{{Short description|Park in Columbus, Ohio, U.S.}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox park | name = McFerson Commons | other_name = | image = McFerson Commons 01.jpg | image_size = 280px | image_alt = | image_caption = | qid = | mapframe-custom = {{Scioto Mile map|infobox=yes}} | map_alt = | map_caption = Interactive map of the park among others on the Scioto Mile | type = | motto = | location = 218 West Street, Columbus, Ohio | coordinates = {{coord|39.9670|-83.0073|format=dms|region:US-OH_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | coords_ref = | area = {{convert|2.21|acre}} | elevation = | authorized = | created = | established = | designated = | opened = | opening = | closed = | founder = | designer = | etymology = | owner = | administrator = Columbus Recreation and Parks Department | manager = | operator = | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | visitation_ref = | open = | status = | awards = | camp_sites = | hiking_trails = | paths = | terrain = | habitat = | water = | plants = | vegetation = | species = | collections = | designation = | disturbance = | budget = | parking = Meters, surface lots, garages | public_transit = {{bus icon}} {{rint|COTA}} {{COTA link|3|8|71|72|73}}<br/>{{bike icon}} CoGo | free_label = | free_data = | other_info = | facilities = | website = {{URL|https://www.columbus.gov/recreationandparks/parks/McFerson-Commons-Park/|columbus.gov/McFerson-Commons-Park}} | embedded = | child = }} '''McFerson Commons''', originally Arena Park, is a {{convert|2.2|acre|sigfig=1|adj=on}} park in Columbus, Ohio's Arena District neighborhood. The focal point of the park is the Union Station arch, salvaged before the demolition of Columbus's Union Station.
The park was created around 1999 after demolition of the Ohio Penitentiary, as a recreation area for residents of the surrounding Arena District. In 1999, the park was named for Dimon R. McFerson and the Union Station arch was installed in its current location. The park now hosts annual events, family sports, and other gatherings.
==Attributes and history== {{multiple images|total_width=250|align=left |image1=John Hunt Morgan plaque 02.jpg|caption1=John Hunt Morgan marker ([{{fullurl:File:John Hunt Morgan plaque 01.jpg}}#mediaviewer/{{urlencode:File:John Hunt Morgan plaque 01.jpg|wiki}} reverse]) |image2=Irish in Columbus plaque 02.jpg|caption2=Columbus's Irish population marker ([{{fullurl:File:Irish in Columbus plaque 01.jpg}}#mediaviewer/{{urlencode:File:Irish in Columbus plaque 01.jpg|wiki}} 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.<ref name="SciotoMile">{{cite web|title=McFerson Commons|work=Scioto Mile|publisher=Columbus Recreation and Parks Department|url=https://www.sciotomile.com/parks/mcferson-commons/|accessdate=April 28, 2020}}</ref> The park was originally known as Arena Park, and was renamed for Nationwide's then-retiring chairman Dimon R. McFerson in September 2000.<ref>"Sneak Peak[sic] at Arena Has Many Fans Raving." Columbus Dispatch, The (OH), Home Final ed., sec. NEWS, 9 Sept. 2000, p. 01A. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/10DCF24B35C57120. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.</ref>
McFerson Commons neighbors Nationwide Arena and North Bank Park. The park's open lawn space is used for family sports and events.<ref name="city">{{cite web|title=McFerson Commons|publisher=City of Columbus|url=https://www.columbus.gov/recreationandparks/parks/McFerson-Commons-Park/|accessdate=April 21, 2020}}{{Dead link|date=March 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
Events hosted in the park include:<ref name="SciotoMile"/> *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=== {{main|Union Station arch}} [[File:Columbus, Ohio - Highsmith 02.jpg|thumb|left|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 from 1976 to 1979 to make way for the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The arch, the only remaining portion of the station, was moved to the park.<ref name="city"/>
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.<ref name="NARA"/> 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.<ref name="NARA">{{cite web|title=National Register of Historic Places - Nomination Form: Union Station Entrance|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service|url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/137890824|date=January 17, 1974|accessdate=May 6, 2020}}</ref><!--Arch Park, Arch City-->
The arch was moved from its original site during demolition, which began at 6 pm on Friday, October 22, 1976.<ref name="NARA"/> S.G. Loewendick & Sons then demolished nearly the entire arcade.<ref>{{cite news|last=Foster|first=Emily|title=From the Archives: Columbus' First Family of Destruction|work=Columbus Monthly|url=https://www.columbusmonthly.com/news/20190304/from-archives-columbus-first-family-of-destruction|date=Mar 4, 2019|orig-year=First published November 1988|access-date=May 7, 2020}}</ref> By 6 pm on the next day, a temporary restraining order secured by the Ohio Historical Society halted the demolition. The order noted that improper procedures were followed in planning its demolition. Battelle then allowed the historical society 120 days to remove the remaining remnant of the demolition, the single arch left standing; Battelle offered no funds to help preserve or move the arch.<ref name="NARA"/> The arch was moved to a site nearby, landscaped and opened as Arch Park on June 7, 1980.<ref>"Arch Park Dedicated". Columbus Dispatch, HOME FINAL ed., 7 June 1980, p. 19. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=image/v2%3A1467499E363272B3%40EANX-NB-167798B14672FD3E%402444398-1677947246236CEA%4018-1677947246236CEA%40. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.</ref> In 1999, the arch moved to its current location.<ref>Wright, Steve. "HUGE ARCH CREEPS TOWARD NEW HOME." Columbus Dispatch, The (OH), Home Final ed., sec. NEWS, 26 Mar. 1999, p. 03C. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/10DD3EF51CBFB5F0. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.</ref> A set of decorative cherubs and medallions topped each of the ends at the top of the arch; the pieces were removed and placed in storage during the move to McFerson Commons, and have not been restored atop the arch since then.<ref>"TIME TO RESTORE ARCH TO ITS PREVIOUS GLORY." Columbus Dispatch, The (OH), Home Final ed., sec. EDITORIAL & COMMENT, 21 Jan. 2005, p. 10A. NewsBank: Access World News – Historical and Current, infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=WORLDNEWS&docref=news/10E370C45D8E77A0. Accessed 24 Feb. 2021.</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Ohio}} * List of parks in Columbus, Ohio
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{official website|https://www.columbus.gov/recreationandparks/parks/McFerson-Commons-Park/}} * [https://www.sciotomile.com/parks/mcferson-commons/ Scioto Mile page]
{{Columbus Recreation and Parks}}
Category:Downtown Columbus, Ohio Category:Parks in Columbus, Ohio Category:1999 establishments in Ohio Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1999 Category:Parks established in the 1990s Category:Protected areas established in 1999