I've only started one other thread, and I wasn't sure if this belonged in photos or projects, or historic preservation, but since I mostly wanted to share a few photos I took at the open house today, here it is:

 

The Trailside Nature Center was built in 1939 and it is the oldest of the five Cincinnati Parks nature centers.  Thanks to funding by City council and a matching donation by Roberta Schlachter, the building has been completely renovated.  Trailside is the only city nature center located in an urban park (Burnet Woods), rather than being within a nature preserve.  It is the home of the Wolff Planetarium ,the oldest west of the Alleghenies and still the only public planetarium in Cincinnati. 

 

Entry from street

 

Rear elevation with the concrete slide to the left.  Generations of Cincinnatians remember these “cement slides” here and in Alms park.  I think they were WPA projects.

 

If you were going down the slide and turned your head left, you would see this:

 

 

 

 

 

Corner windows, prairie style

 

Windows with same plants on both sides, try to bring outdoors in:

 

The very small, but enjoyable planetarium.  Seeing a show here reminded me of going as a child to the one at the old Natural History Museum on Gilbert:

 

 

Interesting proposed changes to the park:

 

 

I love these old Murdoch bubblers:

 

http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cityparks/pages/-3444-/

 

The lower level has two nice classrooms for nature daycamps, which I highly recommend if you have kids under 12yrs old.

http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cityparks/pages/-4425-/

 

 

 

    My grandfather took me to that slide when I was about 8 years old, and told me that when he was my age he used to ride the slide.

 

    I also remember some black boxes with handholes that one could reach into and feel objects inside without being able to see them. There was a turtle shell and things like that.

 

   

great thread...i'll definitely have to go check this place out sometime

 

My grandfather took me to that slide when I was about 8 years old, and told me that when he was my age he used to ride the slide.

 

I also remember some black boxes with handholes that one could reach into and feel objects inside without being able to see them. There was a turtle shell and things like that.

 

The slide got a coat of paint so it doesn't rip your pants anymore, and the handholes are still there.