Information
Landmark: Fellows Riverside GardensCity: Youngstown
Country: USA Ohio
Continent: North America
Fellows Riverside Gardens, Youngstown, USA Ohio, North America
Overview
Fellows Riverside Gardens spans 12 lush acres in Youngstown, Ohio, where winding paths lead past bursts of color in every season.It’s part of the Mill Creek MetroParks system, tucked away at 123 McKinley Avenue, where the front steps catch the afternoon sun.From the first blush of sunrise until the light fades at dusk, the gardens welcome everyone free of charge all year, a favorite retreat for locals and curious travelers alike.The gardens came to life through Elizabeth A.’s generous bequest, a gift that planted the first rose bushes and set their story in motion.The fellows in 1958 sat together, their jackets smelling faintly of pipe smoke.She donated the land and money to Mill Creek MetroParks so they could create a public garden, a place where visitors might stroll past roses in bloom.John L., a landscape architect, sketches gardens where stone paths wind through soft moss.Paolano was hired to design the gardens, weaving the gentle roll of the land into the layout and framing two quiet overlooks where the wind carries the scent of wild grass.Planting started in 1963, and over the years Fellows Riverside Gardens blossomed into a beloved regional gem, celebrated for vibrant flower beds, graceful design, and lively community events.Fellows Riverside Gardens showcases a rich mix of plants and themed spaces, with spring bringing more than 40,000 bulbs to life-crocuses, tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths spilling bright color across the grounds.In the rose garden, The Joanne F. blooms with soft pink petals.The Beeghly Rose Garden bursts with over 1,300 types of roses, from velvety hybrid teas to bright floribundas and grandifloras.From June to October, roses burst into bloom, filling the air with bright petals and a hint of sweet fragrance.Garden color shifts with the seasons, as annuals, perennials, and bright flowering bulbs are swapped in and out, keeping the beds lively from a frosty January morning to a warm October afternoon.Specialty Gardens feature the Herb and Fragrance Garden, Heather Garden, Dahlia Garden, and the Quarry Garden, each with its own distinct charm-like the sweet burst of lavender drifting through the air.The tree and shrub collections feature European beeches with smooth gray bark, bursts of rhododendron blooms, glossy hollies, tiny dwarf conifers, and an array of species from both near and far.In the Ohio Woodland Garden, you’ll find native plants tucked beneath tall oaks, while nearby spaces invite you to explore themes like hands-on sensory trails and colorful seasonal displays.Tucked into the gardens, the observation tower lets visitors take in sweeping views of Lake Glacier and the rolling hills beyond, with the breeze carrying the scent of blooming lilies.The D. D. and Velma Davis Education & Visitor Center is the bustling heart of visitor life, where conversations echo and maps unfold.It features a horticultural library stocked with guides, seed catalogs, and other resources for gardening and plant research.Spaces for workshops, lectures, and educational programs-classrooms with bright whiteboards and meeting rooms ready for conversation.An art gallery that changes its exhibits regularly, often showcasing nature and botanical themes-like a wall lined with vivid watercolor leaves.A cozy gift shop filled with gardening books, bright potted plants, and little souvenirs you can take home.All year long, the center offers everything from hands-on gardening classes and lively talks by local and international experts to kids’ activities that spark a love for nature-like planting sunflower seeds in freshly turned soil.At Riverside Gardens, the Events and Community Engagement Fellows put on popular seasonal gatherings like the Pumpkin Walk at Twilight, where glowing jack-o’-lanterns line the path and families enjoy games under the brisk autumn sky.Winter Nights fills the gardens with thousands of twinkling bulbs, casting a warm glow over the holiday season.Seasonal flower shows feature vibrant displays of plants, each tied to a unique gardening theme-like roses in full bloom or herbs arranged in fragrant clusters.The visitor center gallery hosts regular exhibitions, showcasing botanical art and crisp, detailed photography-like the glint of morning dew on a leaf captured in perfect light.People travel from all over the region for these events, drawn by the chance to join in and connect with nature and the arts-maybe strolling under oak trees or listening to a local band at dusk.The gardens draw couples and event planners alike, hosting weddings, lively receptions, and all kinds of celebrations beneath blooming arches.You can rent the Victorian-style gazebo, its white trim framed by bright blooms and lush green leaves - an ideal spot for an outdoor ceremony.The Kidston Pavilion sits tucked among the gardens, a cozy spot where sunlight filters through the leaves.Daniel L. Rossi Auditorium is an airy indoor venue with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the lush garden outside, perfect for hosting receptions or business meetings.The gardens handle every detail, from arranging fresh, seasonal catering to coordinating the day so weddings and gatherings feel unforgettable.Work has begun on a major overhaul of the Children's Garden, the biggest investment Fellows Riverside Gardens has made in more than two decades-soon, the paths will be fresh and the flowerbeds bursting with color.This $3 million initiative will fund the construction of a bright, modern education building devoted entirely to children’s programs.We’re creating five unique garden spaces: the Harvest Garden with ripe tomatoes on the vine, the Forest Garden, the Streams Garden, the Hummock and Lawn Garden, and the fragrant Sensory Garden.Kids dive into hands-on activities that bring ecosystems to life-touching leaves, spotting birds, and learning how to care for the world around them.The project invites younger generations to connect with nature by stepping into outdoor spaces that teach and surround them-like walking through a forest where every path holds a new lesson.The gardens welcome visitors every day, opening at first light and closing as the sky fades to dusk.The visitor center’s doors are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., but on Mondays they stay firmly shut.Admission’s free if you just want to wander the garden, though special events or renting the gazebo might cost extra.The Garden Café by Kravitz opens Tuesday through Sunday, offering lunch built around fresh, seasonal menus-think crisp greens and warm bread straight from the oven.Recognition and Impact Fellows Riverside Gardens stands out as one of the top botanical gardens in Ohio-and across the country-drawing visitors to its bright bursts of tulips each spring.Each year, more than 400,000 people wander in to admire the blooming gardens, join hands-on workshops, and soak up the quiet beauty of the surrounding trees.It’s among the top-rated botanical gardens in the country, celebrated for sweeping, artfully designed grounds and collections as carefully curated as a jeweler’s display.At Fellows Riverside Gardens, vibrant blooms meet expert care, lively classes, and welcoming community events, creating a beloved Youngstown landmark that draws plant lovers, families, and curious guests of every age.
