Hills & Dales Park

Lookout tower

Hills & Dales Park was a gift to the city of Dayton back in 1907 and it is still a gift that keeps on giving all these years later. John Patterson, a co-founder of the National Cash Register company believed that exercise, outdoor recreation and education were the keys to good health. He hired the famous Olmsted landscape firm to design the park.

The park has trails for walking or riding, Adirondack style camps offer picnicking shelters at different spots, there is a woodland boardwalk and the beautiful Dogwood pond which has been recently restored has Adirondack style swings to sit and relax by waters edge. A waterfall flows at one end of the pond and is very picturesque.

Lookout Tower seems to be veiled in mystery as to its original year of construction. One suggests it was built by the Olmsted's and another by the WPA in the 30's or 40's. Regardless, it is romantic in appearance and charming. Unfortunately it is boarded up.

Dogwood Pond
 

In the center of the park is a Memorial to John Patterson. It was created by the Italian sculptor Guiseppe Morretti  (1857-1935) out of bronze and granite. The figure of John Patterson astride his horse Spinner is at the top. Apparently he used to love to ride in this very spot. To the sides are figures representative of industry, progress, education and prosperity. The memorial was built in 1928. The memorial overlooks the beautiful pastoral scene of the golf course down the hill.

Patterson Memorial


 

On the hillside just below the tower is "Staged Gates" a wooden sculpture of staggered gates framing the woods by Mary Miss erected in 1979. So there is so much to see and do in this beautiful little jewel of a park. Bring good walking shoes as you can follow the Adirondack trail up the length of the park.