Topiary Park in Columbus, Ohio Brings Fine Art to Life

Topiary Park in downtown Columbus is one of the most unique parks you will ever visit, bringing a famous painting to life in topiary form!

I consider Topiary Park to be one of Columbus’ most precious hidden gems! Unless you hear about it from someone else, you might not even know it exists! But once you find it, you will realize you are seeing a work of art that is a masterpiece!

What is Topiary Park?

Topiary Park is one of the most unique parks in Columbus. This public park is a plant-based recreation of the famous impressionist painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat. While the original painting hangs in the Art Institute of Chicago, you can visit a larger-than-life creation in the heart of downtown Columbus! (Many people also remember Seurat’s famous painting from a scene in the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off!)

There is truly nothing else like Topiary Park in Columbus! The park is filled with topiary figures including human figures, animals and boats. It is the only known topiary representation of a painting and it is free to visit! You can walk amongst the sculptures made of yew trees and be a part of a living piece of art!

 Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte is Seurat’s most famous work of art and this topiary garden park is a must-see for art lovers!

Where is Topiary Park in Columbus?

Topiary Park is just east of Columbus Metropolitan Library’s Main Library and can be found at the corner of E. Town Street and S. Washington Avenue in the Discovery District of downtown Columbus, Ohio.

The park is adjacent to the library which is a gem in itself! Heading out the back door of the library and taking a short walk into the park is the perfect ending to your visit to the library!

Or, if you visit the park first, head inside to the library and grab a cup of coffee or a bite to eat at Carnegie Cafe just inside!

Between the library and the park there is a patio with tables and Kaufman Plaza with more seating and some activities for kids!

Throughout Topiary Park, there are benches to sit on and picnic tables for having lunch or a snack.

What is there to See And Do in Topiary Park?

Topiary Park (also known as Old Deaf School Park) includes hand sculpted topiaries of people, animals and boats.

The area has been a park since the 1800’s but the topiary part of the park was sculpted, beginning in 1988, by James and Elaine Mason, Columbus residents. James Mason was a local sculptor who passed away in 2022. He and his then-wife created the living sculptures in the park and they were unveiled to the public in 1992.

Seeing these topiaries in person is a really cool experience! It’s just one of the most unique things to walk amongst these larger than life-sized creatures!

The topiaries take up just a fraction of the park on the west side. The rest of the park has paved paths for walking and is very stroller-friendly. There is a circular path to walk within the park as well as off-shoots of the path that head out of the park on the east side.

As He Saw It

Don’t miss “As He Saw It” which shows the view of the park from the scene as painted by Seurat. The hills and the pond in the park are meant to resemble the River Seine. 

My kids had fun finding things from the painting in the sculptures!

Concerts and Events

The park is home to free events like PB&J Jazz concerts for children which take place in the summer months. Often, the park also hosts other fun events like outdoor movies, live music, food trucks and yoga classes in the summer. 

Topiary Park Gatehouse

There is a gatehouse and gift shop located at 480 E. Town St. at the edge of the park. Inside the gift shop, you can find gift items, history about the park, t-shirts, jewelry and more.

The Topiary Park Gate House is operated by the Friends of Topiary Park and the hours at time of writing are weekends from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM. 

Tips for Visiting Topiary Park

When is Topiary Park Open?

The park is open from dawn to dusk and is in full bloom from April to November.

Where to Enter Topiary Park

There are a couple of entrances to the park with the gatehouse at the southeast corner being the main entrance. I find it easiest to enter through the Main Library. But if the library is closed, you can park on the street and enter through the gatehouse on S. Washington Ave. near Franklin Avenue.

Where to Park when Visiting

The easiest access to the park is through Main Library and parking is available in the library parking lot for $.50/hour. (Your first hour is free!) The parking garage is only available when the library is open. There is also metered parking available on the surrounding streets. The park itself is public and free to visit! 

More Parks to Visit in Columbus:

• Inniswood Metro Gardens
• The Columbus Park of Roses
• Schiller Park
• Franklin Park
• 12 Columbus Parks to Try This Summer

You will not regret a visit to Topiary Park, especially during the months when it is in full bloom! If you’re visiting Columbus, check out Over 100 Fun Things to do in Columbus, Ohio! Enjoy your visit!

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