Forest Hill Park

Forest Hill Park is a historic 235-acre urban park straddling the border of East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Originally part of John D. Rockefeller's summer estate, the park was donated to the cities of East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights in 1938 by John D. Rockefeller Jr., with the stipulation that it be used for recreational purposes.

The park features diverse topography, including two steep ravines and the Dugway Brook watershed. It incorporates a mix of forested areas, open meadows, and recreational facilities. The landscape retains much of its natural character, with old-growth forests containing sugar maple, beech, oak, and chestnut trees. Some specimens in the park are over 200 years old and were designated as "Moses Cleaveland Trees" in 1946 to commemorate Cleveland's sesquicentennial.

Designed by landscape architect A.D. Taylor, the park's development was largely implemented by the Works Progress Administration in the late 1930s and early 1940s. Taylor's design preserved expansive sections of woodlands and transformed the former golf course into a pastoral "Great Meadow." The park includes a network of walking trails, many following paths originally laid out by Rockefeller.

A notable feature of the park is a man-made lagoon, spanning over five acres, which is home to fish, turtles, ducks, and visiting waterfowl. The lagoon is complemented by a stone boathouse built in 1940 and a naturalistic cascade-like spillway. A pedestrian bridge, designed by engineer Wilbur Watson and architect Frank Walker in 1940, spans Forest Hills Boulevard, connecting different sections of the park.

Forest Hill Park opened to the public in 1942 and continues to serve as a valuable recreational resource for the surrounding communities. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998, recognizing its historical significance and unique landscape features.