Goodale Park: Historic Victorian Village Walk in Columbus

Goodale Park is the green heart of Victorian Village, a 32.5-acre urban oasis right next to the Short North and a short walk from downtown Columbus. It's one of the oldest public parks in the country, and it wears its history well: a central pond with an iconic elephant fountain, Victorian-era gates and gazebo, and clear sightlines to the downtown skyline that make it a favorite for evening walks and sunset photos.

The loop is flat, paved, and about 2.3 miles, which makes this an easy, satisfying walk in the middle of the city. Bring the dog, bring a coffee from the Short North, and take your time.

Getting there and walking it

The park sits at 120 W Goodale Street, bounded by Buttles Avenue, Park Street, Goodale Street, and Dennison Avenue. It's an urban park, so street parking around the edges is your main option, and it fills up fast on event days. The main loop runs roughly 2.3 miles with only gentle elevation change, mostly paved paths and open lawn. It's popular for walking, jogging, leashed dog walking, casual biking, and birdwatching, and it stays lively most of the year.

What makes it special

• The pond and elephant fountain. The central pond is the park's signature, and the elephant fountain, added in 2013, nods to the park's old circus and animal-exhibit history. It's the most photographed spot in the park for a reason.
• Skyline views. Clear lines of sight toward downtown make the park a go-to for photographers and sunset-watchers.
• A serious tree collection. More than 650 trees representing over 160 species, including several rare and champion specimens. It's a quiet arboretum hiding in plain sight.
• Community life. Goodale hosts ComFest, the huge annual community arts and music festival, plus tennis and pickleball courts, a basketball court, a playground, and broad picnic lawns.

A park older than most of Ohio's cities

The land was originally owned by Dr. Lincoln Goodale, who donated it to Columbus in 1851 with a legal restriction that it remain a public park forever. The park opened around 1852, created in part to improve public health by giving the growing city green space during an era of disease outbreaks. It has stayed public land ever since.

During the Civil War, in 1861, the park served as Camp Jackson, a Union Army staging ground that held up to about 8,000 soldiers, until the troops were moved after Goodale objected to the misuse of his gift. Through the late 1800s and early 1900s the park was landscaped with carriage paths, lakes you could actually boat on until around 1920, and Victorian features, and it even hosted early animal exhibits. One lake was filled in during the 1960s and the carriage road was removed in 1955. After a rough stretch in the 1970s and '80s, the community group Friends of Goodale Park formed in 1987 and led the restoration that brought the park back to the showpiece it is today.

Tips for your visit

• Best times: golden hour for skyline photos; spring and fall for the tree collection. Summer weekends are busiest, especially during ComFest.
• Parking: plan for on-street parking and arrive early on event days.
• Pair it with the Short North for food, galleries, and a longer urban walk right next door.

Nearby walks

• Scioto Audubon Metro Park — riverside trails, a climbing wall, and birding just south of downtown.
• Topiary Garden at Old Deaf School Park — a sculpted living garden a few minutes east.
• Columbus Metro Parks: Franklin County Trail Guide — when you're ready to trade city loops for real trail.