McFerson Commons

McFerson Commons is a 2.2-acre (0.9 ha) park in Columbus, Ohio's Arena District neighborhood. The focal point of the park is an arch salvaged before the demolition of Columbus's Union Station.

McFerson Commons
Interactive map of the park among others on the Scioto Mile
Location218 West Street, Columbus, Ohio
Coordinates39°57′49.788″N 83°0′22.745″W
Area2.21 acres (0.89 ha)
Administered byColumbus Recreation and Parks Department
ParkingMeters, surface lots, garages
Public transit access 3, 8, 71, 72, 73
CoGo
WebsiteOfficial website

Attributes and history
John Hunt Morgan marker (reverse)
Columbus's Irish population marker (reverse)

The park was developed by Nationwide Insurance after demolition of the Ohio Penitentiary, which occupied the site and surrounding area from 1834 to 1998.[1]

McFerson Commons neighbors Nationwide Arena and North Bank Park. The park's open lawn space is used for family sports and events. The park is named for Dimon R. McGerson, a former chairman and CEO of Nationwide Insurance.[2]

Events hosted in the park include:[1]

  • Arena District Kickball League games, on weekday evenings beginning in August
  • Columbus Blue Jackets Winter Park, an NHL-sized ice rink operating for a month each winter
  • Opening ceremonies and starting line for the Pelotonia annual biking event
  • Viewing of the Red, White & Boom! fireworks display
  • 5Ks and other races including the PetPromise Rescue Run, Columbus Breakthrough for Brain Tumors 5K and Bull Run
  • Flag football games
  • Weddings

Union Station arch
Arch from Union Station

The park, sometimes known as Arch Park, has an old Beaux Arts arch as its central focal point. The arch was part of Columbus's Union Station, designed by Daniel Burnham in 1893, but demolished in 1979 to make way for the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The arch, the only remaining portion of the station, was moved to the park.[2]

The arch was originally the northern of two identical grand archways in the colonnade leading to the station. The southern archway was demolished along with a third of the colonnade in 1928.[3] The structure consists of a recessed semicircular arch flanked by four fluted round Corinthian columns. An angel relief is carved into each of the arch's extradoes. The arch has friezes with decorative eagle medallions. Above this is a denticulated cornice, and above that was a wider frieze with triglyphs and alternating medallions with classical busts. Above that was another denticulated cornice with gargoyles. The pedestals above the Corinthian columns featured statue groups.[3]

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See also

References
  1. "McFerson Commons". Scioto Mile. Columbus Recreation and Parks Department. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
  2. "McFerson Commons". City of Columbus. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
  3. "National Register of Historic Places - Nomination Form: Union Station Entrance". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 17, 1974. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
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