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History: 1950-1959

1950

1952

Arts and Crafts Center opened in remodeled firehouse on Oak.
Tree Commission established

4 shelter houses built:
Whetstone
Linden
Westgate
Southview (Berliner) Park

1953

Whetstone Park of Roses
Park of Roses designed by George Tobey, ASLA, Professor at OSU. It was dedicated on September 13 of that year with 13.5 acres planted and 30,000 roses.

1954

American Rose Society moves to Park of Roses Memorial Day Opening Weekend: 8,000 attended and on July 4, total attendance of 10,000. Maiden of Roses Pageant inaugurated to promote the park and provide scholarships -Discontinued in 1975.

Municipal Nursery first year of Operation: plants 11,685 trees and shrubs.

Maintenance of playgrounds transferred to Parks and Forestry from Department of Recreation.
79 ball diamonds and maintenance of the archery range in Whetstone Park.

1955

Parks Commission formed to advise superintendent on Park Operations removed the responsibility from Public Service.

Population of Columbus 425,000; 2,246 acres of parkland.

1956

1957

Fun for Everyone
First airing of Recreation Department’s long running half hour TV show.
Southview Park
I-71 freeway divided park
Ballfields left on west side named McCoy Park.

Military housing units removed

1964 Major redevelopment begins. (As seen today.)