Could the mods agree upon where certain topic posts should go?  seicer directs CR posts to the beer thread.  Randy posts about CR in the CRP thread anyway.  *brain explodes*

Once the park is completed do you think they'll move riverfest and the fireworks there?

Once the park is completed do you think they'll move riverfest and the fireworks there?

 

I was wondering that myself.  Make the Roebling bridge the center point instead of the Purple People Bridge.

Nope, Newport is a big watching point and there isn't very good watching spots in Covington across from the new park at the moment. It is also easier to do all the bridge stuff with a pedestrian only bridge rather than a historic monument. It actually used to be closer to the Suspension bridge but they moved it around the time of the Bicentennial as I recall.

It wouldn't surprise me if the Suspension Bridge becomes pedestrian-only at some point, if the weight restrictions keep becoming more strict.

 

Covington has a great riverfront, but they haven't done much to develop it. A big flood wall blocks the riverfront west of the bridge. East of the bridge, the riverfront in the Licking historic district is in surprisingly bad shape.

A correct history of this event doesn't exist.  I remember watching it from the scrap yard that became Bicentennial Commons around 1984, and the fireworks were straight ahead as well as to the right, in front of the Serpentine Wall, because they had two barges.  Dave, the period you're referring to might have been when the Central Bridge was demolished.  There was a gap for 1 or 2 years. 

 

This year was apparently another one-barge rip-off. If they ever go back to two barges, moving one barge to the Licking side of the Taylor-Southgate instead of the Big Mac side of the L&N would allow them to open up the upper deck of the baseball stadium for the show.  They could probably charge a small admission, make money off vendors, and they'd have bathrooms obviously. 

That is possible. I know we used to watch from Covington and we were able to stand a couple streets downriver from the Licking River, but in later years we had to move to the corner by the Licking because they were more focused on the Serpentine Wall/Newport area. Covington's problem to the west is the IRS buildings and their flood wall which is even more unfriendly than Newport's. I've missed one fireworks ('08) ever.

I know that a few thousand people watch it from Covington's riverfront now, from the Mike Fink's parking lot back up to the first street of old mansions.  It's not a very good viewpoint and the sound delay is comical.

 

Here are some shots from 08, you can see that many people set up camp far from the action:

 

Covington's floodwall is pretty bad... And painting pictures on one side doesn't make it any less of an eyesore. At least Newport's earthen levee can be climbed upon and serve as a good vantage point.

Fund established for riverfront park, public artists named

http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2009/09/fund-established-for-riverfront-park.html

 

Cincinnati City Council has unanimously approved an emergency ordinance establishing a fund to create a future revenue stream for Cincinnati Riverfront Park.

 

Specifically, the new fund allows the Cincinnati Park Board to accept and to appropriate donations, program funds, event funds, lease revenues and common area maintenance income, which could then be used for operations and maintenance, programs and events, and capital replacements.  The ordinance also allows for the balance within the endowment to generate interest income.

 

Groundbreaking the first phase of the 45-acre park was held last September. That phase is expected to include a grand fountain and pools, a glass floor promenade with balconies, a new restaurant, shade trellises and play areas, a visitor's center and a public bike center.

 

Artists named for park monument

The Cincinnati Park Board has also named a team of artists to design a monument honoring the Black Brigade of Cincinnati, the first piece of public art to be commissioned for Cincinnati Riverfront Park.

 

Sculptors John Hebenstreit and Carolyn Manto, writer Tyrone Williams, and graphic designer Erik Brown were selected from more than 40 artists through a request for qualifications (RFQ) process to design the monument, which will be installed south of the new Mehring Way in the park's East Tree Grove over the next 15 months. Park designer Sasaki Associates, Inc. is working with the artist team on an overall site and landscaping plan.

 

Consisting of bronze statues and plaques, interpretive signs, and carved stones, the installation will include the names of all 700 members of the Black Brigade, a group of African-American volunteers who, in 1862, erected barricades in Northern Kentucky to help protect Cincinnati during the Civil War.

 

"This monument will provide a moving tribute to all those who advocated for social justice, freedom and equality in a time of war and upheaval," said Willie Carden, director of Cincinnati Parks. "It is fitting that this monument will be consecrated on the shores of the Ohio River where this historic struggle unfolded, and where the fight for human dignity ultimately prevailed."

Covington's floodwall is pretty bad... And painting pictures on one side doesn't make it any less of an eyesore. At least Newport's earthen levee can be climbed upon and serve as a good vantage point.

 

Actually, I think the murals look pretty good.  Ideally, you wouldn't need the floodwall, but at least the murals dress it up a little.

Central Riverfront Park update from Dave Prather

By Randy A. Simes, UrbanCincy | December, 14, 2009

http://www.urbancincy.com/2009/12/central-riverfront-park-update-from.html

 

Central Riverfront Park (CRP) project manager Dave Prather gives an update on the progress being made on phase 1 of the new 45-acre park that will become Cincinnati's new front yard.

 

According to park officials, phase 1 of the CRP will include the new Moerlein Lager House restaurant and brewery as well as a plaza of water jets with cascades of water that drop to pools along Mehring Way. There will be a grand stairway with landings at water-filled basins, a glass-floored walkway above a lower level loggia, a shade trellis, informational and interpretive displays, and public restrooms. Also part of the design is an event lawn and stage, a promenade, and within a tree grove, a monument to the Black Brigade, a floral garden and a labyrinth. The park will also feature a bike center and welcome center, and a section of the Ohio River Bike Trail. Phase 1 is targeted to open by the end of April, 2011.

 

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

great update.  but man does that music make me laugh.  very americana or something. 

Sounds like music from a porn flick!

i love americana porn flicks! they're so wholesomely dirty!

Oh god where could we go with this...

 

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

 

 

 

sherman, what kind of porn do you watch?  That in no way sounds like porn music. 

sherman, what kind of porn do you watch?  That in no way sounds like porn music.

 

Ditto...it sounds more like the background music to a 1980's workplace safety video.

sherman, what kind of porn do you watch?  That in no way sounds like porn music. 

 

I really don't think you guys want to hear the answer to that question.

I think they recycled the soundtrack for the Park Board's Kodachrome slide show presentation on Bicentennial Commons at Sawyer Point (circa 1976)

LOL about the porn music - I could hardly pay attention to the update because I was laughing.  Maybe something out the cheesy, 70's era pre-video.  It looks like a youtube link was posted, but DT was the exact movie that came to mind.

You have to understand that the people who put this video together probably aren't "hip" with todays cool music lol.  But, the progress is amazing.  It's good to see them pinpoint where things are going.  I think that Lager house and bike center are going to be major draws. 

A video describing the new Black Brigade Monument—the first piece of public art to be installed in the new Cincinnati Riverfront Park —has now been posted online. (Cincinnati's Black Brigade helped erect the fortifications that prevented a Confederate attack here the Civil War.)

YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009, 11:50am EST

Rhodes halts Hamilton County spending on riverfront

Business Courier of Cincinnati

 

Hamilton County Auditor Dusty Rhodes has refused to pay more than $473,000 in bills from the county’s special counsel for riverfront development, saying the project fund from which payments were supposed to made is empty.

 

“There are insufficient funds to make payment,” Rhodes wrote in a Dec. 15 letter to the board of Hamilton County Commissioners. “Inasmuch as you or your staff has approved these bills for payment when might you anticipate available funding to allow payment to be made?”

 

http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/12/14/daily31.html

 

I am sure this isnt striking up any confidence with the developers for the banks or riverfront park.  I hope this doesnt turn into a mess like up in Kenwood!

sheady, when you post, please clean up the article of any extras that copy/paste produces. Thanks!

 

As for the Hamilton County issue, this is not good. Not only have our stadiums failed because the county can't figure out a damn way to pay for it, but they now want smokers to pick up the tab!

My bad

 

sheady, when you post, please clean up the article of any extras that copy/paste produces. Thanks!

 

As for the Hamilton County issue, this is not good. Not only have our stadiums failed because the county can't figure out a damn way to pay for it, but they now want smokers to pick up the tab!

Dusty is just doing his job and doing a great job as a watch dog against un-accounted for spending.  I am glad he is standing up to the do it now, pay later mentality and not letting the county go into a further hole.  That being said, the bills need to get paid and the work needs to progress, and it is up to the Commissioners to figure out where the money comes from.

Only one year now.

Dusty is just doing his job and doing a great job as a watch dog against un-accounted for spending.  I am glad he is standing up to the do it now, pay later mentality and not letting the county go into a further hole.  That being said, the bills need to get paid and the work needs to progress, and it is up to the Commissioners to figure out where the money comes from.

 

His timing for doing this now seems to be awfully politically motivated though.

Signs of Hope Along the Riverfront

By Kevin Osborne, CityBeat | December 30, 2009

 

After years of planning, the initial work to build the city’s Central Riverfront Park has begun. Envisioned as the Queen City’s version of Chicago’s Grant Park, it will be the primary place along the river where people can gather for festivals, concerts, to eat, play or just hang out and soak up some sun in a spectacular setting.

 

Unlike the fancy new Bengals’ and Reds’ stadiums, you won’t have to ante up a stack of cash to get inside. Depending on how plans are finalized, many of us might not be able to afford the apartments or shops that will fill The Banks. Despite the use of hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars, many people will never see a direct benefit from those projects.

 

But the park will be a truly public space that’s open and available to all: young and old, rich and poor.  The first phase of the 45-acre park is scheduled for completion in late April 2011, but passersby will be able to see signs of progress at the site throughout the coming year, according to project manager Dave Prather.

 

Read full article here:

http://www.citybeat.com/cincinnati/article-19659-signs-of-hope-along-the-riverfront.html

 

Despite the use of hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars, many people will never see a direct benefit from those projects.

 

 

Whatever.  That development helps the entire city with additional tax revenue, etc.  Who cares about "direct" benefit.

CRP is really exciting!

 

Despite the use of hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars, many people will never see a direct benefit from those projects.

 

 

Whatever. That development helps the entire city with additional tax revenue, etc. Who cares about "direct" benefit.

 

The City Beat article is very negative about that.  I have a hard time believing that no one will be able to afford the shops and restaurants there.

City Beat is usually negative. 

 

Well CityBeat is generally anti-corporation/big business...and The Banks development reeks of big business money and interests.

reeks?

^Yes, thanks for the correction.

I doubt CRP extends this far eastward, but is there a plan for the area around Taylor-Southgate bridge/US Bank arena?

 

from http://www.civicimages.com/cincinnati-ohio/cincinnati-84-downtown/

That's the public landing! No doubt it needs to be spiced up a bit but it will most definitely remain the place for the public to launch out to a day of riverin

Public Landing is surely reserved for that purpose in the city or county charters.  Public landings were required by land purchases in order to avoid the situation that occurred in London, where private companies controlled Thames River warfage.  There was the very real specter that those who were awarded purchases would keep all of the riverfront property in a particular area for themselves, then requiring an outrageous fee to use it.  It's one of the distinct ways in which what became the United States learned from the old country and improved upon it. 

My personal hope has always been that US Bank Arena is some day demolished and that space is used to join Bicentennial Commons/Sawyer Point with CRP, build a real marina, or some sort of small scale development.

 

http://www.crpark.org/park_planning.htm

Ditto.  US Bank Arena is heinous.

 

Thanks for the background jmecklenborg

I doubt CRP extends this far eastward, but is there a plan for the area around Taylor-Southgate bridge/US Bank arena?

 

from http://www.civicimages.com/cincinnati-ohio/cincinnati-84-downtown/

 

I suggested that they put a large Paddle Wheel themed Ferris Wheel just to the left of the national steamboat memorial.

The historic Public Landing from the Library's Cincinnati Memory collection:

^I am surprised you're not stumping for a Rutherford B. Hayes monument.

^I've said it before and I'll say it again... that would be awesome.

Rutherford B Hayes was from Fremont, Ohio... what's his connection to Cincinnati?

Rutherford B Hayes was from Fremont, Ohio... what's his connection to Cincinnati?

 

I know he was a member of the Cincinnati Athletic Club

He lived in Cincinnati between serving in the Civil War and becoming President.  BallHatGuy did an excellent write up on him last year on his blog, queencitysurvey.

I doubt CRP extends this far eastward, but is there a plan for the area around Taylor-Southgate bridge/US Bank arena?

 

This area is very tricky.  It is not exactly part of the new CRP, but Cincinnati Park officials envision the CRP being connected somehow with the existing stretch of riverfront parks to the east.  I specifically asked a Park Board official about this almost two years ago and at that time he said that the Park Board is still looking in to how they'll connect the CRP with those parks to the east so that there is a continuous pathway.

 

Keep in mind that the Ohio River Trail is planned to run all the way to the CRP and is one of the primary reasons why the new park has the bicycle facility that will include covered parking, lockers, showers and repair facilities.  This could foreseeably be done by taking bicyclists along 2nd Street, then down to the bicycle facility a block and a half south, or they could have bicyclists more naturally work that way south at a point further east and run them along the river directly to the new bicycle facility.