I’m a firm believer that any chance we have, we should give something nice back to nature.
In Mount Vernon, there’s a 250-acre park that’s proving just how beneficial that philosophy can be. Ariel-Foundation Park is an example of adaptive reuse, and it’s great for the environment and for nature-lovers like myself. The park was built on the former site of a glass-making factory and you can see that clearly from the moment you step foot on the property.
Throughout the park, visitors will find architectural ruins, lakes, walking rails, steel sculptures, an incredible observation tower, a museum, and more. The Rastin Observation Tower has a stunning view overlooking the park and the surrounding area.
The tower is a steel spiral staircase that coils around a smoke stack built buy Pittsburgh Plate Glass in 1951. The tower itself is 280-feet high and there’s an observation deck at 140 feet.
In addition to the tower, visitors can also enjoy the quiet water of the three large lakes at the park that once served as gravel quarries. There are also ruins to be explored, including brick facades, stair and elevator towers, and other structures that serve as a link between the past and present.
Ariel-Foundation Park is open April 1 through November 15. Daily hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and it’s completely free to visit. The park is located at 10 Pittsburgh Ave, Mt Vernon, OH 43050, about an hour northeast of Columbus. You can find more info and start planning your visit by visiting the Ariel-Foundation Park website.
Featured image via Facebook.
