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.