Forest Hills Park

Historic Origins

Forest Hills Park is a 235-acre public park located on the east side of Cleveland, Ohio, straddling the border between East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights. The park occupies land that was once part of John D. Rockefeller's summer estate, which he purchased in 1873.

In 1938, John D. Rockefeller Jr. donated the property to East Cleveland and Cleveland Heights for use as a public park. Forest Hills Park opened to the public in 1942 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

Natural Features

The park features varied topography, including two steep ravines, and incorporates elements from its time as Rockefeller's estate. These include a network of carriage drives, paths, and trails established by Rockefeller, as well as bridges, culverts, and retaining walls along Dugway Brook constructed using locally quarried Euclid bluestone.

Throughout the park, footpaths navigate the edges of ravines, shaded by deciduous trees such as maple, oak, and beech. Some native specimens in the park are over 200 years old, designated as "Moses Cleaveland Trees" in 1946 to commemorate Cleveland's sesquicentennial.

Park Development and Amenities

Landscape architect A.D. Taylor developed a masterplan for the park, which was implemented by the Works Progress Administration. Taylor preserved large sections of woodlands and transformed the former golf course into a pastoral "Great Meadow."

The park includes athletic fields, a lake over five acres in size with a stone boathouse built in 1940, and a pedestrian bridge spanning Forest Hills Boulevard. Today, it continues to provide year-round recreational facilities in a pastoral setting for residents of East Cleveland, Cleveland Heights, and surrounding communities.