Forest Park, Columbus, Ohio
Encyclopedia
The community of Forest Park consists of almost 2900 private residential properties (single-family homes and duplexes), plus apartments, condominiums, commercial properties, city-owned parks and schools, in approximately 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of the Northland area of northeast Columbus, Ohio
. These properties adjoin a total of 132 distinct streets and courts maintained by the city of Columbus. The community's approximate center is near the intersection of Karl Road and Sandalwood Place in Columbus.
to James Hamilton in payment for his military service during the Revolutionary War
. The land was subsequently sold and subdivided, and used primarily as farmland well into the 20th century.
Forest Park was developed beginning in the late 1950s by the Metzger Brothers Company, founded in 1955. Metzger Brothers, which was dissolved in 1980, also developed Devonshire and several other communities in the Northland area. During this period, the city of Columbus expanded significantly by way of annexation beyond its 1950 boundaries. The construction of the North Freeway (a segment of Interstate 71
) immediately west of Forest Park stimulated new residential and commercial development in the area.
The majority of homes in Forest Park West (west of Karl Road) were built in the 1960s; in the early years of the decade it was the site of a Parade of Homes
. Forest Park West's development largely coincided with the construction and expansion of the Northland Mall
, which opened as the first shopping mall in Columbus in 1964 and was a significant contributor to employment and the area economy for 38 years. The Mall closed in 2002 and a new retail and government complex, Northland Village, is being developed on the site. The aircraft manufacturing facilities of North American Aviation
, later known as North American Rockwell and Rockwell International
, near Port Columbus
also employed many residents of Forest Park and nearby communities during the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. These facilities closed in 1988.
Development of Forest Park East followed in 1965 and continued throughout the 1970s. In the mid-1970s, East Dublin-Granville Road (SR-161) was reconstructed as a divided highway, though the portion just north of Forest Park remains a major commercial and retail corridor. A portion of the Forest Park East community near Cleveland Avenue, known officially as Minerva Park Place, was developed later by Layman Homes and was incorporated into the civic association service area in the late 1990s.
Forest Park was selected as the first beneficiary of the Neighborhood Pride neighborhood improvement program of the City of Columbus in 2000. A portion of the community has again been designated as a Neighborhood Pride area in late 2010.
that serves as the hub of the neighborhood; it has a small commercial district at its core and is surrounded on three sides by a large apartment complex.
Nearly every street in Forest Park is lined with trees (hence the name) in city-owned tree lawns, and most individual parcels also include one or more mature trees. Street names are mostly derived from species of trees (though not necessarily descriptive of the trees found along them). Virtually every street in Forest Park has sidewalks on both sides of the street, which was not typical of construction during this period in Columbus.
The Metzger Brothers Company developed Forest Park as a well-planned, self-contained community. In 1961, Forest Park West was the first residential neighborhood in Columbus, and among the first in the nation, to incorporate internal shopping and recreation (including a swimming pool and bowling center), making it virtually self-sufficient. Forest Park East also included its own central shopping and recreation district at Tamarack Circle. Both centers originally included private community swimming pools; both have since closed and one is now the site of a self storage facility.
Today, the community's two internal shopping centers include restaurants, a bowling center, convenience stores, optometry, health and child care, car wash and self-storage facilities, and other light retail and service businesses. It is served by and helps support the East Dublin-Granville (SR-161) and Morse Road retail corridors, as well as the Polaris
and Easton
retail complexes.
Five schools are located in Forest Park proper (Avalon, Parkmoor and Forest Park Elementary Schools, Northland High School
and independent K-12 Marburn Academy), and several other public and private schools are within a 1 mile (2 km) radius of the community's center. A branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library
, a recreation facility operated by the YMCA
and several churches are located on Karl Road, near the center of the community. The city-owned Woodward Park and Nature Preserve of 49 acres (198,296.1 m²), which includes a recreation center, athletic fields, tennis courts, picnic areas and a walking trail, forms the southern boundary of Forest Park West, and several smaller city parks of up to 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) are located within and adjacent to Forest Park East.
Subdivisions located adjacent to or near Forest Park East (developed separately but often considered part of the greater Forest Park neighborhood) include Granville Manor, Kilbourne Woods, Northland Park, Northland Park Estates, Scotland, Suburban Homesites and Villa Park.
), north of Morse Road, south of State Route 161, east of Interstate 71, and west of Cleveland Avenue. Karl Road separates Forest Park East and West. Forest Park is approximately 8 miles (13 km) NNE, and 12 miles (19.3 km) by highway, from the center of downtown Columbus (Broad & High Streets). Nearby communities include the cities of Westerville
(to the northeast) and Worthington
(to the northwest) and the village of Minerva Park
(to the east). The entire community is within the Columbus city limits, Sharon Historic Township
, the Northland planning district, the Columbus City school district, area code
614
and ZIP (postal) code
43229. The approximate geographic center of the community is located at 40.0765 (N) latitude, -82.9705 (W) longitude.
FPCA was one of the founding community members of the Northland Community Council in 1964 and continues as one of more than 25 NCC member communities.
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. These properties adjoin a total of 132 distinct streets and courts maintained by the city of Columbus. The community's approximate center is near the intersection of Karl Road and Sandalwood Place in Columbus.
History
The region that includes Forest Park was originally awarded by President John AdamsJohn Adams
John Adams was an American lawyer, statesman, diplomat and political theorist. A leading champion of independence in 1776, he was the second President of the United States...
to James Hamilton in payment for his military service during the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. The land was subsequently sold and subdivided, and used primarily as farmland well into the 20th century.
Forest Park was developed beginning in the late 1950s by the Metzger Brothers Company, founded in 1955. Metzger Brothers, which was dissolved in 1980, also developed Devonshire and several other communities in the Northland area. During this period, the city of Columbus expanded significantly by way of annexation beyond its 1950 boundaries. The construction of the North Freeway (a segment of Interstate 71
Interstate 71
Interstate 71 is an Interstate Highway in the Great Lakes/Midwestern and Southeastern region of the United States. Its southern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 64 and Interstate 65 in Louisville, Kentucky. Its northern terminus is at an interchange with Interstate 90 in Cleveland,...
) immediately west of Forest Park stimulated new residential and commercial development in the area.
The majority of homes in Forest Park West (west of Karl Road) were built in the 1960s; in the early years of the decade it was the site of a Parade of Homes
Parade of Homes
The Parade of Homes is a showcase of new homes held annually in several regions throughout the United States. Alternatively known as the Tour of Homes in some locales, it is often presented by the local Home Builders Association or Building Industry Association . The Parade of Homes typically...
. Forest Park West's development largely coincided with the construction and expansion of the Northland Mall
Northland Mall
Northland Mall was a shopping mall located on the north side of Columbus, Ohio, at the intersection of Morse Road and Karl Road. It opened in 1964 as an open-air shopping center and the first shopping mall in Columbus...
, which opened as the first shopping mall in Columbus in 1964 and was a significant contributor to employment and the area economy for 38 years. The Mall closed in 2002 and a new retail and government complex, Northland Village, is being developed on the site. The aircraft manufacturing facilities of North American Aviation
North American Aviation
North American Aviation was a major US aerospace manufacturer, responsible for a number of historic aircraft, including the T-6 Texan trainer, the P-51 Mustang fighter, the B-25 Mitchell bomber, the F-86 Sabre jet fighter, the X-15 rocket plane, and the XB-70, as well as Apollo Command and Service...
, later known as North American Rockwell and Rockwell International
Rockwell International
Rockwell International was a major American manufacturing conglomerate in the latter half of the 20th century, involved in aircraft, the space industry, both defense-oriented and commercial electronics, automotive and truck components, printing presses, valves and meters, and industrial automation....
, near Port Columbus
Port Columbus International Airport
Port Columbus International Airport , commonly shortened to Port Columbus, is a Class C international airport located east of downtown Columbus, Ohio, USA. It is managed by the Columbus Regional Airport Authority, which also oversees operations at Rickenbacker International Airport and Bolton Field...
also employed many residents of Forest Park and nearby communities during the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. These facilities closed in 1988.
Development of Forest Park East followed in 1965 and continued throughout the 1970s. In the mid-1970s, East Dublin-Granville Road (SR-161) was reconstructed as a divided highway, though the portion just north of Forest Park remains a major commercial and retail corridor. A portion of the Forest Park East community near Cleveland Avenue, known officially as Minerva Park Place, was developed later by Layman Homes and was incorporated into the civic association service area in the late 1990s.
Forest Park was selected as the first beneficiary of the Neighborhood Pride neighborhood improvement program of the City of Columbus in 2000. A portion of the community has again been designated as a Neighborhood Pride area in late 2010.
Features
Homes in Forest Park reflect a variety of architectural styles and floor plans typical of homes built in the 1960s and 1970s, including ranch, split-level and two-story homes with two, three and four bedrooms. The large number of different home builders involved in the original development contributes to significant diversity in home styles and finishes. Nearly all have basements (many finished) and attached or enclosed garages. The average lot size is 0.2 acres (809.4 m²). Most homes are on quiet side streets, courts or "loops." Homes on collector and arterial streets reflect the same styles and quality; these streets include Sandalwood Boulevard and Satinwood Drive in Forest Park West, and Sandalwood Place, Tamarack Boulevard, Northtowne Boulevard and Maple Canyon Avenue in Forest Park East. Tamarack Circle in Forest Park East is an unusual, distinctively designed large roundaboutRoundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
that serves as the hub of the neighborhood; it has a small commercial district at its core and is surrounded on three sides by a large apartment complex.
Nearly every street in Forest Park is lined with trees (hence the name) in city-owned tree lawns, and most individual parcels also include one or more mature trees. Street names are mostly derived from species of trees (though not necessarily descriptive of the trees found along them). Virtually every street in Forest Park has sidewalks on both sides of the street, which was not typical of construction during this period in Columbus.
The Metzger Brothers Company developed Forest Park as a well-planned, self-contained community. In 1961, Forest Park West was the first residential neighborhood in Columbus, and among the first in the nation, to incorporate internal shopping and recreation (including a swimming pool and bowling center), making it virtually self-sufficient. Forest Park East also included its own central shopping and recreation district at Tamarack Circle. Both centers originally included private community swimming pools; both have since closed and one is now the site of a self storage facility.
Today, the community's two internal shopping centers include restaurants, a bowling center, convenience stores, optometry, health and child care, car wash and self-storage facilities, and other light retail and service businesses. It is served by and helps support the East Dublin-Granville (SR-161) and Morse Road retail corridors, as well as the Polaris
Polaris Fashion Place
Polaris Fashion Place is a two level shopping mall and surrounding retail plaza serving Columbus, Ohio, United States. The mall, owned locally by Glimcher Realty Trust, is located off Interstate 71 on Polaris Parkway in Delaware County just to the north of the boundary between Delaware and Franklin...
and Easton
Easton Town Center
Easton Town Center is a large mixed-use town center in Columbus, Ohio, United States. It is designed to look like a classic American main street, with public spaces, fountains, a street grid, and metered storefront parking....
retail complexes.
Five schools are located in Forest Park proper (Avalon, Parkmoor and Forest Park Elementary Schools, Northland High School
Northland High School (Columbus, Ohio)
Northland High School was established in 1965. NHS is a part of the Columbus City Schools system. It is located at 1919 Northcliff Drive, Columbus, Ohio, USA. The current principal is Duane Bland. Northland is the home of the Vikings. The school colors are Green and Gold. This school has one of the...
and independent K-12 Marburn Academy), and several other public and private schools are within a 1 mile (2 km) radius of the community's center. A branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library
Columbus Metropolitan Library
The Columbus Metropolitan Library , located in the capital city of Ohio, opened its doors in 1873 in the New City Hall in downtown Columbus. This library is one of the most-used library systems in the country and is consistently among the top-ranked large city libraries according to "Hennen’s...
, a recreation facility operated by the YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
and several churches are located on Karl Road, near the center of the community. The city-owned Woodward Park and Nature Preserve of 49 acres (198,296.1 m²), which includes a recreation center, athletic fields, tennis courts, picnic areas and a walking trail, forms the southern boundary of Forest Park West, and several smaller city parks of up to 5 acres (20,234.3 m²) are located within and adjacent to Forest Park East.
Subdivisions located adjacent to or near Forest Park East (developed separately but often considered part of the greater Forest Park neighborhood) include Granville Manor, Kilbourne Woods, Northland Park, Northland Park Estates, Scotland, Suburban Homesites and Villa Park.
Location
Forest Park is located in the Northland region of northeast Columbus, Ohio (Franklin CountyFranklin County, Ohio
Franklin County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. In 2010 the population was 1,163,414, making it the second largest county in Ohio and the 34th largest county in population in the United States. Franklin County is also the largest in the eight-county Columbus, Ohio...
), north of Morse Road, south of State Route 161, east of Interstate 71, and west of Cleveland Avenue. Karl Road separates Forest Park East and West. Forest Park is approximately 8 miles (13 km) NNE, and 12 miles (19.3 km) by highway, from the center of downtown Columbus (Broad & High Streets). Nearby communities include the cities of Westerville
Westerville, Ohio
Westerville, once known as "The Dry Capital of the World", is a city in Franklin and Delaware counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 35,318 at the 2000 census.-Early history:...
(to the northeast) and Worthington
Worthington, Ohio
-Dissolution of the Company:By August 11, 1804 the plat maps were completed, payments or notes promising payments collected and deeds prepared for all sixteen thousand acres of the Scioto Company's purchase...
(to the northwest) and the village of Minerva Park
Minerva Park, Ohio
Minerva Park is a village in Franklin County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,288 at the 2000 census.The communities of Minerva Park, Bexley, Whitehall, and Valleyview are enclaves of Columbus.-Geography:...
(to the east). The entire community is within the Columbus city limits, Sharon Historic Township
Township (United States)
A township in the United States is a small geographic area. Townships range in size from 6 to 54 square miles , with being the norm.The term is used in three ways....
, the Northland planning district, the Columbus City school district, area code
Telephone numbering plan
A telephone numbering plan is a type of numbering scheme used in telecommunications to allocate telephone numbers to subscribers and to route telephone calls in a telephone network. A closed numbering plan, such as found in North America, imposes a fixed total length to numbers...
614
Area code 614
Area code 614, which had covered the entire southeastern quarter of the state of Ohio for decades, now represents only the Columbus metropolitan area; it is one of the original area codes established in 1947. In 1998, most of the old 614 territory was split into the new area code 740...
and ZIP (postal) code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
43229. The approximate geographic center of the community is located at 40.0765 (N) latitude, -82.9705 (W) longitude.
Civic Association
The Forest Park Civic Association (FPCA) was founded as a not-for-profit Ohio corporation in April 1962 and continues to provide services to and advocate for residents of the community. It is funded by voluntary dues paid by households and businesses in the community during an annual membership drive. The Forester, the Forest Park newsletter, averages 24 pages and is delivered to more than 3500 homes in and around Forest Park every month except February. It is free of charge to area residents and largely self-supporting through advertising by local businesses. The FPCA also publishes a triennial Forest Park Directory of residents, provided at no additional charge to paid member households.FPCA was one of the founding community members of the Northland Community Council in 1964 and continues as one of more than 25 NCC member communities.
See also
- Neighborhoods in Columbus, OhioNeighborhoods in Columbus, OhioThere are dozens of neighborhoods in Columbus, Ohio. Some are hard to define, as they encompass large areas developed at different times—often with sub-neighborhoods within them. Borders can also change based on popular understanding of the area, as well as the whims of the residents...
- Northland High SchoolNorthland High School (Columbus, Ohio)Northland High School was established in 1965. NHS is a part of the Columbus City Schools system. It is located at 1919 Northcliff Drive, Columbus, Ohio, USA. The current principal is Duane Bland. Northland is the home of the Vikings. The school colors are Green and Gold. This school has one of the...