Is Deshler Park safe?
Columbus, Ohio · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Deshler Park as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Deshler Park
“Go with care. Deshler Park is a primarily residential South Side neighborhood that is experiencing gradual reinvestment but still contends with above-average rates of property crime and occasional violent incidents nearby. Visitors exploring local spots along Parsons Avenue should remain alert, secure their vehicles, and avoid wandering residential side streets late at night.”
The broader South Side area continues to see targeted city revitalization efforts and streetscape improvements alongside ongoing police patrols addressing localized gun violence and vehicle thefts.
About the area
Deshler Park is a historic, working-class residential enclave located on Columbus's Near South Side, just east of Southern Orchards and Schumacher Place. The neighborhood features a mix of modest early-20th-century single-family homes, leafy residential streets, and proximity to the evolving Parsons Avenue commercial corridor.
- Residential
- Up-and-Coming
- Historic
- Urban Mix
Walking and biking in Deshler Park
Walk score: 58/100 · Bike score: 62/100
Neighborhood streets are fairly flat and bikeable, connecting within a mile west to the Alum Creek Trail and Scioto Trail network; CoGo bike-share stations are available along Parsons Avenue.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Quick access to emerging independent dining, bakeries, and bookstores along South Parsons Avenue
- Close proximity to Nationwide Children's Hospital and downtown Columbus
- Active neighborhood associations working to improve public green spaces and housing stock
Cons
- Violent and property crime rates remain significantly above national and state medians
- Elevated poverty rates and pockets of deferred property maintenance
- Higher risk of vehicle break-ins and package theft on residential streets
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is low within the interior residential blocks of Deshler Park, but sporadic panhandling and unhoused individuals are present along the commercial thoroughfares of Livingston and Parsons Avenues.
What Deshler Park is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Quiet and generally calm as residents commute to work and local service staff begin daily routines.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Moderately active with dog walkers and standard neighborhood traffic; generally fine for daytime walking.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity picks up around local eateries on major avenues, but side streets grow quiet and warrant situational awareness.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Risk increases after dark due to isolated property crime and illicit activity; walking alone late at night is not recommended.
Transit, parking and getting around
Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) operates frequent bus service along Parsons Avenue (Line 8) and Livingston Avenue (Line 1), providing direct routes into Downtown Columbus; there is no local passenger rail service.
Street parking throughout the neighborhood is predominantly free and unmetered with good availability, though meters may apply along busier sections of commercial avenues.
Things to do in Deshler Park
- Take a stroll or play outdoor sports at Deshler Park's neighborhood green space and athletic courts
- Explore the indie bookstore and vegan cafe offerings along nearby South Parsons Avenue
- Take a short drive or bike ride west into historic German Village for world-class dining and brick-lined architecture
Local favorites
- Two Dollar Radio Headquarters · Bookstore & Cafe · 4.8★ (320)Indie publisher-owned bookstore, bar, and vegan cafe hosting readings and community events.
- Comune · Vegetarian Restaurant · 4.7★ (510)Inventive, plant-forward fine dining with natural wines and stylish, minimalist decor.
- Plank's Cafe on Parsons · Pizza Restaurant · 4.3★ (1150)Long-running neighborhood staple famous for sweet-crust Columbus-style thin pizza and casual comfort food.
Scores are safety-driven — recent reported crime and local news plus Census income, poverty, housing, education, household and access data — refreshed nightly. Walk and bike scores are shown separately and do not affect the safety score. A guide, not a guarantee — conditions change street to street.
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