Early Parks in Columbus
In the mid-1800s, diseases such as typhoid fever and cholera led to efforts to control sanitary conditions and improve public health. Citizens began to support the idea of creating healthy, open spaces for recreation. Early green spaces included the Statehouse and the campus of The Ohio State University. As Columbus grew, local landowners became conscientious of the rapidly dwindling green space within the city, prompting Lincoln Goodale to donate land for the first official, city-owned park in 1851. City Park (later re-named Schiller Park) was established in 1867 and Franklin Park in 1884. As these major parks took shape, smaller parks were incorporated into the city’s layout as new streets and neighborhoods were created. Hamilton, Lexington, Dakota and others began to dot the city landscape. By the late 1800s, Columbus contained many small, neighborhood parks anchored by four major parks: Goodale Park, City Park, Franklin Park and Livingston Park.
As transportation improved in the first half of the 20th century, citizens began looking further afield for retreats from city life. Amusement parks like Olentangy, Minerva and Indianola were developed beyond the city center. They offered diverse facilities where the public could enjoy games, rides, musical performances, dancing and bathing facilities. These early amusement parks were mostly short-lived and sometimes seasonal.
