Topiary Park
480 E Town St, Columbus, OH, 43215
Fans of Georges Seurat’s A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte will immediately feel at home in Columbus’ Topiary Park, where dozens of yew trees have been trimmed to resemble scenes from the pointillist masterpiece. Admire topiary reproductions of strolling couples, rowboats in a pond, dogs, a monkey, and a cat. Topiary Park is a highlight of Downtown Columbus.
The basics
Most walking and cycling tours of Downtown Columbus combine Topiary Park with other top attractions such as the Ohio Statehouse, the Center of Science and Industry (COSI), the Columbus Art Museum, and the Columbus Metropolitan Library. Families and lovers of urban outdoor spaces can also explore the nearby Columbus Commons and riverfront Scioto Mile on a city tour. A stop at the park is also easy to pair with a food tour or other culinary experience in the heart of Columbus.
Things to know before you go
The park’s French chalet-inspired visitor center has an information desk, restrooms, a shop, and drinking fountains.
It is free to enter Topiary Park.
You can access the lawns for picnics and sunbathing. There are benches and winding paths to explore the 7-acre (2.8-hectare) park on foot.
The paved paths through Topiary Park are easy to navigate by wheelchair or stroller, but the grassy areas can be challenging.
How to get there
Topiary Park is an easy walk from many Downtown Columbus sights, including the Columbus Metropolitan Library and Columbus Museum of Art. Bike-sharing stations, metered street parking, and bus stops are just outside the entrance. Alternatively, leave your car parked at the library or museum parking garages after your visit and walk to the park from there.
When to get there
This open-air space is open daily during sunlight hours and is most picturesque from late spring through early fall when the yew topiaries are lush and fill out their metal frames. Occasional jazz concerts and other performances are held in the park in summer; check with the visitor center for an updated schedule of events.
The best perspective over Topiary Park
Though the lawns in Topiary Park are inviting, the best view of the landscape installation is from the paved pathway overlooking its entire expanse. From the visitor center, walk slightly uphill to the bronze statue of an easel holding Seurat’s original painting in relief. Compare the bronze rendering of the work with the topiary version, with the observation point offering the correct depth and proportion to the scene.
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