Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens’ showpiece is its 1895 John F. Wolfe Palm House. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

By Ken Drenten

Ohio has a wide variety of public spaces that offer more than the typical park. These places combine the ideals of providing public recreational spaces, environmental responsibility and aesthetics. They provide people a place to unwind, learn more about the world around them, and simply have fun.

And with Mother’s Day coming up on Sunday, May 12, this is a great time to make plans to take Mom to visit one of these stunning parks.

Read more about these parks and gardens in Dusty Tires.

Ariel Foundation Park is a remarkable 250-acre example of adaptive reuse, created on the former site of a glass-making factory near downtown Mount Vernon. It offers architectural ruins, lakes, observation tower, walking trails, steel sculptures, a museum, and connections to both the Kokosing Gap Trail and the Heart of Ohio Trail.

Columbus Park of Roses is one of the largest public rose gardens in the U.S. with more than 12,000 rose specimens. The garden’s extensive variety of plantings and more than one mile of paved walkways with benches make the park a setting with year-round appeal for visitors. The 13-acre garden is an accredited arboretum and features a formal rose garden, Heritage Rose Garden, herb and backyard gardens and arboretum. Located within Whetstone Park at 3901 N. High St., Columbus.

Cox Arboretum MetroPark is a place to enter and connect with nature, and to view, discover and rest in the serenity and majesty of trees and shrubs. The Five Rivers MetroPark at 6733 Springboro Pike, Dayton, features several types of specialized gardens, meadows, woodlands, trails and spaces.

The Dawes Arboretum was established in 1929 by Beman Dawes and his wife, Bertie on a farm Beman had owned since 1918. Today, the arboretum’s collections include over 5,300 different types of plants with more than 15,400 individual specimens on nearly 2,000 acres. Located at 7770 Jacksontown Road a few miles north of I-70’s SR 13 exit, just south of Newark. Admission fee is charged.

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is Central Ohio’s premier botanical garden and home to the iconic 1895 John F. Wolfe Palm House. The conservatory includes unique zoned indoor climates with thousands of plants. Features outside the conservatory include interactive natural children’s play areas including a wading creek, tree house and more. Located at 1777 E. Broad St., approximately two miles from downtown Columbus. Admission fee charged for most features.

Inniswood Metro Gardens, situated on 123 acres, is a continual source of inspiration for people of all ages. A natural woodland is home to native wildflowers, wildlife and waterways which provides a majestic backdrop to the beautifully landscaped gardens and lawns. The Franklin County Metro Park has more than 2,000 species of plants, specialty collections and themed gardens, including a children’s garden and rose, herb, conifer and woodland rock gardens. Located at 940 S. Hempstead Road, Westerville.

Kingwood Center Gardens, 50 N. Trimble Road, Mansfield, is renowned for its distinctive floral displays, unique plant specimens, woodland trails, historic mansion and gardens, display greenhouse, duck pond and peacocks. Admission fee is charged.

Tuscora Park is a unique city park in New Philadelphia that features an amusement park for children. (Credit: Ken Drenten)

Mission Oaks Gardens is a unique estate-like parkland operated by the Muskingum Valley Parks District. The park at 424 Hunter Ave., Zanesville, includes a conifer grove, perennial garden, woodland garden, children’s garden, fairyland garden and more.

Schopfle Garden – A Lorain County Metropark, Schopfle Garden is composed of 77 acres of botanical gardens and natural woodland bordered on one side by the Vermilion River. The garden features collections of rhododendrons, roses, cannas, hostas, shade plants, and a variety of shrubs, topiaries and trees. The park, located at 11106 Market St., Wakeman, includes trails, a visitor center, carousel, playground and children’s center.

Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens is the historic 1898 estate and grounds of the founder of the Goodyear Rubber Co. in Akron. Features include the historic 65-room Tudor Revival Manor House, Gate Lodge (birthplace of Alcoholics Anonymous), historic gardens and the Corbin Conservatory. Located at 714 N. Portage Path, Akron.

Tuscora Park is a recreational city park with three pools, year-round picnic pavilion and outdoor shelters, vintage amusement rides for kids, miniature golf and more. The park is surrounded by beautiful green hillsides and shade trees. Located at 161 N. Tuscora Ave., New Philadelphia.

Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark includes a unique Children’s Discovery Garden and much more. (Credit: Maverick Ramos)

Wegerzyn Gardens MetroPark includes a Children’s Discovery Garden, Marie Aull Nature Trail and the Swamp Forest Boardwalk. You can also immerse yourself in the botanical richness of the Stillwater River Corridor. The Five Rivers MetroPark is located at 1301 Siebenthaler Ave., Dayton.

Ken Drenten is creator and manager of Dusty-Tires.com, a travel blog for out-of-the-ordinary places in Ohio.

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