Indianola Park, Amusement park in University District, Columbus, Ohio.
Indianola Park was an amusement park in Columbus's University District featuring a large swimming pool, roller coasters, a carousel, and a dance pavilion. The grounds spread across 30 acres between North 4th Street and East 19th Avenue, also containing athletic fields, a restaurant, and a bandshell for performances.
The park was founded in 1905 by Charles Miles and Frederick Ingersoll as a recreational destination for the city. Economic pressures from the Great Depression led to its closure in 1937, ending the life of this once-thriving public space.
The park served as a popular gathering place for the city, with its dance venues adapting to different musical tastes over the decades. It also hosted the Columbus Panhandles professional football team, making it an important social and sporting center during its busiest years.
The park could be accessed from the entrance at North 4th Street and East 19th Avenue, with attractions spread across the spacious grounds. Visitors were able to explore all areas on foot, as the various facilities were distributed throughout the 30-acre site.
The dance pavilion operated year-round, even during winter months, and shifted from classical performances in its early years to jazz music by the 1920s. This adaptability to changing musical tastes made it a cultural crossroads for the city.
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