Does anyone know what types of trees are being planted and where?  I would think since it's a Cincinnati Park it would be out there somewhere and someone would have given some thought to having a mix of trees (native, big, colorful, slow growing, fast growing, etc).

 

A list of trees from not too long ago included: Sugar Maple, Ginko, London Plantree, Shingle Oak, Red Oak, Bald Cypress, American Yellowood, Kentucky Coffee, Thornless Honey Locust, Littleleaf Linden, Japanese Zelkova, Eastern Redbud, Flowing Dogwood, Winter King Hawthorn, Saucer Magnolia, Japanese Pagodatree, and Japanese Tree Lilac

Those are all beautiful trees! With most having long life-spans and providing a large canopy of shade.

Groundbreaking Ceremony today at 2PM today!  Refreshments afterwards in Corbett Tower at Music Hall. 

do they plan on fencing in the park and closing it in the evening?...to keep the riff raff out, yaoming.

The park will not be fenced off at night.  It is planned, however, to replace the iron fencing that used to sit on top of the limestone retaining walls.  Certain areas, like the playground and the dog park will be entirely closed off by fencing, but not the entire park.

Does anyone know what types of trees are being planted and where? I would think since it's a Cincinnati Park it would be out there somewhere and someone would have given some thought to having a mix of trees (native, big, colorful, slow growing, fast growing, etc).

 

A list of trees from not too long ago included: Sugar Maple, Ginko, London Plantree, Shingle Oak, Red Oak, Bald Cypress, American Yellowood, Kentucky Coffee, Thornless Honey Locust, Littleleaf Linden, Japanese Zelkova, Eastern Redbud, Flowing Dogwood, Winter King Hawthorn, Saucer Magnolia, Japanese Pagodatree, and Japanese Tree Lilac

 

Sounds great. Do you have a source? I'd like to know quantities and locations too. Just curious. Thanks

I wont identify my source, other than to say its from the horses mouth (multiple entities involved.  The quantities are numerous and their locations multiple.  Suffice it to say that the quantity and quality of planted trees and landscape areas will not disappoint.  A quick glance and the schematic site plan on 3cdc's website should give a pretty good indication as to where new trees will be planted, but not their species.

I wont identify my source, other than to say its from the horses mouth (multiple entities involved. The quantities are numerous and their locations multiple. Suffice it to say that the quantity and quality of planted trees and landscape areas will not disappoint. A quick glance and the schematic site plan on 3cdc's website should give a pretty good indication as to where new trees will be planted, but not their species.

Thanks. The design is nice and the species are great (I was just wondering if there were going to be like 75 thornless honey locusts and one of each of the rest).

 

Very glad to see a good number of flowering trees.  Hopefully they won't plant any female gingko trees, though the odds of there being a male close enough to fertilize it is slim.  However, the stinky fruit would be a major deterrent to the homeless...

Apparently the ginkgo trees in Oakley Square were all males to begin with too.  It seems that they can turn female if there's no other girl trees around, especially if the nursery wasn't too diligent in selecting their grafting stock.  Supposedly newer varieties don't have this tendency, but I guess we'll have to wait another 60 years or so to find out for sure. 

Why does everyone have so much trouble spelling the word 'ginkgo'?

There are ginkgo trees along Warner Ave in Clifton Heights. I noticed this past summer that there were a few female tree. The fruit smells like rancid vomit.

 

Why does everyone have so much trouble spelling the word 'ginkgo'?

 

Because apparently gingko is an accepted variation in the spelling, much like buses and busses.

Why does everyone have so much trouble spelling the word 'ginkgo'?

 

Because apparently gingko is an accepted variation in the spelling, much like buses and busses.

 

Okay, my bad...I can't help but think it's become an acceptable variation due to people's inability to spell the original, though! :)

Why does everyone have so much trouble spelling the word 'ginkgo'?

 

Because apparently gingko is an accepted variation in the spelling, much like buses and busses.

 

Okay, my bad...I can't help but think it's become an acceptable variation due to people's inability to spell the original, though! :)

 

That wouldn't surprise me. 

I found this on 3CDC's website. It looks like they update it weekly with photos of Washington Park's progress:

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/washingtonpark/

Vine has been a parade of dump trucks lately hauling out the Washington Park dirt.  They're going 30 ft down over a 2 acre area- that is a lot of dirt.  Anyone know where it's going?  Helping to grow Mt. Rumpke?

It's going to Dayton KY. 

It's going to Dayton KY.

What's there? A project? A landfill?

Manhattan Harbour.

I found this on 3CDC's website. It looks like they update it weekly with photos of Washington Park's progress:

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/washingtonpark/

I commented on one of the photos stating that there seemed to be some archaeological evidence (brick walls, pottery, and glass shards) showing in the trenches and wondered if any scientific investigations had been conducted. I also noted that historically part of Washington Park had once been used for human burials. It made me a bit queasy to read the reply that some remains had been recently excavated and re-buried at Spring Grove cemetery. All of that excavated dirt from the site probably had many small treasures and artifacts long buried beneath the ground. Some folks with metal detectors and-or sifters could have probably discovered them but it's all been hauled off now. Wonder what Washington Park looked like before it became a park?

Before construction started they dug up a bunch of remains and had them moved.  The portion that they are digging up for the parking lot is mainly where the school was, and had therefor had major construction occur about 50 years ago.    The area where they dug up the remains is the narrow offshoot from the parking area (mainly under the old washington park school) to the 13th street exit. 

 

That neighborhood around WP and MH was originally home to an insane asylum, a homeless shelter, and an orphanage. Most of the dead were buried in the ground that the park and MH were built on:

 

http://books.google.com/books?id=tTST7UFzncoC&pg=PA76&lpg=PA76&dq=music+hall+remains+construction+skeletons+cincinnati&source=bl&ots=ca_QKrz_LG&sig=iaZaVAQ1kOyIO52dITUo2Kk_FjA&hl=en&ei=MVlYTZmFOIP68AbB-qmXBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=2&ved=0CBkQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=music%20hall%20remains%20construction%20skeletons%20cincinnati&f=false

Thanks for the fascinating info!

Interesting information, thanks for sharing.

 

Gray and Pape architectural firm of OTR did the excavation IIRC.

From the last week or so:

 

 

 

Damn, it's like a meteor strike! 

Wow.  That's serious.

I can't wait for this to be done.  To have a great park a block away...

Good things going on around Washington Park:

 

A Look Inside Saengerhalle

BTW, in my photo above, the excavated area directly in front of Music Hall is the deepest point of excavation. It will slope upward to the east due to the slope of the parking garage decks.

 

Christian Moerlein's new beer a nod to Music Hall's past?

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/blog/2011/04/christian-moerleins-new-beer-a-nod-to.html

^ Considering Music Hall is on the logo and music hall was specifically built for saengerfests (not the symphony or anyone else) i'm not sure why this article put a question mark in their title.

There was an earlier performance hall built in Washington Park known as Saengerfest Hall.  I believe it was where the parking garage is currently being built. 

BTW, in my photo above, the excavated area directly in front of Music Hall is the deepest point of excavation. It will slope upward to the east due to the slope of the parking garage decks.

I don't think so.  The excavated area looks very flat at 30' below sidewalk.

BTW, in my photo above, the excavated area directly in front of Music Hall is the deepest point of excavation. It will slope upward to the east due to the slope of the parking garage decks.

I don't think so.  The excavated area looks very flat at 30' below sidewalk.

 

That's north-south.  It will slope from the west side (in front of Music Hall) up to the east side (where the dump truck is pulling out).

There was an earlier performance hall built in Washington Park known as Saengerfest Hall.  I believe it was where the parking garage is currently being built. 

 

Actually- I'm fairly sure Saengerfest hall was where Music Hall is-  Pretty sure it was torn down and built over immediately.  Saengerfest hall had a tin roof and it's reported that it rained so hard one day you could barely hear the singers.  John Springer then began his campaign to replace the exposition hall style Saengerfest Hall with a proper music hall.  The auditorium in Music Hall is named in Springer's honor.

The revitalization of Music Hall (at a price tag of $100 million) has been delayed by a year:

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110413/ENT03/104140320/Music-Hall-renovation-delayed?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News

 

While I hate to wait, I'm REALLY glad that music hall will be open during the World Choir Games.

Agreed! And while I'd like to see it get done quickly, I'd also like to see it done right, within/under budget, and on time. The delay will allow this to happen more easily.

While I hate to wait, I'm REALLY glad that music hall will be open during the World Choir Games.

 

Totally agree.  It would have been a shame to host such a major event with our premier venue under construction.

Fortunately the Washington Park redevelopment and expansion will be complete in time for the World Choir Games.

Washington Park revamp on schedule despite soggy weather

3:00 PM, Jun. 22, 2011 

 

 

OVER-THE-RHINE - In spite of record rainfall in recent months, the $47 million effort to expand and remake historic Washington Park remains on track, planners say.

 

Since November, work has been under way on the project which calls for a new 450-car underground garage on 14th Street between Race and Elm and expanding the park from 6 to 8 acres.

 

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110622/BIZ01/106230317/Park-revamp-schedule?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Business

I was on 3CDC's website last night looking at the Washington Park section when this caught my eye:

 

"The creation of a parking garage will serve as a catalyst for future development of at least 25 surrounding vacant properties. This project is being undertaken in partnership with the Cincinnati Park Board and the City of Cincinnati"

 

What are these 25 properties identified here? I remember there was some discussion of a new technique 3CDC was using where it was financing people to rennovate individual properties.  Is that correct, and would that be the 25 properties mentioned by 3CDC?

Music Hall plans call for fewer seats, new stage

5:28 AM, Sep. 27, 2011

Written by Janelle Gelfand

 

The plans for the renovation of Music Hall show the main auditorium reduced by up to 1,500 seats, the orchestra seated on a stage that projects nearly 39 feet into space now occupied by seats, and the main lobby as one long expanse without glass doors dividing it.

 

Proposals for changes to Springer Auditorium, which now seats 3,417, were made public in a presentation by Duncan Hazard, architectural partner-in-charge, Monday night in Music Hall’s Ballroom.

 

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20110926/ENT07/109270306/Music-Hall-plans-call-fewer-seats-new-stage?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

I was on 3CDC's website last night looking at the Washington Park section when this caught my eye:

 

"The creation of a parking garage will serve as a catalyst for future development of at least 25 surrounding vacant properties. This project is being undertaken in partnership with the Cincinnati Park Board and the City of Cincinnati"

 

What are these 25 properties identified here? I remember there was some discussion of a new technique 3CDC was using where it was financing people to rennovate individual properties.  Is that correct, and would that be the 25 properties mentioned by 3CDC?

 

It's called "Park Haus" and it's 25 scattered single or two family homes that 3CDC owns and will work directly with the buyer on renovating. 

An update on the Washington Park construction:

Washington Park continues construction

 

By: Jenny Kessler

October 20, 2011 – 9:30 am

 

The 47.3 million dollar renovation currently undergoing Washington Park is progressing at a fantastic clip. Though all the general public normally sees is a green construction fence, make no mistake: improvements are happening, and it is already amazing to see what 3CDC has accomplished since closing the park last year.

 

UrbanCincy had the opportunity to join a private tour of the park with the ArchNATI 2011 week. The updated park includes classic elements of the original greenspace that opened in 1855 – the bandstand is being restored, the original monuments are still intact, and a majority of the old trees stand tall – two of which will be highlighted and decorated in the winter months instead of bringing in a new tree a la Fountain Square.

 

There are several green features incorporated into the park. “We (3CDC and the Parks Department) wanted to be cutting edge with our sustainable elements of the space,” said Jeff Martin, project manager and the tour guide for the event. “These features will save us money over time, and help the city as well.” Located in four locations of the park are “dry wells” – storage containers for excess rain water that will keep two million gallons of storm runoff out of the MSD system. The public restrooms are spacious and incorporate natural lighting with solar tubes – circular skylights that go through the roof and use reflective metal to bring sunlight into the space. All the new buildings in the park will have green roofs.

New photos of the progress are also posted each Friday. You can really see a lot being accomplished each week.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/washingtonpark

Wow it's already looking so much nicer.

Washington Park fountain will have interactive music feature

2:03 PM, Dec. 7, 2011   

 

 

Soon, Cincinnati will be alive with music not only indoors at Music Hall, but outdoors in Washington Park, right across the street.

 

Visitors to the park, now under redevelopment, will be able to use a new technology that does not exist in a park setting anywhere else in the nation. Scheduled to reopen in June after a $48 million renovation and expansion, the Over-the-Rhine park will offer an interactive mobile application that will allow visitors to select classical music to be played on their hand-held device or broadcast over the park’s sound system. Visitors will even be able to set the tempo for "dancing" water on the park’s new fountain.

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20111207/ENT03/312080032/Washington-Park-fountain-interactive?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE

Crept onto the site through an open fence over Thanksgiving weekend and took these photos.

 

1.

 

2.

 

3.

 

4. Elm Street entrance to the new underground parking garage being built.

 

5. View looking northeast.

 

6. View looking south from the end of Pleasant Street towards the central business district.