"[2][3] It had been the area's center for festivals and neighborhood activities since the 1800s, including the Independence Day celebration of 1830 and Ohio State Fairs of 1864 and 1865.

[2][4] Between the middle and end of the nineteenth century, the area surrounding "City Park" became increasingly populated by German immigrants.

[7][10] The park, once a community meeting ground for the German settlement, is now the site of recreational facilities, gardens, and an amphitheater.

Free live performances of Shakespearean plays are enacted during the summer months courtesy of Actors' Theatre of Columbus.

The park is also home to Umbrella Girl, dedicated to the citizens of German Village in October 1996 to replace Hebe, the missing original sculpture.