It also includes numerous ancient burial mounds and earthworks from the indigenous Adena culture.

[2] Highbanks contains unique natural features, including its namesake bluffs that overlook the Olentangy River, some as tall as 110 ft (34 m).

A portion of the park property was home to Joseph and Sally Pool, a pioneer family that moved there in 1812, and had 13 children.

The family's original burial site is lost, though their headstones were found stacked off-site, and recreated within the park.

[2] The site that would become Highbanks was first identified as prime parkland in the 1945 report proposing a Metropolitan Park System for Franklin County.

This tract included an overlook of the 100-foot shale bluffs and two ancient earthworks by the Cole culture.

[5] In the 1990s, more features were added, including a large wetland, new trails, picnic area, sledding hill, and the Highbanks Nature Center.