Topiary Park — Attraction in Columbus

Beautiful Landscaping in Urban Setting with Mixed Experience

Visited while dog-sitting my nephew's pup (Nacho) and took several walks through this downtown park. Mixed feelings about the overall experience.

The Positives:

Beautiful Landscaping: Grass areas are well-maintained and lush Flower beds and plantings look great Unique topiary art installations are impressive Clear effort put into the horticultural aspects

Location Benefits: Right in downtown Columbus - convenient for city exploration Easy to combine with other downtown activities

Areas of Concern:

Urban Challenges: Heavy unhoused population using benches and camping throughout the park Feels more "city gritty" than other Columbus parks Shared space with adjacent high school creates mixed-use confusion

Dog Walking Considerations: Unclear leash policies, couldn't find posted rules about off-leash areas Kept dog leashed the entire time to be safe Less dog-friendly atmosphere compared to other local parks

Parking & Access: Tricky downtown parking - metered during business hours School zone complications - buses and traffic during school hours Plan extra time for parking logistics

Bottom Line: Topiary Park showcases beautiful landscaping and unique art, but the urban location brings challenges that affect the overall park experience. Great for viewing the topiary installations, but I'd choose other Columbus parks for regular dog walking or family recreation.

Best for: Art lovers, downtown tourists, quick visits to see the topiaries Consider alternatives for: Regular dog walking, family picnics, peaceful outdoor time

Would I return? Occasionally for the unique art, but not for...

On 7-29-2023, I visited Topiary Park [at 480 E. Town St. in the "Discovery District" neighborhood of Columbus] so that I would be able to attend the first-ever [as far as I am aware] Trans Block Party.

Approximately 10 organizations that advocate for and serve the trans community and other communities had set up tents in the southeast corner of that park during part of the afternoon.

I actually never saw any of the topiary figures while at Topiary Park; I will have to return to that park on a different day so that I will be able to see those figures.

I spent a lot of time visiting with a couple that also had been attending the Trans Block Party. It turned out that one of the members of that couple works just a few blocks away at Columbus College of Art and Design.

It also turned out that that couple lives so close to where I live that they drove me...

Topiary Garden Park, the only public park of its kind, not only in Ohio, but in the world as well. The Topiary Garden is a living recreation of Georges Seurat's famous post-Impressionist painting, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of LaGrande Jatte. Situated in downtown Discovery District, the Topiary Garden Park sits on the remnants of the Old Deaf School Park. Though it has become affectionately known as the Topiary Garden Park, the park land actually dates back to the early 19th century, when it was a dormitory and campus for the adjacent Deaf School.

This is an absolutely beautiful place to stumble across during our road trip. We always keep our eyes open for cool places and this one takes the cake! Greenery, flowers, pond…can’t get any more beautiful! Specifically cool for a lover of art....