The Scioto Mile.

Once a concrete-heavy riverfront, the Scioto Mile is the result of a massive urban reclamation project that removed a major dam to restore 33 acres of natural riparian corridor. Today, this continuous, multi-park network snakes along both banks of the Scioto River, effectively serving as downtown Columbus’s communal backyard. Rather than a single green space, it is a sequence of promenades, bike paths, and manicured lawns linking destinations like Genoa Park and the Scioto Audubon Metro Park. Its center of gravity is Bicentennial Park, home to a massive 15,000-square-foot interactive fountain that glows after dark, as well as a packed calendar of summer concerts and food festivals. It is a highly active civic artery where skyline views meet direct river access.