Glenwood Gardens is getting a $1.25 million refresh to make one of Hamilton County’s most scenic parks more accessible and welcoming for years to come.
Great Parks is restoring aging features, improving accessibility and enhancing some of the 338-acre site’s best-loved spaces. The project – funded through a mix of levy dollars and private philanthropy – includes updates from the whimsical Highfield Discovery Garden to the scenic Cotswold Overlook.
“Glenwood Gardens is known for being a beautiful escape from the ordinary. Several of the features that needed replacement now make it even more inviting,” Todd Palmeter, Great Parks CEO, said of the months-long project at the Woodlawn park.
What visitors can expect
Located along Springfield Pike, Glenwood Gardens features a mixture of meadows, gardens and trails that invite visitors to explore nature. Its manicured landscapes and whimsical design, inspired by England’s Cotswold region, make it a favorite for families, walkers and nature lovers alike.
Following the renovations, visitors will notice the biggest changes along the Woodland Walk, where a 6-foot-tall purple wizard hat and new lilypad and mushroom sculptures bring new life to the trail. A rebuilt boardwalk now includes hand railings for both adults and children, while the Spider Patio features fresh stamped concrete patterned like the web above. Great Parks has also restored iron fencing and improved drainage throughout the area.
At the Cotswold Overlook, known for its views of the West Fork Mill Creek valley, an aging trellis was replaced and new decorative concrete added to improve accessibility and preserve the area’s English garden feel. The park’s gatehouse entrance also received upgrades, including a new trellis, improved drainage and fresh concrete.
Final work now underway focuses on the Highfield Discovery Garden, where crews are repainting the beloved Discovery Tree and replacing decking, roofing and safety netting. The area will remain closed during construction.
Investing in local green assets
The improvements at Glenwood Gardens reflect Great Parks’ broader effort to expand its regional trail network and improve access to its 22 parks and recreational areas.
Earlier this year, the agency partnered with Metro to complete the first phase of the Glenwood Gardens to Winton Woods Trail, adding a bus stop, crosswalk and sidewalk along Springfield Pike. The next phase, expected to begin later this year, will create an off-road route between the two parks.
Funding for the Glenwood Gardens upgrades includes $906,500 from the Robert R. & Cooper L. Burchenal Foundation and $350,000 from Great Parks’ capital funds, supported by the 0.95-mill levy approved by Hamilton County voters in 2021.
“We appreciate the continued support of Hamilton County residents to make levy funding available for this project, which, in addition to generous philanthropic support, is allowing us to leave a legacy for future generations,” Palmeter said.
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