for the subsequent construction of churches, stores, taverns and ultimately the first public high school in Franklin County, Reynoldsburg Union Academy. After this growth, Reynoldsburg incorporated as a city in 1839.

Community members can enjoy the performing arts of Reynoldsburg students via the Eastland-Fairfield Career & Technical Schools. Students can pursue a career and learn the arts while performing in plays and concert throughout the year.

The Motorcycle Hall of Fame makes for a unique stop and displays iconic figures throughout the evolution of the sport as well as a set of antique and restored bikes that take visitors through the years of equipment.

The majority of bars and restaurants in the Glenmeadows line East Main Street, which also serves as the southernmost border of the neighborhood. One of these restaurants comes in the form of Tyler's Pizzeria and Bakery, an establishment aiming to provide a one-stop show for all your baked needs. In the morning, Tyler's serves scones, croissants, muffins and other breakfast fare. For lunch and dinner, the menu switches to some of the best pizza, rolls and other breads in the Columbus area.

Offering a diverse and entirely vegan menu, the Loving Hut on East Livingston opens from 4-9 p.m. during the week and noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday. Salads, soups, fruits and vegetables make up much of this menu that has something for everyone, even if you are not a strict vegan. A small, modern dining room makes the Loving Hut a unique and enjoyable dining experience.

Like much of the greater Columbus area, Glenmeadows makes it easy for bikers to get around safely, with bike lanes on many main roads. Brice Road and Rosehill Road, the two main roads that make up the outer edges of the neighborhood, also include bike lanes. Because of its small size (just a little over a mile between the farthest corners of the neighborhood), walking is also an option. However, due to high traffic, avoid East Main Street when walking or biking. For drivers, all stores, shops and restaurants have free and readily available parking.

Close proximity to I-270 makes getting around the Columbus area quick, easy and relatively cheap. Cabs do not patrol the area and are thus impossible to hail. Columbus Taxi Service and Yellow Cab of Columbus service the area if called. Uber serves the area as well. To get downtown using public transportation, take the 002 bus, which stops at the intersection of East Main and McNaughten Road, or the 001 bus at McNaughton and East Livingston. Both buses arrive every 30 minutes and take about an hour to get downtown.

The city of Reynoldsburg operates and maintains eight parks within its city limits and one senior citizen facility under the Parks and Recreation Department. Each park has its own combination of softball/baseball diamonds, soccer/football fields, basketball/tennis courts, playgrounds and picnic areas, and biking and hiking paths. This wide array of potential activity creates a positive parks atmosphere in and around the city. The parks are all kid- and dog-friendly, provided pets are kept on a leash.

In addition to the free parks within the park system, the city runs athletic programs for youth and adults for varying fees. These programs are year-round, depending on the sport. Reynoldsburg also hosts a series of annual events for its residents, including holiday-themed Easter and Christmas specials and the Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival. This festival celebrates the 1965 proclamation by the Franklin County Historical Society that Reynoldsburg is the "birthplace of the commercial tomato."

Reynoldsburg residents experience a cost of living that sits very slightly above that of the city of Columbus, but it remains less expensive than many area suburbs. A one-bedroom apartment costs an average of $455 per month, falling in line with both of these comparisons.

A ride on the COTA bus system downtown costs $2 each way. Since no connecting buses are necessary, a round trip totals $4. The price of gas in Ohio generally averages out to be 20 percent below the national average. The sports and dive bar nature of the area makes beer very affordable at the local pubs, averaging between $2.50 and $3 per beer.

Just 5 miles from the center of the Glenmeadows neighborhood sits Eastland Mall. Eastland offers over 80 shops and stores, both of the chain and local variety, for your shopping needs. While a distant third behind Easton and Polaris in the shopping mall rankings in the Columbus area, Eastland is close and conveniently located to the Glenmeadows/Reynoldsburg area. Other shopping centers nearby are Hill Road in Pickerington and Creekside Shopping Center in Gahanna.

For antique lovers, Heritage Square Antique Mall provides a forum for buyers, sellers and traders to buy, sell or exchange their items. Heritage helps sellers to move their items by providing a trusted venue for collectors to purchase their next antique and offers incentives in the form of discounts and bi-weekly payouts on sold items, ensuring the highest quality of antiques for its buyers to choose from.

A number of grocery stores serve the Glenmeadows/Reynoldsburg area, most of which are chain stores and Columbus staples, such as Giant Eagle, Kroger and the like. HSU & Co Health Foods shelves healthy food and items for special diets. All options are in close proximity to the Glenmeadows neighborhood, the closest of which is HSU on McNaughten or the Kroger on East Main. The city hosts a farmers market at Huber Park during the summer months on Thursdays from 3-6 p.m., where residents can purchase the best in homegrown goods from around Ohio.