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Franklin Park (Columbus, Ohio)

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Franklin Park
Neighborhoods of Columbus, Ohio
Homes along Franklin Park South
Homes along Franklin Park South
Population
 (2010)
 • Total2,112
Time zoneEastern
ZIP Code
43205
Area code614
WebsiteFranklin Park Civic Association

Franklin Park is a neighborhood located on the Near East Side of Columbus, Ohio. Both the neighborhood and landmark, the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, are named after the 88 acre park.

History

This property atlas from 1899 shows the Franklin Park and Woodland Park areas. The grey overlays represent currently existing structures, and the coral overlays represent currently existing streets. The original area known as Franklin Park Place can be seen, as well as the non-extant racetrack within the park.

Development in Franklin Park began in the 1850's and continued through the 1880's.[1] The neighborhood was home to the Franklin County Fairgrounds for 30 years before it became the recreational park that it is today.[2]

The first known residential area of Columbus lies within the present day neighborhood. The small addition, consisting of three to six blocks, was referred to as "Franklin Park Place". The borders were Franklin Park S (known as Fair Ave) to the north, Bryden Rd to the south, the train tracks to the east, and Fairwood Ave to the west. As one can see from the source, the Franklin Park area consisted of many different subdivisions and additions whose names eventually merged as "Franklin Park".[3]

The development of Franklin Park brought in both the working class and the wealthy.[4] The neighborhood is a mix of both larger mansions and smaller, modest homes. The 1930's were a transitional zone between the fast-paced city life of downtown and the countryside beyond Alum Creek. Up to the 1940's, the streetcar became more common followed by people typically owning their own automobiles.[5] As this became a popular commodity, people would take their Sunday drives on the 1.2 mile loop that circles Franklin park. Not only was Franklin Park a community neighborhood, but people would also come to Franklin Park to drive for leisure, race their automobiles, and picnic with their families.[6]

Geography

The influence of the park and conservatory in the neighborhood, as seen here in someone's front yard on Franklin Park South.

The neighborhood is situated between three Near East Side neighborhoods to the north, south and west. These neighborhoods are Woodland Park, South of Main neighborhood, and Olde Towne East. To the west is the city of Bexley.

The contemporary boundaries of Franklin Park can vary depending on the source. The general consensus would include the boundaries of E Broad Street to the north, E Main Street to the south, and Alum Creek to the east.[7][8] The neighborhood's boundary to the west tends to be the more fluid and debatable one. While some sources claim the boundary between Olde Towne East and Franklin Park is Wilson Ave,[9] other sources claim Olde Towne East continues past Wilson Ave for several blocks.[10] The Bryden Road Historic District bisects both Franklin Park and Olde Towne East.[11] Franklin Park is primarily zoned residential. Franklin Park includes many single family homes, with duplexes, row-houses, and apartment buildings. There are small pockets of the neighborhood zoned for institutional and commercial uses. These occur primarily along E Main St and Kelton Ave. In addition, the far southeast corner of the neighborhood is completely zoned for industrial and commercial zones.[12]

Demographics

According to Onboard Informatics, the median age in Franklin Park is 34 years old and the median household income is $22,820.[13] The largest portion of demographics in Franklin Park are single parents.[14]

A good amount of Franklin Park's population are long term residents, residing in Franklin Park for at least 5 years.[15]

Religion

Franklin Park is home to a variety of churches, temples, and mosques. The following is a list of a few of the neighborhood's places of worship:

  • Meredith Temple Church of God in Christ- on Chapel St.[16]
  • Gospel Lighthouse Church [17]
  • Hope Christian Church
  • Muslim Community Center
  • Love Zion Baptist Church.

Structures and Landmarks

Franklin Park

An Ohio historical marker near the Asian garden in Franklin Park, commemorating Asian-Americans serving in the Civil War.

The namesake park is a landmark for both the neighborhood and the Near East Side. The park encompasses 88 acres filled with several ponds, an amphitheater, terraced waterfalls, a community garden, an Asian-themed garden, a picnic shelter, and playgrounds. The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens also lies within the park, a landmark of the neighborhood and the City of Columbus. Franklin Park is home to twenty one cherry trees gifted from Japan to represent Japanese community of Columbus, Ohio. Twenty of the trees are being kept inside the conservatory's greenhouse before being transplanted outside. The remaining older tree was planted along one of the lakes in Franklin Park on April 27, 2012. The occasion marked the 100 year anniversary of the original Japanese gift, thousands of cherry blossom trees sent from Tokyo to Washington, D.C. “Honda is one of the most-important employers in central Ohio, so there’s a strong connection with Japan,” said Bruce Harkey, a former Honda employee and the Franklin Park Conservatory’s executive director.[18]

Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens

The main entrance to the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.

The Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is a landmark structure on the National Register of Historic Places. It is situated on the 88-acre Franklin Park just two miles east of downtown Columbus. Built in 1895, the original conservatory stills stands after many expansions to the site. It is now called the John F. Wolfe Palm House, and houses 43 species of palms from around the world. The Fiddle-leaf Fig in the palm house is one of the oldest remaining plants in the conservatory.[19] Architect J.M. Freese, from a local firm called MSI Design (now MKSK),[20] was inspired to build the Victorian greenhouse after the success of the Chicago World's Columbian Exposition of 1893.[21] He drew inspiration from the City Beautiful movement and also from London's Crystal Palace, taking after it's ornate, Victorian style.[22]

In the 1930's, the Wolfe Family, better known as the owners of The Columbus Dispatch, bought exotic animals for the Columbus Zoo. The original site of the zoo was located in Clintonville, within the old Olentangy Park along the Olentangy River. Structures to hold these animals were not quite ready when the Wolfe Family had purchased the exotic animals, so they were temporarily held at the conservatory. To this day, on some of the windows of the Palm House, one can still see the remains of bars on the windows where the animals were once held.[23]

Franklin Park and the Conservatory became the host site for AmeriFlora '92, a six-month international horticulture exposition.[24] Renovation of the historic Palm House and a $14-million expansion began in 1989. The additions totaled 58,000 square feet and included expanded plant collections, classrooms, a library, gift shop, café, and administrative offices. After Ameriflora Ohio Legislature created the Franklin Park Conservatory Joint Recreation District to uphold management of the conservatory and surrounding acres by a new 10-member board of trustees and an executive director.[25]

Royal York Apartments

The sign for the modernist apartment complex, the Royal York Apartments.

The 1920's Art Deco style Apartments were built in 1937 by architect Howard Dwight Smith who is well-known for his designs of the Ohio Stadium.[26] This eight story Modernism apartment building is the tallest building in the neighborhood.

Franklin Park Trolley Barns

Looking northeast from Oak Street and Kelton Avenue toward the trolley barn structure.

The Old Trolley Barn, although abandoned, still stands in Franklin Park as a landmark. Taking up 3 acres of land, the six brick buildings at the trolley-barn site were built between 1880 and 1920.[27] The tracks from one of the Trolley Barns to Oak Street still remains. These city's trolley systems were used for decades. The landmark was recently bought by a realtor and is planned to contain mixed use building in the future (with preservation of the buildings).[28]

Commercial

Dining

Considering Franklin Park is historically a neighborhood consisting of mostly residential, there are only a few restaurants or fast food chains located in the area. The local fast food restaurants are Beverage Warehouse, Church’s Chicken[29] and KFC.[30] Located in Franklin Park, lies the Conservatory Café called Garden Café.[31]

Business

  • Counselor Offices
  • Old Familiar Barber Shop- provides haircuts and razor shaves for men.[32]
  • Henkels &McCoy- a corporation of engineers consisting of landscaping and construction.[33]
  • Accurate Auto Repair- an automotive repair center that has been in business for more than 90 years and has been located in Franklin Park since 1995.[34]
  • Amerifast Heating and Air Conditioning
  • GGC Wholesale Carpet
  • Kroger Fuel Center- local gas station.
  • Wheels Unlimited- automative service specializing in wheel and rim repair.[35]

Entertainment

Asian Festival
Despite the low concentration of Asian residents,[36] the Franklin Park area hosts several attractions tied to the culture of Asian countries and history of Asian-Americans. The neighborhood and park have been home to the annual 'Asian Festival' since 1995. The festival attracts over 100,000 people from around Columbus, the state of Ohio, and beyond.[37]

The Jingle Mingle
The Jingle Mingle is an annual holiday celebration hosted by Franklin Park Civic Association and Olde Town East Neighborhood Association[38] This event occurs in December and consists of a Christmas potluck, silent auction, and live entertainment.[39] The proceeds from this event help fund the Franklin Park Civic Association.

Summer Tour of Historic Homes
Franklin Park is part of the Summer Tour of Historic Homes, a home and garden tour hosted by the Olde Towne East Association.[40] The 2013 Summer Tour of Historic homes focused on the homes of Franklin Park and included the "Caretaker's Cottage" at the Franklin Park Conservatory.[41]

Transportation

Franklin Park was home of the Columbus Railway, Power and Light Co. in 1904.[42] From 1888 to 1948, an experimental electric streetcar ran from Chittenden Avenue to the Fairgrounds that were once located in Franklin Park.[43] This was the beginning of public transportation. In 2009, there was a proposed plan to bring a modern version of the Columbus Streetcar back.

Today, COTA (Central Ohio Transit Authority) operates three local bus services in the Franklin Park area. The number two runs along E Main St, the number ten runs along E Broad St, and the number 11 runs along E Oak St and Bryden Rd. COTA also provides an express service along E Broad St connecting Downtown to Gahanna. This number 43 lines runs along E Broad St from the Ohio Statehouse to N Hamilton Rd, then north on Hamilton to the Hunter Ridge Mall in Gahanna.[44]

The Alum Creek Multi-use Trail or The Ohio to Erie Trail is an important trail that runs through Franklin Park. This trail travels along one of the city's river corridors.[45]

See also


References

  1. ^ "Columbus Neighborhoods: Olde Towne East". WOSU Public Media.
  2. ^ "Franklin Park". The City of Columbus. The City of Columbus. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  3. ^ "Baist's property atlas of the city of Columbus and vicinity Ohio 1899, plate 22 (GeoPDF and GeoTIFF)". Ohio Wesleyan University Digital Collection. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  4. ^ "Franklin Park Neighborhood, Columbus Ohio". Franklin Park Civic Association. Franklin Park Civic Association. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  5. ^ "Columbus Neighborhoods: Olde Towne East". WOSU Public Media.
  6. ^ "Columbus Neighborhoods: Olde Towne East". WOSU Public Media.
  7. ^ "Franklin Park: About This Neighborhood". Columbus Neighborhoods. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  8. ^ Ferenchik, Mark. "Neighbors find living near Franklin Park irresistable". Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  9. ^ "Franklin Park: About This Neighborhood". Columbus Neighborhoods. Retrieved 9 December 2014.
  10. ^ "Olde Towne East Neighborhood Association". Olde Towne East Neighborhood Association. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  11. ^ "Historic Districts" (PDF). The City of Columbus. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
  12. ^ "Columbus One Stop Shop Zoning". GIS Maps, Columbus.gov. The City of Columbus. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  13. ^ "Franklin Park Demographics". Point 2 Homes. Onboard Informatics. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  14. ^ "Franklin Park, Columbus OH Lifestyle and Demographics". Realtor.com. Realtor.com. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  15. ^ "Franklin Park, Columbus OH Lifestyle and Demographics". Realtor.com. Realtor.com. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  16. ^ "Meredith Temple Church of God in Christ". Meredith Temple Church of God in Christ. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  17. ^ "Welcome". Gospel Lighthouse Church. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  18. ^ "Columbus Dispatch". Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  19. ^ "Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens". Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  20. ^ "MKSK". MKSK. Blackletter. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  21. ^ "Palm House". Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  22. ^ "Franklin Park & Conservatory". Landscape Voice. Landscape Voice. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  23. ^ "Columbus Neighborhoods: Olde Towne East". WOSU Public Media.
  24. ^ "History". Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The City of Columbus. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  25. ^ "History". Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  26. ^ "Smith, Howard Dwight". Austin E. Knowlton School of Architecture Digital Library. The Ohio State University. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  27. ^ Ferenchik, Mark. "Real-estate broker buys old trolley-barn buildings". The Columbus Dispatch. The Dispatch Printing Company. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  28. ^ "Ideas Sought for Franklin Park Trolley Barn Project". Columbus Underground. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  29. ^ "Church's Chicken". Church's Chicken. Cajun Funding Corp. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  30. ^ "KFC". Kentucky Fried Chicken Inc. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  31. ^ "Garden Café". Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  32. ^ "Old Familiar Barbershop". Old Familiar Barbershop. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  33. ^ "Henkels & McCoy Inc. (Diversified Engineering and Utility Infrastructure Contractors)". Henkels & McCoy Inc. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  34. ^ "Accurate Auto Center, Inc". Accurate Auto Center, Inc. Dream On! Unlimited. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  35. ^ "Wheels Unlimited". Ohio Wheels Unlimited. Retrieved November 12, 2014.
  36. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  37. ^ "Asian Festival". Asian Festival. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
  38. ^ "Olde Towne East Home Page". Olde Towne East. Olde Towne East Neighborhood Association. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  39. ^ "Jingle Mingle". Franklin Park Civic Association. Franklin Park Civic Association. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  40. ^ "Tour of Homes". Olde Towne East. Olde Towne East Neighborhood Association. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  41. ^ "Homes with Franklin Park View to Star in Olde Towne East Tour". The Columbus Dispatch: Garden Section. The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  42. ^ "Endangered No. 10 – Columbus Railway Power & Light Co Building". Columbus Landmarks. Columbus Landmarks Foundation. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  43. ^ Campbell, Alex. "Streetcars". Columbus Railroads. Columbus Railroads. Retrieved 16 December 2014.
  44. ^ "Maps". Central Ohio Transit Agency. Retrieved 15 December 2014.
  45. ^ "The Ohio to Erie Trail". The Ohio to Erie Trail. The Ohio to Erie Trail, Org. Retrieved November 12, 2014.

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