Driving Park
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Driving Park is an urban residential area on the near east side of Columbus, Ohio. It neighbors many notable areas including Livingston Park, Old Oaks Historic District, Bryden Road Historic District and the King-Lincoln Bronzville District, all with the common thread of the notable Livingston Avenue Corridor which was part of one of Columbus' first street car suburbs. Mainly a middle class predominantly African American neighborhood, Driving Park and its surrounding neighborhoods consists of an area of 17,730 residents. The area's boundaries consists of Alum Creek Drive on the east, Parsons Ave to the west, Mooberry Street on the north, and Whittier Street on the south. Further reference places the community directly in between Bexley, Ohio and German Village. Most of its residents have lived in the area for years and is always referred as "the place where grandma lives". The area has a long standing place in the heart of the Columbus African American community.
[edit] History
Driving Park received its name from its historic past as a large equine racing complex for horses and eventually automobiles during 19th century and early 20th century. Columbus residents would travel to Driving Park to enjoy the exciting horse races held there. When automobiles came into fruition during the 1900s the track was converted to allow for auto racing. Its largely flat stretched oval design allowed turn of the century speedsters to set many records at the racetrack. One major event was the world's first 24hr race in 1905.
The precursor community of Driving Park was a small community consisting of employees of the racetrack. During the 1930s the racetrack was abandoned yet the community continued to grow.
[edit] Recent Decades
During the 1950s the interstate 670 and interstate 70 construction projects navigated through and demolished Columbus' predominantly African American neighborhoods to the east. As a result African Americans moved further south. At one point the community was thriving with a theatre and many diverse commercial outlets along Livingston and Whittier Avenues.
During the 1980s the area was plagued by crime with the intersection of Livingston Ave and Fairwood Ave being called "the hottest block in the city" by police in reference to numerous illegal drug related crimes and transactions. It is in the 12th precinct according to Columbus police. The area was at once territory used by an infamous "bloods" gang which dissolved yet several gangs still have a presence in the area. The most criminal of gangs goes by the name FNL Bloods and is currently losing strength thanks to mayor Michael B. Coleman crime stopping initiatives and the Columbus Division of Police. They are one of the most dangerous gangs in the city and are to blame for the sale of drugs in the community. Members are known to wear chains, either on their neck or on their wallet. This is also part of their reference to their moniker "The Chain Gang", and because it consists of other affiliated gangs along Livingston Ave. The other gangs are the 22nd Street Bloods also known as Deuce Deuce, Oakwood Pirus (O.W.P), and the 62 Miller Boy Bloods. Even though the gangs form truces together on occasions, conflicts do come between them.
Although some may say that the area is steeped in criminal activity, the community itself is tame in comparison to other crime rampant communities in Columbus. Most of the crime is gang activity centered around low income apartments units and the area is pretty safe for its middle class residents. There are also historic neighborhoods on the south side of Livingston bordered by Frebis Ave where many middle class families reside. There is also a 19th century mansion on the corner of Livingston and Bedford which was a stop on the Underground Railroad. The area has many beautiful small middle class homes built during the 1940s and more than half have been kept up by the residents. Larger older houses called "foursquares" slang for American Foursquare built during the 1900s or 1930s still remain either as a whole or partitioned as a double. Similar to other areas of Columbus such as Victorian Village and the Short North, this area has many beautiful 19th century homes that were owned by many notable residents. In fact the style of the homes vary to include echoes of German Village to the west part of the neighborhood, Olde Towne East to the north, and Bexley to the east. The truth lies in the construction teams involved in projects in the surrounding areas. The area is often forgotten in reference to it being known as the "ghetto" due to lack of education about the area by surrounding neighborhoods.
Notable Residents
Edward Vernon Rickenbacker - World War I American Fighter Pilot Ace
