Ohio turned former glass factory into 250-acre park with quarry lakes

What was once an industrial site dominated by a glass factory and a towering smokestack has been transformed into a sprawling public park in Mount Vernon, Ohio. Ariel-Foundation Park, now covering 250 acres, combines remnants of the city’s industrial past with lakes, trails, gardens and an unusual observation tower built around a historic smokestack. The park officially opened on July 4, 2015, after years of work to transform the former industrial property. The Foundation Park Conservancy’s history describes the project as an example of adaptive reuse, preserving elements of the old factory while creating a recreational space for the community.From steel and glass to an industrial landmarkThe land had a long manufacturing history before it became a park.