Read on to view the Muckraker’s exclusive photo series accompanying this article.
The Columbus Civic Center’s grounds have taken another toll over the past week as garbage, soiled diapers, and assorted drug paraphernalia continue to litter the area.
In what appears to be a cycle of degradation, the civic center’s grounds seem to be inviting the public to mirror the lack of care given to the grounds by the city. The conditions have caused many Columbusites to think twice about bringing their children to the civic center.
The growing maintenance problem comes as gangs of criminal thugs continue to destroy the lot through “burnout beer parties” on weekend nights, spinning their tires so hot that it has permanently damaged the pavement. The damage has been estimated to cost as much as $1.5 million to repair.
This past week, the City of Columbus had a detail of prison inmates “clean up” the lot and grounds. However, there already appears to be even more trash now present than before the clean-up. There is also a considerable increase in the amount of permanent damage caused by automotive burnouts, as the blackened areas of the pavement have increased in size and become even darker in color, covering the majority of the surface within the several-acre parking lot.
Large amounts of debris are already present throughout the grounds — including soiled diapers, used clothing, automotive parts, broken glass, and drug paraphernalia. All of the debris was highly visible from the main entrance, approach walkways, and monuments of the civic center.
The grounds around the famous “softball children” statues are visibly neglected, leaving the statues covered in grass and weeds. Ironically, the monument’s placard states that “the children represent our future,” though the statues continue to sink further into the ground as they become more forgotten with each passing day.
A soiled pillow sits atop the grime-covered brick surface of the Olympic Legacy Plaza Monument. Piles of partially-decomposed leaves, trash, and broken glass also litter the dedicated paver stones.
Drug paraphernalia is visible directly in front of the building’s main entrance, as well as scattered throughout the entirety of the grounds. Two separate piles of soiled diapers are visible along the building’s approach walk, along with dirty clothing items and other assorted food-related rubbish.
A rusted wheel and damaged tire sit in the dirt right next to the sidewalk to the right of the main entrance. The patterning of the tire’s damage suggests it was dumped there by someone who tore it to shreds while doing burnouts — likely the same burnouts that continue to destroy the civic center’s parking lot.
A pile of coals from a barbecue grill remain dumped in the dirt along the same path along with several half-full beverage containers. The drawer from a cash register was also present, suggesting it was hastily discarded by a thief passing through the lot after committing a crime.
The continued destruction of property, drug use, and crime that occurs on the grounds of the Columbus Civic Center raises questions about the city’s plans to expand offerings without first stopping the destruction. The civic center recently announced it will be constructing a “VIP Lounge” in collaboration with the Columbus Airport to offer high-rolling attendees a first-class experience. It remains to be seen if affluent visitors will feel comfortable attending events at the newly-planned lounge with such wide-spread criminal activity happening on the poorly-maintained grounds.
The following are photos of the Columbus Civic Center’s grounds obtained by the Muckraker on August 28, 2022:
