Fellows Riverside Gardens

Youngstown, Ohio, United States

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Fellows Riverside Gardens in Youngstown, Ohio, was created through the generosity of Elizabeth A. Fellows, who in 1958 bequeathed her property and funds to Mill Creek MetroParks with the vision of establishing a public garden open to all.

The garden's design was finalized in 1962 by landscape architect John L. Paolano, who preserved the natural rolling landscape and scenic overlooks. Official plantings began in 1963, and over the years, the 12-acre garden has grown into a vibrant space featuring extensive collections of annuals, chrysanthemums, perennials, and tulips, with over 40,000 bulbs blooming each spring.

The rose collection includes formal gardens with hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras, and climbing roses lining perennial borders, alongside labeled trees and woody shrubs such as European beech and rhododendrons. The D.D. and Velma Davis Visitor & Education Center, opened in 2000, offers a horticultural library, garden café, classrooms, a gift shop, and an art gallery hosting horticulture-themed shows.

The gardens host numerous cultural events, educational programs, and seasonal exhibitions like the Pumpkin Walk and Winter Nights, drawing over 400,000 visitors annually to this tranquil and beautifully maintained public oasis.​