Is Livingston Park safe?
Columbus, Ohio · safety score updated nightly
Be careful — go in daylight and stay on the busier streets.
VibeLoco rates Livingston Park as “Caution”.
Gogo's take on Livingston Park
“Go with care. Daytime visits centered around Livingston Park and the adjacent Nationwide Children's Hospital campus are generally fine due to steady foot traffic and hospital security patrols. However, surrounding residential blocks face elevated property crime and occasional violent incidents, so visitors should stay aware and avoid walking alone after dark.”
Targeted community revitalization through the Healthy Neighborhoods Healthy Families initiative continues to renovate housing stock and improve park safety along the Livingston Avenue corridor.
About the area
Livingston Park is an urban neighborhood on Columbus's Near South Side anchored by its historic park and the massive Nationwide Children's Hospital medical complex. The area reflects an ongoing mix of institutional investment and older residential streets transitioning through revitalization.
- Hospital Corridor
- Urban Transition
- Historic Park
- Developing
Walking and biking in Livingston Park
Walk score: 72/100 · Bike score: 70/100
CoGo Bike Share stations are situated near the hospital campus, connecting to painted bike lanes on Parsons Avenue that lead toward the Scioto Mile and Downtown trail networks.
Reasons to go, and reasons to think twice
Pros
- Visible hospital security patrols and medical campus lighting enhance safety along Livingston Avenue.
- Active public green space featuring a modern community center, playground, and paved walking paths.
- Proximity to emerging dining and craft beverage spots along the revitalizing Parsons Avenue commercial corridor.
Cons
- Above-average property crime rates, particularly vehicle break-ins and theft.
- Higher poverty and residential vacancy levels compared to the Columbus municipal average.
- Pedestrian safety drops significantly off main thoroughfares after nightfall.
Homelessness: Visible homelessness is moderately noticeable along Livingston and Parsons Avenues, with occasional panhandling near convenience stores and major bus stops.
What Livingston Park is like at each time of day
- Morning · 5a – 11a
- Busy and relatively secure as hospital workers, commuters, and park visitors create steady street activity.
- Afternoon · 11a – 5p
- Generally calm around the park and hospital grounds, though standard urban situational awareness is warranted.
- Evening · 5p – 10p
- Activity thins outside of hospital shift changes and local dining hubs; stay along well-lit main corridors.
- Late night · 10p – 5a
- Not recommended for walking, as side streets become isolated and the risk of opportunistic crime rises.
Transit, parking and getting around
The Central Ohio Transit Authority (COTA) provides frequent service via Route 1 along Livingston Avenue and Route 8 along Parsons Avenue, connecting riders to Downtown Columbus in roughly 10 minutes.
Street parking is largely free and available on adjacent residential side streets, while visitors can utilize several paid parking garages along Livingston Avenue for $2 to $5.
Things to do in Livingston Park
- Walk the scenic grounds of Livingston Park, one of the oldest public municipal parks in Columbus.
- Visit the Livingston Community Center for indoor sports, fitness facilities, and neighborhood programs.
- Explore the outdoor public art installations and landscaped plazas around the Nationwide Children's Hospital campus.
Local favorites
- Plank's Cafe on Parsons · Pizza Restaurant · 4.3★ (850)Historic neighborhood staple established in 1939, famous for its distinctively sweet-crust pizza and casual bar vibe.
- Parsons North Brewing Company · Brewery · 4.8★ (380)Community taproom serving varied craft beers with an outdoor patio and rotating local food trucks.
- Mercury Diner · Diner · 4.6★ (310)Retro-modern neighborhood diner serving inventive breakfast plates, smash burgers, and coffee drinks.
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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