James J Thomas Park just happens to be one of my favorite parks in Columbus. The lengthy park runs along the Scioto River in Upper Arlington. It has tons of pleasant waterfront views, obviously — even though the Scioto isn’t known for its scenic qualities. Parking is plentiful, as are picnic tables and green spaces for games and such. The park is a little close to the main road, but I’ll forgive that. This is a great spot that you might not think of.