It’s a common misconception that big cities are void of natural spaces and outdoorsy activities. In a place as bustling as Cleveland, many would expect to encounter a mere concrete jungle… what they’ll discover, however, is an incredible array of parks and natural spaces hidden amongst a bustling cityscape. One of the loveliest outdoor escapes is hidden in University Circle, and locals are always more than willing to share their hidden beauty with visitors.

Welcome to Wade Lagoon, one of Cleveland's loveliest hidden surprises.
Erik Drost/Flickr
The land was once owned by Jeptha Wade, founder of The Western Union Telegraph Company and President of Lake View Cemetery, but today it is a public park.
Daderot/Wikimedia Commons
The park is bordered by Euclid Avenue and Rockefeller Park, and it is truly magical in every season.
Erik Drost/Flickr
The park serves as a backdrop for prestigious institutions like the Cleveland Botanical Garden, the Cleveland Museum of Natural History, and the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Erik Drost/Flickr
The entire campus of Wade Park is a work of art, though many of the art museum's exhibits seem to have spilled across its expanse to create the Wade Park Fine Arts Garden.
Erik Drost/Flickr

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This enchanting hidden gem is truly the cultural heart of Cleveland's East Side...
Erik Drost/Flickr
...And so many have fallen in love with the landscape of Wade Park.
Erik Drost/Flickr
In the summer, the area is particularly abuzz with festivity during Wade Oval Wednesdays, a collection of community-oriented activities you won't want to miss.
Erik Drost/Flickr
This lagoon glimmers like a sapphire on warm and sunny days, urging locals and visitors alike to get lost in the wonder of University Circle.
Erik Drost/Flickr
There is so much history contained in this one charming spot, and the park's campus borders some of the most prestigious institutions in The Land.
Erik Drost/Flickr
When will you experience this incomparable splendor?
Erik Drost/Flickr

Wade Lagoon may be an unexpected surprise in such a bustling city, but locals cherish and celebrate it with a fervor. Have you ever visited the grounds of the lagoon?

For more on Jeptha Wade, visit his gorgeous Tiffany Glass chapel.

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