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    Franklin Park

    4.3 (30 reviews)
    Closed 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    Christina D.

    I love how much of this park is freely accessible to the public. Beautifully maintained walking trails, a couple of different areas with ponds or big open areas, some picnic spaces that I usually see people using... It's just great to have Franklin Park in the middle of the city like that.

    Sculpture
    Steve A.

    Franklin Park is one of the biggest parks in Columbus. It's also one of the most beautiful. There's a lot to see when you go. It features several annual concerts and festivals. The best part is the Conservatory which is great looking even outside. It's a big park and there's benefits to bring as big as this is. It rarely ever gets crowded since there's so much room. There is much more here than the Conservatory. It may be the centerpiece of the park but don't think it's all there is. This in fact has its own entry so go see the reviews for that. As for the rest of the park, there's lots of trees and water of course. One cool thing is the big pond in the middle. Another is the community garden. There's many paths for bicycling and pets. I recommend a visit to Franklin Park. It's so big you should find something to hold your interest. This may not be the best park in the city but it's still great so go there.

    Ryan S.

    This 58-achre plot once held fairs,Ohio State and others,before the city grew around it. Lately it is known for the Franklin Conservatory--a separate experience--and for Ameriflora '92, the 100-million dollar screw-up that once colored its pastures with emblazoned peddles. I find it an average park that is a bit too large for a inner city pleasure-art type, though it has corners of greatness. Behind the conservatory are maze-row hedges and white gazebos--picnicking is the pastime for Franklin residence here. A small rock garden is imbedded in shrubbery and loops into itself a stony path. Behind is a classical amphitheater that fills the northern horizons with Greco-Roman columns and earth-molded seating. I am not sure if this is used much, though it is well maintained. A while wood covered colonnade whines in this area near brick round-a-bouts and scattered benches. Styles of the orient are present in abundance. Bridges and other ornamental fixtures of Far Eastern flavorings reflex the Asian festivities here yearly. A sign celebrating the sacrifice of Asians in the American Civil War is found. Down the road a bit is another marker and memoir of the Civil War--the spot where General Sherman during a speech made his famous quote, "War is Hell." The walkway here is wide, more road than relaxing park stroll; It feels like your car has broken down and you're walking a highway for gas. There is little out here beyond the conservatory but ankle high grass, until you reach the duck pond. A remnant of Ameriflora, the pond pools in several segments connected with a stream. It curves around and leads to a man-made waterfall. The waterfall is pure beauty and a nice getaway for area residence. I came to Ameriflora from out of town on a High School class trip, I do not remember it. It is a nice park. It is just too spacy and empty for a art-park in my opinion.

    Amphitheatre
    Tabitha F.

    Columbus and its' army of parks, they are a force to be reckoned with. There are so many and each has its' own super power. Franklin Park possesses the power of serenity. Partnered with the Franklin Conservatory, this place has beautiful picture settings and inspires a calm, leisurely mood. The conservatory (reviewed separately) has a charge to get in but the grounds are free. There is a paved trail with bridges overlooking a couple of ponds, offering a fun place to feed the geese. The trail can be biked or walked. Picnic tables are scattered everywhere. Tucked away on one side is an amphitheater while opposite it is another bridge setting. In between is a botanical garden and a community garden. You will also come across a gazebo hall and an enormous metal sculpture. Franklin Park is worth a visit. Have a picnic. Take a stroll. You will smile.

    Joe S.

    AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! the Chihuly exhibit is truly something no one should miss. It is so hard to believe something so beautiful can be made and transported all over the world. I have seen 4 of his exhibits and each one out does the other. There are so many I can't post all the photos

    The end to a series of small waterfalls near the South end of the park.
    Ryan K.

    Franklin Park is a wonderful, peaceful green space. I'll list some of its best features: rolling hills, meandering lakes, plenty of benches, a playground, a community garden, winding paths, and namely - the beautiful conservatory building. Franklin Park doesn't reach five stars because it feels under-utilized. Many parts of the park feel too empty, and lack either more trees or other features. The extra wide main path feels more automotive than pedestrian. Despite those shortcomings, this is still an above-average park. There is a good deal of inherent beauty here. The old two and three story homes that border the park create the perfect sense of enclosure, although I'd like to see some taller buildings on the Broad Street side to help mitigate the openness the wide road creates. This is one of my top 5 favorite parks in Columbus. Go check it out!

    Myrna W.

    This park has truly come a long way. They just recently added the children's garden that's awesome. Membership is kind of pricey but it's free I think the first Sunday of the month. I would call or go to their website. I also heard that the MLK branch library has limited 7 day temporary passes, I would call about how many passes you can check out at one time. You must have a library card.

    Light.
    Vin R.

    Went last night for the Bruce Munro Light exhibit. Very cool. Made for a nice break from the dinner +/- movie rut my wife and I have been locked in for the past few months. We'll definitely come back in the daytime once spring has fully sprung.

    Flowers

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    Ask the Community - Franklin Park

    Review Highlights - Franklin Park

    The playground is cute, the community garden is great, and the pavilion is clean and rentable.

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    Battelle Riverfront Park

    Battelle Riverfront Park

    4.3(8 reviews)
    2.8 miDowntown

    There are so many tiny parks around this part of town, it's hard to know which one is which. I walk…read morethis area often and have walked by this park too many times to count, however I just learned this past weekend that it's technically it's own and not part of the others. Confusing, I know. The best way to pinpoint this specific park is to look for the cute, whimsical statues in the lawn. They go along with the story shared on the plaque just behind them. The author's note reads, "It is wise to remember the ancient people before us who greeted new things to this continent. How did they teach children to prepare for great change, holding to virtue as they discovered the voyagers? The hero of this fantasy, Pickaweekee, is named for a village of "The People Who Arose From Ashes," whose ancestors vanished from the Scioto Valley centuries past." In layman's terms, the story is about Pickaweekee, a Native American boy from a Scioto Valley tribe who embarks on a mythical journey of discovery. Alongside each animal statue is a smaller plaque that explains its purpose and how it fits into the story. It's super cute and I love that art is incorporated. There's several creatures and I believe they were all made by sculptor Jack Greaves. If you're looking for a fun spot to take the kids, definitely stop by here during your walk. It only adds to the beauty and culture that is Columbus.

    Another beautiful section along the Scioto River! While you can continue to use it as part of the…read moregreenway or a stroll down the Scioto Mile area, Battelle Riverfront Park is also home to quite a few memorials, monuments, and art pieces to enjoy. The memorials include one for the Columbus Firefighters, featuring an eternal flame at the top of the piece, the Spanish American War Memorial, and the Workers Memorial, which is dedicated to the Franklin County Workers who have passed while on the job. One of the memorials, which is dedicated those lost on the Space Shuttle Challenger, was designed by local children and is called Their Spirits Circle the Earth. The art features a wonderful swooping sculpture Freedom by local sculptor Alfred Tibor and a sculpture of a man, woman, and baby called To Honor the Immigrants by local sculptor Gary Ross. There are also a number of bronze animals populating the grassy tree area to catch the eye - these six sculptures, along with a large plaque containing the story the illustrations are pulled from - are in the James W. Barney Pickaweekee Story Grove here in Battelle Riverfront Park. There are also donor plaques lining the sidewalk near the memorials and art. This is a very peaceful and relaxing spot. There is nearby street parking using the meters, or it's easily accessible as part of the trails running along the Scioto.

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    Battelle Riverfront Park
    Battelle Riverfront Park - Love this view !

    Love this view !

    Battelle Riverfront Park

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    North Bank Park

    North Bank Park

    4.2(9 reviews)
    3.0 miArena District

    My wife and I decided to get married at the pavillion. This was an amazing venue and the staff are…read moreamazing and accommodating. We got married outside and had the reception inside and under the pavillion. The venue provides you with tables and chairs, which is amazing for the price. You are able to bring your own food or high your own vendor. For alcohol, you have to purchase a temporary permit $170 and have to hire from a preferred alcohol vendor. That said, we hired the bartenders from Ohio Bartenders and purchased our own alcohol and beverages. Much cheaper option and worked perfectly. The outside space is large and perfect for any occasion. Also, the pictures you can take are just amazing. You also have access to the kitchen space which has a large standing cooler and industrial ice machine. Everything you need in one place, it's perfect. Parking is a bit scarce but when you reserve you get 26 spots located right in front on the street. I would highly recommend renting this for your next celebration of any kind.

    North Bank Park has such wonderful views of the city. It is conveniently located next to the many…read moreparks along the Scioto Mile and connects to the greenway trails that go through the area. It features a very nice and popular shelter that, in non-pandemic times, can be rented. At our visit, it looked like they were doing some work on it. There is a nice large area of picnic tables under a shady area, plus umbrella tables with a great view of the river, providing a lot of opportunities to sit and relax. There is a fountain near the shelter, though it wasn't currently running at the time of our most recent visit - it's probably a bit early in the season. Street parking is available nearby (if you can get it - it was full up when we came by), or there are garages in the area. You can also access via the trails by foot, scooter, bike, and the like. We walked over from Battelle Riverfront Park and back again.

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    North Bank Park
    North Bank Park
    North Bank Park - Picnic table area near shelter.

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    Picnic table area near shelter.

    Columbus Commons

    Columbus Commons

    4.3(105 reviews)
    2.5 miDowntown

    Over the years as many things have been located on the site now known as Columbus Commons…read more Most recently, this was the site of a large downtown shopping mall with several large department store chains anchoring the facility financially and with customer foot traffic. prior to that there was an ice rink available to the public known as the centrum. Now it is a green space that hosts, public gatherings, concerts and is a wonderful place to picnic. As of the mid 2020s there have been frequent weekly appearances of food trucks on specific days offering a wide variety of unique foods. On the north end of Columbus Commons there is an outdoor stage, which act has the venue for live performing arts events. These can include the Columbus Symphony, but also other live music and performing arts as well. some of the adjacent local restaurants have windows which open toward Columbus Commons and these are great venues too watch and appreciate all the goings on. It has become a popular spot to host a variety of cultural events, and, while significantly smaller in size and scope, in that respect it generally shares a similar mission to downtown Chicago's Grant Park. Ample parking is available in the garage to the south of Columbus Commons and on surrounding streets. There is also a large underground garage at the Ohio State house, and some other garages and flat lots nearby. I have never found parking to be a huge problem. There is also an underground garage beneath Columbus Commons. Bottom line: lots and lots of parking.

    We came here on a Fri night and took some pictures/videos. This was when it was dead and not many…read morepeople around. I wished they had food open to help draw in more people. We came back on Saturday night and it was packed. It was like the whole city came out. There was free hot chocolate, food, and small shops. Also, they turned on more lights, Santa Claus was there to take pictures with, and the carousel was on.

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    Columbus Commons
    Columbus Commons
    Columbus Commons

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    Franklin Park - parks - Updated May 2026

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