Columbus Commons opened in 2010, following the demolition of City Center Mall. In addition to more than 200 special events each year, Columbus Commons also provides 6 acres of public green space, a bocce court, life-size chess set, an outdoor reading room, an underground garage, and the Columbus Bicentennial Pavilion. The South Side of the park also features a hand-carved carousel created by Ohio artists at Mansfield’s Carousel Works. The rounding boards of the carousel highlight images of the best of Columbus. Columbus Commons also hosts 12 four-season gardens which are maintained by Franklin Park Conservatory.
Columbus Commons, as originally planned, has successfully catalyzed significant private mixed-use development in the surrounding area, including Highpoint at Columbus Commons, $51 million mixed-use building along the west side of the park which opened in 2013, and Two25 Commons, a $60 million mixed-use building at the southeast corner of the park in 2018.
Long before Columbus Commons was built, this site also hosted the nation’s first kindergarten, established by Caroline Louisa Frankenberg in 1858. All lessons were taught in German and cost approximately 75 cents a week. The kindergarten was met with limited success, however, kindergartens became part of the Columbus Public School System in 1912.
160 S High St, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Franklin County
Please note: The Greater Columbus Arts Council (Arts Council) does not own or manage any public art. For the purposes of this database many pieces were entered by the Arts Council while we continue to search for the appropriate owner/manager of the work and other information to complete the entry. The Arts Council has tried to gather all available information about the works in this database, however, we acknowledge there may be missing or inaccurate information. If you can help us correct any inaccuracies, or provide more complete information, we would be grateful. Please use “Something missing? Please send us a note” above.
Taking images of public art works and sharing your experiences is one of the most fun reasons to engage with public art. As a community, we care deeply about the artists who have contributed the artworks we enjoy every day. Please be sure to credit artists when you share your photos. If you have an interest in using public artwork present in this database for commercial purposes, please contact Jami Goldstein at the Greater Columbus Arts Council. Taking your own images of public artwork does not release you from the responsibility of artist credit and/or compensation.
This site is produced and managed by the Greater Columbus Arts Council and supported by the Ohio Arts Council and public art collections across the state. Contributors to the databases to date include collections held by the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo, City of Columbus, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Dublin Arts Council, City of Upper Arlington Cultural Arts Department, City of Kettering, Downtown Mansfield Inc., Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, John Glenn Columbus International Airport, Licking County Foundation, Ohio Arts Council’s Percent for Art program, Short North Arts District and the City of Sandusky. The database was funded in part by a grant from the Ohio Arts Council. Research and development support is provided by Designing Local, OSA Technology Partners and Columbus artist Stephanie Rond. The Columbus Makes Art campaign is a citywide, collaborative marketing effort designed to highlight the incredible talent of central Ohio artists. The Greater Columbus Arts Council is supported by the City of Columbus and the Ohio Arts Council.
To support and advance the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. www.gcac.org
ArtsinOhio.com is your one-stop resource for arts, festivals and cultural events throughout the Buckeye State. And, even better, it’s free!
