Whetstone Park Improvements

The lower North field at Whetstone Park will be rebuilt to improve the playing experience of those fields. This will primarily be achieved by improved drainage and irrigation. This will result in a field that’s safer for play, requires fewer closures and is easier to maintain.

Due to these improvements, the field is currently not available for use. The North Fields will open in late September, which will coincide with the opening of the renovated pond. Although construction will be completed much earlier, it will take time for the field to stabilize and grow, a necessary step for its establishment.

The lower field improvements are part of a broader plan to enhance Whetstone Park. A new playground has recently been added to the lower fields, and other near-term improvements include installing three new bleachers in the bandstand area within the Park of Roses, as well as replacing 26 picnic tables (four that will be ADA accessible), two new grills and two benches. During the Fall of 2024, the parking lot next to the enclosed shelter at the Park of Roses was resurfaced in 2024.

Additional improvements are planned at Whetstone Park.

This year:

• In May 2025, pond renovations will begin. The existing open shelter will be removed and replaced with a new, smaller shelter. Two sets of picnic tables and several hammock groves will also be added. The pond area and the North Fields will open in August/September 2025.
• An informal trail will be created along the drainage from the pond to the river by removing invasive species.
• The failing headwall below the Olentangy Trail will be replaced.
• The roof at the Park of Roses enclosed shelter will be replaced with a metal roof in late 2025.
• Part 1 HVAC improvements (controls upgrades) at the community center will be completed in 2025.

Next year and beyond:

• Part 2 HVAC improvements (equipment upgrades) at the community center will be completed in 2026.
• Hard surface improvements will be made to the walking path at the Park of Roses in 2026.
• The pond parking lot and Hollenbach Road will be replaced in the Spring/Summer of 2026, along with the lighting poles in the pond parking lot.
• Lighting and electrical upgrades will be added to the ball fields.
• In 2026, the community center’s structural elements, including the foundation, roof and walls will be improved.
• In 2027, the Shared Use Path running parallel to Hollebach Road will be widened and replaced.
• Also planned for 2027, lighting and electrical upgrades will be made to the baseball fields.

All projects and timelines are contingent on funding, the availability of contractors and weather. Updates will be shared on this webpage.