Whetstone Park

The Park of Roses, also known as the Columbus Park of Roses, is a 13-acre public garden located within Whetstone Park in the Clintonville neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. Established in 1953, it is one of the largest municipal rose gardens in the United States.

The park features over 12,000 rose specimens representing more than 400 varieties. The roses are arranged in several themed gardens, including a formal rose garden, a heritage rose garden showcasing varieties cultivated before 1867, and an Earth-Kind rose garden demonstrating environmentally friendly rose cultivation.

In addition to roses, the park contains other horticultural displays such as an herb garden, a perennial garden, and a backyard garden demonstrating ideas for home landscaping. The entire park is also designated as an arboretum, with over 138 varieties of trees and shrubs throughout the grounds.

The Park of Roses is open to the public year-round from dawn to dusk, with free admission. While the roses are at their peak bloom from mid-June through September, the park offers visual interest in all seasons with its variety of plantings and landscaping features.

Within the park is the Whetstone Park Shelter House, a facility available for rental that can accommodate events of up to 175 people. The shelter house is heated and air-conditioned, making it suitable for use throughout the year.