Humans of Schiller Park: Larry Smith

On a cold Saturday morning in Schiller Park, more than 15 people gather to walk together - even in winter, unless the sidewalks are icy or the weather turns dangerous. They chat, welcome newcomers, and then set off on a familiar three-mile or five-mile route.

At the center of it all is Larry Smith.

Larry started the German Village Walking Club in 2015, during one of the harshest winter vortexes Columbus had seen in years. On the very first day, nearly a foot of snow covered the ground. No one showed up. Larry trudged home discouraged, wondering if the idea had been a mistake. His wife gently reminded him that a foot of snow wasn’t exactly ideal walking weather, and she encouraged him not to give up.

He didn’t.

Today, more than 45 people are official members, with many more joining regularly. On Saturday mornings, the group shows up in the cold, in the heat, and in every season in between because the walk has become something more than exercise.

When my fiancé and I joined the group one Saturday, Larry immediately made us feel welcome. That same morning, a new member joined for the first time. He shared that his daughter had encouraged him to come, though he wasn’t sure what to expect and was feeling a little disgruntled.

Larry walked the full three-mile route with him, checking in along the way to make sure he felt comfortable. At the end of the walk, the man came over to me and said simply, “Larry brings people together.” It was his first time meeting him, and yet he already felt part of something.

The care Larry brings to the group doesn’t stop on Saturday mornings. Each week, he puts together a newsletter filled with health tips and community notes. After every walk, the group heads to Winan’s for coffee. One three-year veteran joked that she wasn’t sure whether they were a walking club that drinks coffee, or a coffee club that walks.

Larry sat with us for over an hour, talking about what the club means to him: staying healthy, supporting an urban neighborhood, and, most importantly, building community. As more walkers joined the table, someone asked if Larry had told us about their friend Jim.

Jim loved walking with the group. In 2025, Jim tragically passed away while out on a walk with his closest walking buddy, Maureen. Larry honored Jim in the weekly newsletter with a thoughtful message, emphasizing the importance of walking with friends. As a reflection of the kind of community Larry helped build, the GVWC and other walking groups organized a memorial walk in Jim's honor and raised funds to dedicate both a tree and a brick to him at Blacklick Woods Metro Park.

Soon, Larry will be passing the torch to fellow GVWC walker, Phil, as he moves closer to family. But the walking club will continue, because community is never just about one person.

It’s about showing up.

It’s about welcoming strangers.

It’s about walking together and staying connected long after the walk ends.

That’s what Larry built. And Schiller Park is better for it.