Ryan S.
Yelp
The bronze bust of Lincoln Goodale has certainly seen a lot in his day, considering the park he granted is the yearly site of Comfest, the cities' top countercultural festival. Safe to say, the 19th century doctor probably don't take too kindly to the goin-ons here, but then again, who is he to say since his medical know how probably didn't extend beyond, "take two leaches and see me in the morning."
Ah but we moderns do thank him for this park, the best of it's type in the city, tied with that German romantic's plot off Whittier. A lush square of green, it is the center piece of the tree adorned Victorian style neighborhood, and an easy escape from the bustle of the Short North.
To me parks come in three flavors: athletic parks, nature preserves, and art parks. Goodale is an example of the last--a resting place known for its esthetic beauty. Sure there are tennis courts and playgrounds on its east, a puppy play spot on its south, but mainly it is a quiet grass acreage with benches, landscaping, and lake. The black fencing of its perimeter compliments the impressive Italianate and Queen Ann architecture of its surroundings.
It's a perfect place to people watch or to meet someone. On any given day you'll see business men on lunch, college coeds running off freshmen 15, lovers on a romantic rendezvous, artists searching for inspiration, musicians perfecting chords, couple hoping for openings on wedding dates, families dragging kids from electronics, old timers dreaming memmories, and locals finding relief from the hot asphalt streets. All eventually being drawn to the duck happy lake.
The lake has had problems the last few years that are now fixed. Although I do not like the new fountain, a monolithic spike--in levels like a cake--driven in the center of it. I much rather they'd stuck with the understated one they replaced.
Being a park a stone throw from downtown, the park does attract the homeless; this is a good thing as Dr Goodale dedicate charities in helping the poor, and developed this park for their welfare as well as for the fortunate. They generally stay to themselves; buy one of their newspapers if asked; there is some pretty good, honest writing in there, and the proceeds go to charity.
Neither the Victorian Village nor the Short North would be the same without this park!