The Incredible Hike In Cleveland That Leads To Fascinating Abandoned Depression-Era Structures
By Nikki Rhoades|Published November 20, 2023
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Once upon a time, as the world was recovering from the impact of the Great Depression, the Works Progress Administration (WPA) was founded as a little economic booster. Part of the Second New Deal, this program created jobs for those in need and simultaneously built up the public infrastructure… and this included adding works of art to buildings and amping up parks. In Cleveland, the impact of the WPA is most plainly seen in Garfield Park Reservation and our own Public Library. However, not all WPA projects have been quite so well-maintained. Today, we’re going to lace up our hiking boots and embark on a Cleveland hike that leads to abandoned structures from this era, but be warned… they’ve been reclaimed by Mother Nature and graffiti artists alike.
At first glance, Ambler Park looks like any other in Cleveland.
Lush, beautiful, and wooded, this pretty spark in University Circle has a number of walking paths that run along Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. However, it's a bit bigger than you might initially expect. With 23.2 acres, there's no shortage of space to explore here.
If you've ever heard of Ambler Heights in Cleveland, then you might not be surprised to learn that this local park has a shared history with the neighborhood.
Like many municipal parks, this land was donated to the City of Cleveland. It came from developer Martha B. Ambler. Doan Brook, part of the Dugway Brook Watershed that connects to Lake Erie, carves through the park.
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As you venture through the park, you might notice abandoned brick and concrete structures. It's easy to wonder... what happened here?
As with many local landscapes, the WPA descended on this pretty park to transform it. In the early 1900s, it was quite popular. However, just before they came in, gangs moved into this territory in the 1920s. While other parks, like Garfield Park Reservation, had programs focused around enhancing beauty, this project merely aimed to prevent erosion and offset flooding.
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As concrete and brick were placed around April 1934, local ladies were concerned whether the WPA was protecting the natural beauty of this park.
Historic Cleveland gardener's clubs set out to wage a battle against the work being done in Ambler Park. Throughout the 1930s, these women drew attention to the WPA's "progress" in the park by partnering with writers in local publications like the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Eventually, the Cleveland City Parks Director agreed, and the construction of concrete walls finally halted.
Instead of concrete "prison walls," the WPA continued to build steps and walkways, but the natural setting of the park was preserved.
Babbling brooks were left to babble, birds were free to sing, and chipmunks were left to... do whatever chipmunks do. The eastern end of the park was left untouched, though portions of the western end had already been culverted.
While the park was immensely popular in the early 1900s, and though it had enjoyed its time in the spotlight, many Clevelanders soon forgot about it.
Perhaps University Circle grew too fast and attention quickly shifted to its man-made rather than natural attractions. Perhaps the growth of the Cleveland Metroparks made municipal parks less appealing. Whatever the reason, many nature lovers in Cleveland forgot about this site, and it quietly fell into obscurity.
Today, many forgotten structures in Ambler Park are covered in graffiti. After all, it's a stretch of land in the heart of University Circle... an area heavy in foot traffic and not without its share of crime.
It's hard to imagine that this park, once upon a time, received thousands of visitors each day.
On one Sunday in 1911, circa 10,000 people flooded through the park. Today, you probably won't encounter many others during your hike. While casual walkers sometimes end up in the depths of the park, few people nowadays set out with it in mind as a destination.
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To a degree, it's almost haunting to see what the park has become.
Of course, there's still natural beauty here, and the graffiti has its own sort of beauty. Still, it's incredible to imagine how fervently local ladies fought to prevent this park from becoming a concrete jungle.
And yet, beneath the layer of paint and dirt, there's still quite a bit of history waiting to be uncovered in Ambler Park.
As the park was once exceedingly popular, you'll still find evidence of early visitors. Names are carved into local sandstone and shale, and the evidence of WPA workers is everywhere if you peel back the glamour of age.
Of course, Mother Nature's influence has maintained a natural beauty here, too.
While locals once fought to protect this park, nature never loosened its grip on the area. After a good rain or the seasonal snowmelt, Doan Brook often reveals a little waterfall that cascades over chunked shale.
There's a story waiting to be uncovered at Ambler Park.
Look for Ambler Park between Stokes Blvd. and MLK Jr. Dr. in Cleveland's University Circle.
If you’re craving a Cleveland hike that leads to abandoned structures, then a trip to Ambler Park may be in order. There’s so much to discover in this municipal park, and it hides a story that dates back to the turn of the last century.
While watching local landmarks fall into disrepair can be depressing, there’s always hope. Clevelanders are a dedicated bunch! Learn how the abandoned Sidaway Bridge has since been added to the National Register of Historic Places to visualize what happens when Clevelanders come together.
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