The upper left-hand corner is of the Iron observation deck from the Columbus Park of Roses. The lower left-hand corner is a scenery image from the Scioto Audubon Metro Park. The upper right-hand corner is the view of the large pergola in Schiller Park. The lower right-hand corner is an image of a glass sculpture in the Franklin Park Conservatory.

For the Columbus To-Do List, I chose the nature and recreation theme. Part 1 of the Columbus To-Do List consisted of visiting the Scioto Mile/Greenway and Part 2 consisted of visiting Schiller Park, Scioto Audubon Metro Park, Columbus Park of Roses, and the Franklin Park Conservatory.

Schiller Park is in the German Village (1069 Jaeger St, Columbus, OH 43206) and is named after esteemed poet Friedrich von Schiller. This park contains a play area and courts for children, numerous paths and benches, a pond (included a fountain), a recreation center, and a covered patio area (the location of the trellis/pergola/arbor). The upper right-hand corner picture is that if a pergola/arbor/trellis with vines wrapped in between the horizontal posts.

Scioto Audubon Metro Park is a 120-acre plot of land that encompasses a metro park and Audubon Center. This Metro Park is located on 400 W Whittier St, Columbus, OH 43215, along the edge of the Scioto River. The Scioto Audubon Metro Park contains walking/hiking trails, an observation deck, a rock-climbing wall, an obstacle course, and an educational/information center. The lower left-hand corner image is a view from the Grange Audubon Center looking towards the Scioto River.

The Columbus Park of Roses is a park within a park (Whetstone Park) located in Clintonville (north of The Ohio State University campus). The Columbus Park of Roses is home to varying species of roses and herb gardens. When visiting the Park of Roses, there is usually a minimum of one person painting the either scenic roses, the picturesque landscape, the soaring, iron-rod observation tower, or the voluminous fountain. The image in the upper left-hand corner is of the soaring, iron observation tower.

Last, but not least is my favorite destination, the Franklin Park Conservatory is located on E Broad St and is home to multiple outdoor areas including herb gardens. The Conservatory is an experience. While walking through the building (not the surrounding gardens), the journey takes you through different terrains ranging from dessert to rainforest to mountainous. Throughout the multiple terrains, an individual observes different origami and glass sculptures, as well as several forms of plants and flowers. The image in the lower right-hand corner is of a glass sculpture in one of the many terrains.

This project not only opened my eyes to the mass amounts of green recreational space in the city of Columbus, but that Columbus does an excellent job of intertwining an urban setting with rural landscapes. The Columbus To-Do List required me to travel to five different nature and recreation locations throughout Columbus, OH; however, I chose to explore more areas of Columbus including other parks such as the Topiary Park. Aside from parks, I chose to visit areas of Columbus not associated with the theme I selected such as COSI, the Columbus Museum of Art, the Columbus Metropolitan Library, the Ohio Supreme Court House, etc. For those wishing to venture to the parks of Columbus or outdoor recreation areas, my suggestion is to choose the time of the year and day wisely; many parks are best experienced during warm and pleasant weather (apart from the ice-covered trees and Christmas lights in the wintertime for select outdoor areas). Even during unpleasant weather, getting out and enjoying the nature and recreation areas of Columbus is an amazing endeavor.

The FOTO project was a blast to do. It encouraged students to visit different areas of Columbus, OH and reinvent the selected site for a new/better purpose. My group consisted of Taylor, Julie, Jenna, Josh, and myself, and for the first time working together, we worked extremely well; everyone contributed both ideas to the design and to the presentation aspect side of this project. Some ideas worked better with the overall concept of a multi-story park more than others; however, all ideas were discussed with the entire group before either agreeing or  disagreeing with its inclusion to the project. There wasn’t a clear leader who leaned more on the bossy side, more like a cohesive group who each had an equal amount of say.

Before locating a site, we new we wanted to do a different take on a park. After discussing different options for awhile, the general consensus was a two-story park somewhere in Columbus, OH. This park includes multiple basketball, tennis, and volleyball courts on the ground level and playgrounds, swings, grass areas, and relaxation area on the second story. This design process took time to decide the minute details such as lighting (mostly natural lighting during the day and glow-in-the-dark design concepts at night), accessibly to second floor (stairs and ramp), what style of playgrounds and swings, etc. Once the concept was established finding a site was not hard. We knew Franklinton, OH is not is the best of shape. Knowing this, we decided a nice, new, kid-friendly park will help develop Franklinton and reinvent this area of Columbus. Overall, this project was fun and working with a great group only increased the amount of fun I had; a 10/10 on this project!

You can find the presentation and a link below!

fotoshop

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1gfhxvnRt168mbrvFWvRsezZ-Ouzrlwm0AdF8ydlM8C4/pub?start=true&loop=true&delayms=30000

For the Columbus To-Do List, I chose the nature and outdoor recreation category from the theme-based list. Individuals tend to step away from the world of technology and become encapsulated in sunshine and joy while in nature and the outdoors. I am looking forward to this same feeling as I complete this to-do list, the feeling of the wind in my hair and the breath of fresh air.

With this assignment, I am hoping to experience what Columbus has to offer with respect to green/nature areas. Understanding the use of these spaces and what they provide to the locals and visiting individuals is what I hope to get out of this assignment. The importance of green space in a major city will better help my understanding of the importance of space overall while I am studying to become an architect.

As of now, I have visited the Scioto Mile numerous times, including the Scioto Mile Fountain in Bicentennial Park. The Scioto Mile is a stretch of landscape along the Scioto River in Columbus, OH. For one of my classes (ARCH 4880), the class walked along and rode Segways along a portion of the Scioto Mile. The Segway portion included a section of the Mile around the Broad St. bridge and the walking portion included areas of the Mile spanning from Bicentennial Park (in between the Main St. and Rich St. bridges) to the Broad St. bridge. On both occasions, the weather was gorgeous. With the help of beautiful weather, numerous individuals were running, walking, and/or riding a bicycle along the wide path, children were playing in the refreshing, cooling fountains, couples were swing on the bench swings, and numerous dogs were playing in the grass. These two recent experiences reminded me of when I was younger, playing in the fountains at Riverscape in Dayton, OH. Because these experiences reminded me of happy moments in my childhood, I would visit again in a heartbeat, and this I would bring company.

This picture is that of a fountain located by the swing benches along the Scioto Mile.

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