History

1797

• Franklinton, the first settlement in Franklin County, is founded by Lucas Sullivant. The Ohio Country is part of the Northwest Territory.

1816

• The Borough of Columbus is incorporated (1816–1834).

1816

• Columbus is named the state capital by the Ohio General Assembly.

1834

• The population of Columbus is 4,000.
• Columbus is incorporated as a city.
• John Brooks is elected the first mayor of Columbus.

1839

• The first city park, Livingston Park, is established. Originally a cemetery purchased for $1,125, the graves are relocated to Greenlawn Cemetery before opening to the public in 1885.
• Franklinton Cemetery is acquired. The department continues to maintain this graveyard of the city’s founders.

1851

• Goodale Park is acquired as a gift from Dr. Lincoln Goodale. It is considered the oldest developed park in the city.

1852

• The Franklin County Agricultural Society purchases 88 acres as the site of the first Franklin County Fair. This property will later evolve into Franklin Park.

1860

• The population of Columbus is 18,554.

1861

• Goodale Park is used as a military camp for 6,000 Civil War troops for seven weeks, known as Camp Jackson.
• The Ohio State Arsenal is built; it becomes home to the Cultural Arts Center in 1978.

1867

• Schiller Park (formerly City Park) is purchased for $15,000 from D.W. Deshler and A.G. Thurman.

1870

• The population of Columbus is 31,274.
• Jefferson Park is built (renamed Thurber Park in 1977).

1873–1890

• Small zoos exist in Goodale Park and Schiller Park. Animals are donated to the parks until the zoos close in the 1890s.

1874

• The Franklin County Agricultural Society Grounds (Franklin Park) become the permanent home of the Ohio State Fair until 1886, when the fair moves to its present location.

1880

• On Aug. 11, 10,000 Union Civil War veterans gather at a Grand Army of the Republic reunion at Franklin Park to hear General William Tecumseh Sherman’s famous “war is hell” speech.

1884

• Franklin Park begins as a 10-acre garden created by the Columbus Horticultural Society along the west bank of Alum Creek.

1885

• Livingston Park officially opens as a public park.

1889

• Franklin Park is designated as an official city park. The Franklin County Agricultural Society purchases land for the Franklin County Fair in Hilliard.

1891

• A statue of Friedrich Schiller is dedicated in Schiller Park.

1895

• The Grand Victorian Greenhouse is built at Franklin Park for $24,000 as a replica of the Crystal Palace in London. Today, it is known as the Palm House.
• Franklin Park Conservatory is constructed for $24,000.

1896

• The first City Code, “Ordinances of the City of Columbus, Ohio,” is published.

1899

• Franklin Park is converted into a city park from its original fairgrounds.

1900s

1900

• The population of Columbus reaches 125,560, and the city manages 196 acres of parkland.

1903

• City Council issues $8,500 in park bonds for improvements to Livingston Park and Schiller Park. An 18-member commission is created to oversee the citywide park system.

1905

• Griggs Dam is dedicated, named after City Engineer Julian Griggs.

1908

• The City Beautiful Movement Report is published, calling for additional park space, a system of boulevards, and connecting parkways. Columbus has four playgrounds at Schiller, Livingston, Goodale, and Glenwood Parks.

1910

• The population of Columbus reaches 181,511.
• The Young Ladies Playground Association and the Federation of Women’s Clubs advocate for the city to take responsibility for playgrounds.
• On July 15, City Council establishes the City Recreation Department to enrich Columbus by finding ways to make streets, alleys, boulevards, parks and public grounds more beautiful. Edgar S. Martin is appointed Director. The department starts with an operating budget of $6,000 and supervises 10 playgrounds, civic fields, bathing beaches and, under the authority of the Columbus Board of Education, the city schools’ outdoor sports program.

1910s

1910–1912

• The city raises $8,000 from outside sources for recreation. A free public bath opens at Fulton School, and five community recreation centers begin operating, including at City Hall Auditorium and Schiller Park Shelterhouse. The first recreation bond issue of $20,000 is passed.

1911

• Nelson Park is donated to the city by the Nelson family.

1912

• The city acquires Brevoort Park and Glenwood Park. R.S. Wambold replaces Edgar S. Martin as director of the Recreation Department. The Goodale Park Shelter House and residence are built.

1913

• Wolfe Park, a 41-acre gift from Robert F. Wolfe, is donated to the city. The Great Flood devastates Columbus from March 23–26. Franklin Park’s superintendent’s residence is built.

1914

• The city acquires Glen Echo Park and adopts its first city charter. City Council approves plans for a new shelter and recreation center at Franklin Park. The city owns nine parks, with an annual budget of $5,516, including $304.17 for horse feed.

1915

• Franklin Park Shelterhouse is completed for $30,000. Construction begins on the $25,000 Glenwood Park Recreation Center and Shelterhouse.

1916

• A.W. Raymond becomes the director of the Recreation Department. Glenwood Park Shelterhouse and Recreation Center are officially opened. Construction of Schiller Recreation Center begins at a cost of $40,000.

1917

• Schiller Park Shelterhouse is dedicated. It is the most modern recreation center in the city, featuring a gymnasium, auditorium, showers, kitchen, and dining room.

1918–1919

• The Spanish Flu Pandemic impacts Columbus.

1920s

1920

• The population of Columbus reaches 237,031. The first municipal golf course opens next to the Dublin Road Waterworks Plant as a nine-hole course, later expanding to 18 holes in 1927. The city manages 280 acres of parkland across 11 parks.

1925

• Northmoor Park and American Legion Park (later renamed Clinton-Como Park) are acquired. Additional acreage is added in 1938, 1960, and 1975.

1926

• Beatty Recreation Center opens.

1927

• The privately owned Columbus Zoological Park opens at Riverside Park. Indian Village Day Camp launches to provide camp experiences for inner-city children.

1929

• Herman L. Wirthwein becomes director of the Recreation Department. The Columbus Dispatch donates Maryland Pool to the city. The pool and bathhouses are built in just three weeks. Admission is 15 cents for adults and 10 cents for children.

1920–1929

• Columbus operates 23 summer playgrounds, with a total attendance of 396,402. The parks budget is $23,502.73, and the Forestry & Landscape budget is $11,008.

1930s

1930

• The population of Columbus is 290,564.
• The budget for public parks is $20,579, and Forestry and Landscape is $9,583.
• The privately owned Columbus Zoological Park becomes the Columbus Municipal Zoo.

1931

• An obelisk is erected in Franklinton Cemetery.

1930–1939

• Cassidy Park is acquired, the only park acquired during the Depression years until 1941.
• A 70% budget cut affects park operations during the Great Depression.
• Ohio State University Professor W.C. Batchelor prepares a report on the recreational needs of the city, providing immediate and long-range recommendations for recovery under the Works Progress Administration.

1932

• Charles E. Seddon becomes Director of the Recreation Department following the resignation of Herman L. Wirthwein.

1933

• Sunshine (Dodge) Recreation Center is constructed by the Public Service Department.

1937

• The city ceases management of the Columbus Municipal Zoo.
• Two lodges, a dining hall, and a recreation hall are built at Indian Village.

1940s

1940

• The population of Columbus is 305,087.
• Jack Cannon becomes Director of the Recreation Department upon the retirement of Charles E. Seddon.

1942

• Rodney Ross becomes Director of the Recreation Department following Jack Cannon’s resignation.

1943

• The Columbus Recreation Commission is formed.

1944

• Whetstone Park property (Fuller Farm) is acquired by Mayor James Rhodes.
• Nicholas J. Barack becomes Director of the Recreation Department following Rodney Ross’s resignation.
• Ray Dietz becomes Superintendent of the Division of Parks & Forestry.

1945

• A $775,000 bond issue passes to repair existing park facilities.
• The Dutch elm disease spreads rapidly, wiping out 50% of Columbus’ elm trees.

1949

• The name “Whetstone Park” is officially adopted by City Council to honor early settlers who used whetstones from the Olentangy River.
• The city leases the old Elks Club Golf Course on Morse Road, later named Wyandot Golf Course, until 1953.

1950s

1950

• The population of Columbus is 503,410.
• Ray Dietz serves as Superintendent of Parks and Forestry.
• Whetstone Park is dedicated.
• City voters approve a $1.5 million bond issue for parks.

1951

• The city takes over the privately owned Columbus Zoological Park for the second time due to financial struggles after World War II.

1952

• Four new shelter houses open: Whetstone, Linden, Westgate, and Southview (now Berliner).
• Eight playground field houses are constructed.
• The Arts and Crafts Center opens at 734 Oak Street in a remodeled firehouse.
• City Council approves $205,000 in bonds to construct the Park of Roses and establish the Columbus Rose Commission.
• The Tree Commission is established.

1953

• The Park of Roses is dedicated, featuring 13.5 acres planted with 30,000 roses.

1954

• Park of Roses hosts its first opening day (May 30–31) with 8,000 attendees. On July 4, attendance reaches 10,000.
• The American Rose Society moves its headquarters from Harrisburg, PA, to Columbus, adjacent to the Park of Roses.
• The Municipal Nursery plants 11,685 shrubs and trees in its first year of operation.
• Responsibility for maintaining recreational playgrounds, including 79 ball diamonds and the Whetstone Park archery range, is transferred to the Parks and Forestry Division.
• The first annual Maiden of Roses Pageant is held to promote the Park of Roses and provide scholarships. It continues until 1975.
• Raymond Memorial Golf Course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., opens on Trabue Road.

1955

• The population of Columbus is 425,000.
• The city has 2,246 acres of parkland, a department budget of $240,000, and 68 personnel.
• The Parks Commission is formed to advise the superintendent on park operations. Initially, each park has its own oversight committee, but ultimate authority remains with the Division of Parks and Forestry under the Department of Public Services.

1956

• The first senior citizen recreation center opens in the basement of Old Memorial Hall, later the first site of the Center of Science & Industry (COSI) in 1964.

1957

• Thompson Recreation Center is dedicated.
• The Recreation Department launches its long-running, half-hour local TV show “Fun for Everyone.”
• The construction of I-71 South divides Southview Park, leaving ball fields on the west side, which are named McCoy Park.
• Military housing units from World War II are removed from the park.

1960s

1960

• The population of Columbus is 682,962.
• This year marks the Golden Anniversary of the Recreation Department.
• Linden, Whetstone, Windsor Terrace, and Thompson Recreation Centers are open.
• The department serves 3.5 million participants at community recreation centers.
• There are 73 playground programs in operation.
• Sixteen year-round centers are open.
• The McDowell Street Senior Citizens’ Recreation Center is constructed by CMHA and the Columbus Recreation Department.
• Franklin Park becomes the site of the administrative offices of the Recreation Department.

1962

• Donald P. Schmidt becomes Superintendent of the Division of Parks & Forestry upon the retirement of Ray Dietz.

1963

• Whetstone Park of Roses is dedicated.

1964

• Two bond issues are passed, totaling over $4 million.
• The Sunshine (Dodge) Pool opens, marking the first department pool constructed since Maryland Pool in 1929; six new swimming pools are constructed over the next four years.
• The Lincoln Recreation Center opens; it is later renamed in honor of Nicholas J. Barack.
• The Barack Recreation Center opens.
• A major redevelopment of Southview Park is completed.

1966

• The Airport Golf Course opens next to John Glenn International Airport; it is a championship course designed by Jack Kidwell.

1967

• Melvin B. Dodge becomes Director of the department.
• The Barnett, Feddersen (Cooke), and Westgate Recreation Centers are built; Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey visits Blackburn Center.
• The Columbus Swim Center opens.
• The city’s first public campsite opens on the east side of Griggs Dam, featuring 70 reservable sites and operating year-round.

1968

• The city has 104 park sites totaling over 9,300 acres.
• The Second and Summit Senior Citizens’ Recreation Center opens.

1969

• The 1100 E. Broad Senior Citizens’ Recreation Center opens.
• The Lower Scioto Trail opens along the west levee of the Scioto River, 1.7 miles south of Greenlawn Avenue.

1970s

1970

• The population of Columbus is 539,677.
• The Recreation Department transfers the operation of the Columbus Municipal Zoo to Zoological Park, Inc., a non-profit organization.

1971

• The Golden Hobby Shop opens in a restored house at 906 East Broad Street and later moves to the Third Street School.
• The Bolton Golf Course opens; it is later renamed the Mentel Memorial Golf Course and is designed by Jack Kidwell.

1972

• Melvin B. Dodge is named Acting Superintendent of the Division of Parks and Forestry following the resignation of Donald P. Schmidt.
• The city manages 10,138 acres of parkland, reservoir land, and water.
• The development and construction of campsites at Walnut Bluffs Campground on Hoover Reservoir take place.
• Delawanda Park is acquired.
• The Riverfront Development Project is initiated in a joint effort with the State of Ohio; it includes a floating bandshell, an amphitheater, a pedal boat marina, and bike trails in the downtown area.
• The Wilson Road Golf Course opens as a family nine-hole course.

1973

• On Jan. 1, the Recreation Department and the Division of Parks and Forestry merge to form the Department of Recreation and Parks. A nine-man commission, approved by voters on Nov. 7, 1972, is formed.
• The new department consolidates its operations in a campus of buildings on the Whittier Peninsula, and administrative offices are moved from Franklin Park to City Hall.

1974

• The Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging (COAAA) is established by the Ohio Department of Aging to plan, implement, and administer various federally funded programs for elderly persons.
• The American Rose Society moves its national headquarters from Columbus to a new facility in Shreveport, LA, and donates its old building to the department as the Roselea Senior Center.

1975

• The Park of Roses Gazebo is dedicated; it was originally located at Fort Hayes Military Base in downtown Columbus, and North Columbus Jay-cees raise contributions for its restoration.
• The Krumm, Indian Mound, and Tuttle Recreation Centers are dedicated.

1976

• Bicentennial Park is developed and dedicated on July 4.
• The Music-in-the-Air program is created.
• Franklin Park Conservatory is renovated and a garden center is constructed.

1978

• The department manages 120 park sites covering 10,548 acres and 126 supervised playgrounds.
• On June 11, the new Cultural Arts Center opens in the Old Ohio State Arsenal on West Main Street, replacing the old arts and crafts center on Oak Street.
• The department operates two campgrounds: Griggs Dam Campground with 70 campsites (27 with electricity) and Walnut Bluffs Campground with 151 campsites; charges are $2 per day plus 50 cents per day for electricity.
• The Columbus Zoo houses over 3,400 animals representing more than 623 species, with daily admission set at $2 for adults and 25 cents for children.
• Three senior citizen centers—Sawyer Towers, Linton Gardens, and Marion Square—are opened.
• Antrim Park is built for $572,087; it features a shelter house, tennis courts, and a loop trail.

1979

• The Barber Roselea and Martin Janis Senior Centers are opened.
• The Mock and Big Run Athletic Centers are opened.
• The city buys the Old Third Street School in German Village from the Columbus Board of Education for $250,000 to house the Golden Hobby Shop; the building is scheduled for renovation in 1981.
• Music in the Air launches “Jazz in July,” a series presenting jazz through music, film and visual arts at various City of Columbus parks and facilities. The series later becomes Jazz & Rib Fest.

1980s

1980

• The population of Columbus is 564,871.
• Sensenbrenner Park is named in honor of M.E. Sensenbrenner, who served as mayor from 1964 to 1971.
• The City Beautiful Awards are given to the Avenue of Flags and Antrim Park.
• Harrison House is purchased by the city for $52,000, and major renovations are carried out on both the building and its garden.

1981

• Olentangy and Scioto Bikeways are designated as National Recreational Trails by the Department of the Interior.
• The Westbank Walkway and Overlook are completed at a cost of $1.2 million.
• Driving Park Recreation Center opens.
• The state offers Deaf School Park property to the city for use as a park.

1982

• Construction of Maloney Park is completed at a cost of $701,000.
• Clintonville Portal Park is dedicated.
• Central High School closes, and ownership is transferred to the city by the Columbus Board of Education.

1983

• Deaf School Park, Battelle Riverfront Park, and Maloney Park are dedicated.
• Battelle Park is also dedicated.
• Dana G. “Buck” Rinehart is elected mayor.
• Southview Park is renamed Berliner Park in honor of Lou Berliner, a Columbus Dispatch sportswriter.
• Jerry Page, the department’s boxing instructor, wins the gold medal in boxing at the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

1985

• The department operates with a $13.8 million operating budget and 1,000 employees.
• The Recreation and Parks Department celebrates its 75th anniversary.
• James W. Barney becomes Director upon the retirement of Melvin B. Dodge, who becomes President of the Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau.
• The parks Elk Run, Nafzger, Independence Village, Helsel, Stoneridge, and Redick are dedicated.
• Sunshine Park is renamed Dodge Park in honor of Melvin B. Dodge.
• Shepard Park is constructed at a cost of $56,960; one acre of parkland is given to the library for a new building, and I-670 acquires several acres.
• Harrison House and the Lucas Sullivant Land Office are dedicated.
• The department operates 100 summer playground sites, and renovations are made to both Sunshine (Dodge) and Maryland Pools.
• The department acquires Catalpa Park (donated) and Riverbend Park (purchased for $15,000).
• Roosevelt Junior High School is transferred to the department, which demolishes the building and develops a park on the site.

1987

• Garfield Elementary School is transferred to the department and becomes the home of the King Arts Complex.
• Conversations and Coffee, the city’s longest-running artist talk, launches.

1988

• Winding Hollow Golf Course on Westerville Road is purchased from a private country club; the course, originally built in 1920 by Robert Trent Jones Sr., is acquired by the city.
• Mayme Moore Park is dedicated.
• Anheuser-Busch Sports Park is donated to the department by the brewery.

1989

• The department transfers ownership of the eastern 28 acres of Franklin Park to the newly created Franklin Park Conservatory Joint Recreation District.
• The “Son of Heaven” traveling exhibit, featuring 26 centuries of Chinese art, opens in the old Central High School from March to September while the department maintains the grounds during the exhibition.

1990s

1990

• The population of Columbus is 636,323.
• The Cleo Dumaree Athletic Complex opens in Academy Park.
• Buster Douglas, who learned boxing at Windsor Recreation Center, wins the World Heavyweight Championship.

1991

• Woodbridge Green Park is dedicated.
• The Northeast (Howard) Recreation Center and the Northwest (Carriage Place) Recreation Center are dedicated.
• Brookside Woods Park is dedicated.
• Turnberry Golf Course, a championship course designed by Arthur Hill, opens near Pickerington.
• Winding Hollow Golf Course is renamed Champions Golf Course.

1992

• Franklin Park hosts “Amerifloa ’92,” a six-month international horticulture exposition.
• “The Discovery Playground” at Olde Sawmill Park is dedicated; it is designed by the Robert S. Leathers Company of Ithica, NY, and built by the community.
• A Topiary Garden in Deaf School Park is dedicated.
• Hall/Norton (Freedom) Park is dedicated.
• The M.E. Sensenbrenner Landmark, a monument in Glenwood Park, is dedicated.
• Northern Woods Park and Flint Park are dedicated.
• The Bill McDonald Athletic Complex is named at Anheuser-Busch Park.
• A replica of the Santa Maria is placed on the Scioto River at Battelle Park to commemorate the 500th Quincentenary Celebration of Christopher Columbus’ voyage to the New World.
• A three-dimensional recreation of George Seurat’s painting “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte” is unveiled at Topiary Park at Deaf School Park, created using topiaries.

1993

• The current department logo is adopted.
• Hoover Meadows Blue Bird Trail at Hoover Reservoir is dedicated.
• The Children’s Fountain at Battelle Park is renamed and rededicated as the James W. Barney Children’s Fountain and Park in honor of James Barney.
• Summitview Park is developed.
• Gary N. Fenton becomes Director, replacing James W. Barney.

1994

• The department purchases Smith’s Famous Farm (1,053 acres) from Lot and Betty Smith, and the area becomes known as Three Creeks Park/Smith Farm Area.
• A fountain in “Harder” Lake in Westgate Park is dedicated to replace the original fountain that collapsed in the 1940s.
• The Players Theatre on Franklin Avenue, built in 1923, is purchased by the department for $258,000 and is renamed the Columbus Performing Arts Theatre.

1995

• Outdoor summer camps are held throughout the park system for the first time.
• The Sponsorship Program, launched by the Office of Special Events, begins forging partnerships to financially support quality community events.

1996

• Therapeutic Recreation begins at Barnett Recreation Center and eventually relocates to Schiller Recreation Center and later to Franklin Park Adventure Center.

1998

• The Deaf School Gatehouse is constructed.
• The Senior Olympics begin.
• The Olentangy Trail between Tuttle Park and Clinton-Como Park opens.
• The City Council adopts a Parkland Dedication Ordinance requiring that a portion of park acres or dollars be set aside when land is rezoned.

1999

• The department hires a Greenways Planner.
• On Nov. 6, COSI moves into the old Central High School, which increases activities in Genoa Park.

2000s

2000

• The population of Columbus is 711,140.
• Wayne A. Roberts becomes Director, replacing Gary Fenton.

2001

• Frank’s Park and Spindler Road Park open, offering 100 acres of youth soccer facilities.
• McFerson Commons opens in the Arena District on the former site of the Ohio State Penitentiary, with a saved section of the 1893 Union Arch as its focal point.
• The Olentangy Trail opens between Harrison West and downtown.
• An ADA Sports Pad and playground open in Rhodes Park.

2002

• The 40-acre Hard Road property is acquired from the Antrim Family.
• The Alum Creek Trail opens between Main Street and Livingston Avenue.

2003

• The Worthington Hills Extension of the Olentangy Trail opens.
• The Alum Creek Trail opens between Westerville and Cooper Park.

2004

• The 11-acre North Bank Park & Pavilion opens in the Arena District.

2006

• The new Dodge Community Center opens while the old center is demolished; the new center incorporates senior programs from McDowell Senior Center.
• Lazelle Woods Recreation Center opens and is dedicated.
• Liv-moor Pool is demolished due to low attendance and high maintenance costs.

2007

• Alan D. McKnight becomes Director, replacing Wayne A. Roberts.
• The newly remodeled Barnett Recreation Center is dedicated.
• Over 2,700 street trees are planted.
• Twenty neighborhood playgrounds are renovated.
• Weinland and Karns Parks are renovated.
• Big Walnut Dog Park opens.

2008

• The department’s administrative offices relocate from the Whittier Peninsula to the Jerry Hammond Center, and department operations move to the 1533 Alum Industrial Drive complex.
• The Broadmeadows Bridge on the Olentangy Trail is dedicated.
• Renovations to Whetstone Recreation Center are completed.

2009

• The redesigned Bicentennial Park and Promenade open on the Scioto Mile, featuring a fountain, music pavilion, and the Milestone 229 restaurant.
• The department closes 10 recreation centers, 6 pools, and the Davis Performing Arts Center, and abolishes the Music in the Air program due to city budget shortfalls.
• The Hayden Falls Boardwalk is completed.
• Wheeler and Sycamore Fields Dog Parks open.
• The department begins management of the Capital Kids program.
• City residents vote in a special election to increase the income tax from 2% to 2.5%.
• A mural depicting Westgate Park as the site of Camp Chase during the Civil War is painted on the wall of a handball court.

2010s

2010

• The population of Columbus is 787,033.
• The department celebrates its 100th anniversary on July 15.
• The new Griggs Boathouse opens in partnership with The Ohio State University and the Greater Columbus Rowing Association.
• The Alum Creek Trail opens between Ohio Dominican University and Innis Park.

2012

• The Airport Golf Course is redesigned during the expansion of John Glenn International Airport.
• The department assumes management of the City Leaders program.

2013

• The Main Street Dam on the Scioto River is removed to restore the river’s natural flow, resulting in 33 additional acres of parkland on the Scioto Mile.
• The Santa Maria replica is closed to the public, and the department ceases responsibility for its upkeep.

2014

• A new Department Master Plan is adopted.
• The replica of the Santa Maria is removed from its mooring at Battelle Park to facilitate development along the Scioto Mile.

2015

• Tony Collins becomes Director upon the retirement of Alan D. McKnight.

2017

• The department opens Ohio’s first commercial net-zero building, the new Wyandot Lodge at the McKnight Outdoor Education Center.
• The inaugural WinterFest Columbus is held in Bicentennial Park. This family-friendly event celebrates winter in Columbus.

2018

• The new Dorrian Green Park opens atop an underground garage at the west entrance to COSI.
• An independent Columbus Recreation & Parks Foundation is established to expand partnerships.

2019

• Paul Rakosky becomes Interim Director upon the resignation of Tony Collins.
• West Case Road is acquired.
• The Center Without Walls model is launched to provide programming for youth in neighborhoods without safe, easy access to a community center.

2020

• The population of Columbus is 905,748.
• The department manages 400 parks, 13,749 acres of parkland, and 230 miles of regional trails.
• Virtual programs and services are offered as the COVID-19 pandemic closes all City facilities.
• The remodeled Scioto Southland Community Center opens.
• The department purchases the closed Douglas School property for development into a creative arts campus.

2021

• Community centers are used as vaccine clinics to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Pop-up concerts are held throughout the city to provide respite and connection for residents.
• The new 55,000-square-foot Linden Opportunity Center and a renovated 20-acre Linden Park open.
• The Golden Hobby Shop relocates to the Columbus Performing Arts Center.

2022

• Bernita A. Reese, M.S., CPRP, is named director, becoming the first Black female to lead the department
• The Urban Forestry Master Plan is adopted.
• A new online citywide permitting system for special events, block parties, and filming is launched by the Office of Special Events.
• The department manages 407 parks, 13,970 acres of parkland, and 230 miles of trails.
• The new Aquatics Capital Improvements Plan is completed, with plans to renovate Glenwood and Windsor Pools.
• The department initiates CAPRA accreditation for the first time.

• The inaugural CBUS SoulFest® is held to celebrate Columbus’ vibrant Black culture.
• The Cultural Arts Center is renamed the Priscilla R. Tyson Cultural Arts Center to honor the former City Council Member’s contribution to the city and the arts.

2023

• The department manages 14,978.44 park acres across 422 parks.
• The department received Commission for Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) Accreditation. At this time, only 2 percent of all recreation and parks agencies are CAPRA accredited.
• The department received an NRPA (National Park and Recreation Association) Innovation Award for the VOICE program. The VOICE (Violence Outreach, Intervention, Community Engagement) program provides vital resources to victims of violent crime ages 18-40 to help prevent re-injury and jail time, and assist with recovery.
• The department prioritizes conservation by establishing a Conservation section that brings together staff from parks maintenance, outdoor recreation, and natural resources management to increase field work, education, outdoor experiences, and property management to Columbus’ conservation spaces.
• For the first time in 30 years, the City of Columbus adopted an updated public tree code, supported by the Urban Forestry Master Plan, to better protect Columbus trees. Major updates to the tree code include application in all project scenarios, a companion manual, inch-for-inch replacement, and better enforcement practices.
• Glenwood and Windsor Pools are replaced from the previous 1960’s facilities to expand services and facilities.
• The historic Dodge Skatepark is restored. Dodge Skatepark was designed by Frank Hawk, father of the legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk and was the first public skatepark in a city where skateboarding was once outlawed in most public places.
• A 7-mile former rail corridor stretching from Maloney Park to Cooper Sports Park is acquired. This will become the Linden Green Line, a 58-acre linear park and trail, accessible to over 131,000 people who live within minutes of walking and cycling distance.
• The department breaks ground on the Kilbourne Run Sports Park.

2024

• Warner Woods Park opens in northeast Columbus, an underserved area of the city.
• Renovations to Franklin Park Adventure Center begin, allowing the department to better serve residents with disabilities.
• Five new nature preserves are designated, expanding conservation efforts by 25%.
• The redesigned the Scioto Mile Fountain at Bicentennial Park opens, enhancing the experience for the 250,000 visitors it attracts annually.
• The Albatross Swim Club launches. The USA Swim Club introduces competitive swimming and builds a pipeline for lifeguards.

2025

• The department manages 459 parks across 15,222 acres of parkland. The Fran Ryan Center, named to honor the long-time community leader and advocate for older residents and the arts, opens in Olde Towne East. The new creative arts and wellness hub offers dynamic, hands-on programming for all ages, including woodworking, ceramics, digital arts, stained glass, fabric arts, painting, lapidary and more, as well as wellness programs, a fitness center, group exercise classes and nutrition workshops. The Golden Hobby Gift Shop moves to the Fran Ryan Center.
• Playbook Columbus, the department’s 10-year Vision Plan, is developed using comprehensive input from the community. The plan is a roadmap for the future of recreation programming and services, parks, facilities, trails, waterways, and open space planning, and ensures all residents are equitably served as Columbus continues to grow.
• The soft opening of Kilbourne Run Sports Park takes place with the rental of artificial turf soccer fields and the completion of a roundabout at the park’s entrance. With over 38,000 participants on average per year, the sports park quickly becomes one of Columbus’ busiest soccer facilities.
• A dedicated, 0.6-mile shared-use path opens on the Olentangy Trail from Clinton Como Park to Northmoor Park, closing the final gap in the trail and creating a seamless 14-mile regional trail from Worthington to downtown Columbus.
  • Seven new pickleball courts open at several parks, including Krumm Park and Anheuser Busch Sports Park, meeting one of the fastest-growing demands in recreation with free, dedicated places to play.
• Renovations to Franklin Park Adventure Center are complete. The center is renamed the Espy Adaptive Sports Complex to honor the legacy of Ben and Kathy Espy, lifelong champions for community and social justice.
• For the first time, goats are used to remove invasive species at Antrim Park. The project helps manage parkland in a sustainable manner and deepens residents’ connection to conservation.