Franklin Park (Columbus park)

Franklin Park is a public park in Columbus, Ohio. It is the namesake of Franklin Park, its containing neighborhood in Columbus. The park is a landmark for both the neighborhood and the Near East Side. The park encompasses 88 acres (36 ha) 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 lie 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.[1]

Franklin Park
Waterfalls at the park
Interactive map of the park; the Franklin Park Conservatory is at its northeast corner
Coordinates	39°57′55.012″N 82°57′18.108″W
Area	88 acres (36 ha)
Administered by	Columbus Recreation and Parks Department
Public transit access	10 CoGo
Website	Official website