Gardens and Green Spaces

Vincent Van Gogh said “If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere.” We understand, and so did the original architects of the Circle. Whether you desire a verdant secret garden, a place to sit quietly and gather thoughts, or to connect to history and culture, there is a place to find exactly what you are looking for.

Wade Oval is best described as the campus that houses all of Cleveland’s revered cultural institutions. Envisioned and developed by Jeptha Wade, The Oval has winding walking paths and a large grassy green space with towering shade trees.

Treat yourself to an afternoon at the Cleveland Botanical Garden, a collection of garden landscapes from near and far. Stroll through the familiar - such as an outdoor Woodland Garden with native species of plants and trees - and later find yourself in the far-away environs of Madagascar and Costa Rica.

CircleWalk, a 40-point interpretive program debuted in Spring 2016. Story poles present engaging stories and images that highlight the people, places, and institutions important to University Circle. Pick up a CircleWalk map at the Wade Oval Information Center (across the street from CMNH) or the University Circle Visitor & Circle Living Center on Euclid Avenue. Download the CircleWalk app for iPhone or Android and set off on your own path!

Wade Lagoon is possibly one of the most photographed areas of University Circle; the site of many enchanting wedding proposals. Located just acorss from the original grand entrance to the Cleveland Museum of Art, the path around the lagoon is often in bloom and features sculptures that are part of the Museum’s permanent collection.

Toby’s Plaza is a uniquely crafted urban green space within the shadow of the Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art, a work of art in and of itself. Grab a shady bench, and hear the sights and sounds of Uptown from your own urban oasis.

Lakeview Cemetery offers 285 acres of beautiful grounds with a unique connection to Cleveland’s past. Here, you can visit landmarks such as The Garfield Monument, the final resting place of 20th US President James A. Garfield and his wife Lucretia and Wade Chapel, built to honor Jeptha Wade, which features an interior window by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The structure is on the National Register of Historic Places. Lakeview Cemetery offers guided and self-tours focused on history, horticulture, and genealogy of Cleveland’s first families. Springtime on Daffodil Hill is a must, but the cemetery is breaktakingly beautiful all year through.

The Cleveland Cultural Gardens at Rockefeller Park are a collection of 29 public gardens that pay homage to various cultural groups represented within the Cleveland community. Individual cultural organizations fund-raise, maintain, and hold events at gardens throughout the year, including the popular Opera in the Italian Garden, every July. 2016 is the Centennial Year for the Gardens.