Whetstone Park & Park of Roses

Whetstone Park, located just north of The Ohio State University, is a community park and landmark for the Clintonville neighborhood that encompasses over 136 acres for both active and passive use. Originally a family farm in the early 1800's, the land was purchase by Columbus mayor James A. Rhodes in 1944 and converted into a park for Victory Gardens during World War II.  Over 500 Victory Gardens were planted throughout the duration of the war, and on Memorial Day 1950, the land was christened Whetstone Park. Today, Whetstone Park is a community park that combines natural beauty, native Ohio prairie, and community amenities. The park has a large community center that provides classes from tots to seniors, meeting rooms and free space. The park has youth and adult sports leagues, fishing, trails, playgrounds and natural areas. The Park of Roses is a park within the park, a 13 acre rose garden that showcases over 350 varieties of roses, and 11,000 total roses.  A recent addition, the Whetstone Prairie, planted in May 2004, converted 5.1 acres of Whetstone Park into native Ohio prairie with vernal pools and woodland buffer.   This site is used as a key educational and demonstration site that includes walking trails, viewing stations, information signage and an educational program. The 13 acre Park of Roses is nestled within the larger Whetstone Park. It contains three unique rose gardens as well as herb and perennial gardens, annual display beds and a restored Ohio prairie. Wide, smooth walkways and numerous benches make it easy to enjoy the sights and smells of 12,000 roses with more than 400 varieties. There is something for every rose lover here, from tiny miniatures to exuberant climbers covering overhead arbors. The three rose gardens represent the evolution of rose species and hybrids, as well as the past, present and future of rose gardening. People's changing tastes in varieties, colors and cultivation practices can be traced from wild species roses known since antiquity through the 21st century concept of Earth-Kind roses which thrive on minimal care. Columbus Park of Roses is maintained by the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department, with help and support from Friends of Columbus Park of Roses, a group that includes the Rose Foundation and the Volunteers. It is free to all visitors, accessible to strollers and wheelchairs and open from dawn to dusk year around. Enjoy your visit!