Parks, Public Spaces, & Community Events

Parks, Public Spaces and Community Events

Can you imagine German Village without its green spaces?  Neither can we!

The parks and public spaces throughout the Village are perhaps first thought of as places for fun and games, but that is only one role they play. The other roles are more subtle, but every bit as vital. Our parks and public spaces, which include a fountain, an amphitheatre, a softball field, a carriage path, community gardens, a pond, a pocket park, a hosta garden, the recreation center, and a senior citizens craft center define our civic culture.

Managing these resources requires the dedication and cooperation of the German Village Society, the City of Columbus’s Division of Recreation and Parks (phone 614.645.3300), the German Village Garten Club, Actors Theatre, the Sunday Softball league, Friends of Frank Fetch Park, and the Dog Owners Association.  The German Village Society’s Parks, Public Spaces & Community Events Committee serves as the umbrella group for volunteers and organizations working in these arenas.

The Huntington Gardens in Schiller Park is a project of the German Village Society.  Volunteers maintain the beds, and own bragging rights for the 14,000 perennials that grace the Western entrance to the park. Interested in developing a greener thumb?  The Dead headers would love to have you!  Contact Bert Stevens at 614.443.3563 or at BertStevens@wowway.com for more information on this once a week commitment.

Frank Fetch Park located on Beck Street between Fifth and Sixth streets is maintained by the German Village Garten Club. Volunteers water, prune, plant, mow, and seem to laugh a great deal. This Munich-style pocket park is also the site of the German Village Christmas Tree lighting each December.  Jerry Glick welcomes your help, whether you are available for a once a year spring clean up, or a weekly shift.  He may be reached at 614.445.7484 or by email at jerryglick14@aol.com.

The German Village Garten Club is a membership organization chartered in 1966. By becoming a member you can attend monthly meetings that feature horticulture experts discussing a wide variety of topics and work side by side with the Village’s own expert gardeners.  The Garten Club’s projects include the flower boxes on Third Street, the annual Plant Sale, and the maintenance of Frank Fetch Park.  Kathy Heinlein would be happy to answer questions or provide membership materials.  She may be reached at 614.565.6694.

The Grace Highfield Garden, located in the northwest corner of Schiller Park, is an island-shaped garden features a variety of textures and shade-loving plants. A strong line of boxwood runs through the middle of the garden, providing a framework for 89 varieties of hostas and the spring flowering bulbs. Landscaped in 1996, the garden pays tribute to Grace Highfield, a beloved German Village resident.

The Actors’ Theatre Company performs at the Nationwide Stage in Schiller Park.  With twenty five years of presenting top quality productions of classical and time honored works to area audiences, Actors’ has become one of the premiere public theatre in Central Ohio in producing classical plays. With Shakespeare as their focus, touchstone and inspiration, ATC is dedicated to continuing the tradition of providing outdoor theatre to a diverse general public on a free will donation basis. Each summer they bring to our own Schiller Park the finest quality theatre, theatre that is imaginative, exciting, thought provoking, and accessible, while staying true to the integrity of the plays and their authors.  Please call 614.444.6888 or check their website, www.theactorstheatre.org.

Schiller Park Recreation Center is located at 1069 Jaeger Street at the southeast corner of the Park.  The programs and facilities in the Recreation Center are available to you and your family for nominal fees. Classes are offered year-round in a variety of arts and disciplines from yoga to water coloring to spin groups.  The weight and fitness room is the best bargain in town with an annual membership fee of just $75.00.  Schedules for classes are posted in the Center and a tour of the weight room is available Tuesday through Saturday after 12:00pm.  Phone number is 614.645.3156.

The Golden Hobby Shop, located at 630 South Third Street is a consignment store for artists and crafters age 50+ residing in Franklin and surrounding counties.  All items in the Hobby Shop are hand crafted. Shoppers will find a wonderful variety of useful and decorative gift and home items, including furniture, quilts, paintings, jewelry, clothing, baby and children’s items and much more.  Visit the Golden Hobby Shop Tuesday through Saturday 10:00am to 5:00 pm, and look for announcements of their Special Event Sundays through out the year.  You may call 614.645.8329.

The Parks, Public Spaces and Community Events Committee meets monthly on the second Tuesday of each month at 8:30 AM in the Scheurer Roomof the Meeting Haus, 588 South Third Street.

GET INVOLVED!

CONTACT Sara McNealy smcnealey@columbus.rr.com

Groups within this Committee include (contact person)

Huntington Gardens (Alberta Stevens)
Huntington Gardens and Schiller Park (David Gaumer)
Gracie’s Garden (Ann Lilly)
Executive Director, Schiller Recreation Center (Ron Brush)
Frank Fetch Park (Jerry Glick)
President, German Village Garten Club (Kathy Heinlein)
Huntington Gardens (Sue Larsen)
Co-chair, Friends of Schiller Park (Connie Cline)
Co-chair, Friends of Schiller Park (Louis Smith)
Executive Director, Actors’ Theatre (Frank Barnhart)
City of Columbus, Division of Recreation and Parks (Craig Seeds)