January 2015 vs. June 2016

Awesome shots, Travis. That is a stunning transformation and you captured it perfectly.

^^Yes, nice shots.

 

It will be great to see it again in a couple years once blocks of the Banks next to the park are further filled in.

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2016/09/15/cincys-marina-plan-expands-heres-why/90412044/

 

Cincinnati police and fire boats will find a home at the future marina along the Ohio River.

 

The Cincinnati Board of Park Commissioners agreed Thursday to expand the dock at the estimated $3.6 million marina, as long as the departments agree to pay all of the extra costs associated with the expansion.

 

I like that addition to the dock. That ensures activity at most times even if people aren't out boating which will add to the visual interest of walking along the water. I approve.

^Agreed! This is good all around, and will help save some money by not needing to build/maintain separate facilities. Coordination between public entities, FTW!

Bill authorizes millions for Smale Park

Dec 13, 2016, 7:05am EST

 

 

Both chambers of Congress approved a water infrastructure bill that includes $15 million of federal funds to continue the development of the John G. and Phyllis W. Smale Riverfront Park, the Enquirer reports. President Barack Obama must sign the bill before it becomes law.

 

The bill authorizes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to study the feasibility of new "flood risk reduction, ecosystem restoration and recreation components" at the downtown park along the Ohio River. If the results are favorable, the Army Corps and Cincinnati Park Board could become partners to complete $30 million of park improvements.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/12/13/bill-authorizes-millions-for-smale-park.html

^Just to clarify, it sounds like the federal funds are *matching* funds up to $15 million. So, if local leaders can raise $15m from local/state funds, then we could get an additional $15m from the feds ($30m total). But if we only raise $5m, then the feds only pitch in $5m ($10m total).

 

Whatever funds are raised, I sure hope they find a better use than "a tree lawn atop The Banks parking garage located west of Carol Ann's Carousel". As we've discussed many times before, we need to be pushing for high density uses (office, retail, residential) built on top of those parking garages. It's silly to be pushing for more green space north of Mehring Way.

 

As for the "'hard edge,' or something like the Serpentine Wall, at the riverbank to fend off erosion", that sounds fine. I'd like to see something creative done with the riverbank directly south of Paul Brown. The land is owned by Hamilton County, so perhaps the value of the land could count as a "local contribution" to get the federal funds. It is wasteful to have surface parking along the riverfront when we've spent so many millions on the parking garages at The Banks, which are rarely at capacity.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was confused when I read the line about the "tree lawn atop the garage west of the carousel" as well. I have never seen that proposed a green space anywhere else, and having more grass there would be a huge missed opportunity. No reason when there are acres of park space to the south and east.

 

I too have long thought that the parking lot directly south of PBS could/should be developed. It also seemed to make sense to have some sort of for-sale residential there as it is a quieter part of downtown but still in walking distance. (Not sure if that is possible as it could be in flood zone).

Maybe at the west end of that lot but the site seems too tight for anything other than park. Which I think it should be. Keep the development north of Mehring.

The "tree lawn atop the garage west of the carousel" will basically mirror the other side where Moerlein has their grass area.  That area on both sides is considered part of the park and not part of the banks so you're not going to see any buildings there. 

 

 

Also I would rather they keep that surface lot across from Paul Brown then increase the size of the park.  There will be virtually no tailgating lots left when the banks is complete and there is already a giant park next to it.  I doubt you're going to be able to use that area for anything else since it is in the flood zone so I'd rather it stay a lot then become more green space. 

There's a massive white tent set up on the big lawn west of the Roebling. No public events have been publicized for Smale, so I assume it's for a private event. I recall Kroger doing a huge event at Washington Park a year or two ago where they reserved the entire park. I wonder if this is a similar event.

Today the Cincinnati Parks Foundation is hosting one of their largest fundraising events of the year. I assume that is what the tent is for.

 

http://cincinnatiparksfoundation.org/events/hats-off-luncheon/

 

^that makes sense. Thanks for finding that info about the event.

Looks like there was a RFP out for the new boat dock.

 

"The City of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Park Board, (“Park Board”) is issuing a Request for Proposals RFP718PARKMGTDOCK pursuant to Cincinnati Municipal Code Section 321-51 Proposals; Competitive for Supplies and Services from parties (“Offerors”) to provide Transient Boat Harbor Management Services at Smale Riverfront Park."

 

"One of the new features planned for SRP is a transient boat harbor that is expected to open in June, 2020"

 

https://data.cincinnati-oh.gov/Fiscal-Sustainability-Strategic-Investment/Business-Opportunities-5-10-2018-to-Present/b397-t996/data

21 minutes ago, tonyt3524 said:

Looks like there was a RFP out for the new boat dock.

 

"The City of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Park Board, (“Park Board”) is issuing a Request for Proposals RFP718PARKMGTDOCK pursuant to Cincinnati Municipal Code Section 321-51 Proposals; Competitive for Supplies and Services from parties (“Offerors”) to provide Transient Boat Harbor Management Services at Smale Riverfront Park."

 

"One of the new features planned for SRP is a transient boat harbor that is expected to open in June, 2020"

 

https://data.cincinnati-oh.gov/Fiscal-Sustainability-Strategic-Investment/Business-Opportunities-5-10-2018-to-Present/b397-t996/data

 

Nice!

 

I wonder how feasible it would be to do a riverfront boardwalk?

We’ll see if this sparks a fresh debate. In the past some didn’t like spending money on it since it is a high end amenity for people who are at least rich enough to afford a boat. But there’s probably an economic development case for it (people docking and spending $) plus the intangible benefits (aesthetics, views of boats coming in you could watch from the swings, maybe a site selection exec could be impressed by a cruise starting from here, etc.) 

Edited July 3, 20195 yr by thebillshark

A dock makes perfect sense IMO. You don't have to be "rich" to own a boat and with the new music venue, Reds, Bengals, Fireworks, and festivals having a place for people to tie up and go to a restaurant on shore would be a good idea. 

I'm a bit worried that the current coming off the Licking creates unpredictable currents.  The river always flows a bit faster in this area anyway because it is significantly narrower than the section just upstream around the wide bend to Coney Island.  

Smale Park statue will be city’s first to honor a woman

 

 

The city of Cincinnati doesn’t currently have a statue that pays tribute to a woman. That’s about to change.

 

The Cincinnati Woman’s City Club is in the midst of creating a sculpture honoring the late Marian Spencer that will be housed in Smale Riverfront Park.

 

A fundraising campaign with a goal of $125,000 launched Tuesday to fund the creation of the sculpture that features Spencer posed with two children along with upkeep for the artwork in perpetuity.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2019/10/16/smale-park-statue-will-be-city-s-first-to-honor-a.html

2 hours ago, ColDayMan said:

The city of Cincinnati doesn’t currently have a statue that pays tribute to a woman.

 

The most famous statue in Cincinnati, by far (The Genius of Water), is a woman.

9 minutes ago, Ram23 said:

 

The most famous statue in Cincinnati, by far (The Genius of Water), is a woman.

 

One or more or all of the Flying Pigs could be female.  

14 hours ago, Ram23 said:

 

The most famous statue in Cincinnati, by far (The Genius of Water), is a woman.

 

That doesn't "pay tribute to a woman," however, since the Genius of Water was never a real person.

 

13 hours ago, jmecklenborg said:

 

One or more or all of the Flying Pigs could be female.  

 

I should hope so; else, how would we get more flying pigs?

Well deserved for Marian Spencer and the civil rights movement. Happy that the city plans to honor her legacy in this way. 

Puzzling move from former City Council member Kevin Flynn:

 

 

The motion did not receive a second and died.

1 hour ago, taestell said:

Puzzling move from former City Council member Kevin Flynn:

 

 

The motion did not receive a second and died.

That does seem like a bizarre move. Maybe he’s assuming their budget is going to get majorly reduced next year and is thinking their depleted resources will be needed just to manage existing parks?

The construction of the music venue is well underway, and the park space adjacent to the venue is the venue's outdoor lawn. So if you cancel the park space, the music venue becomes an indoor-only music venue.

Park board rejects attempt to scuttle park portion of riverfront music venue

 

 

Plans to construct a park adjacent to the Andrew J. Brady Icon Music Center continue to progress, after park board members rejected an attempt to scuttle the project Thursday.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2020/04/16/park-board-rejects-attempt-to-scuttle-park-portion.html

Overall, I think the design of Smale has proven extremely successful. Each year it looks better and better. The one exception, in my opinion, is the treatment of the riverbank directly west of Roebling. It's been five years since this part of the park first opened and they tried initially to plant grass sod all the way to the water line. But the grass never took. The park has plenty of grass elsewhere, so I think they should look for something more durable and resistant to erosion and the variability in river height. The disintegrating erosion control blankets are looking rough. 

 

 

 

Edited August 10, 20204 yr by jwulsin

Isn't the reasoning that this will eventually be more of a wall similar (but much less extensive) to the Serpentine wall that leads down to a dock? I haven't heard anything about that in so long though. Does anyone know if the plan changed? Or why, if it hasn't, it's taking so long?

21 minutes ago, jmicha said:

Isn't the reasoning that this will eventually be more of a wall similar (but much less extensive) to the Serpentine wall that leads down to a dock? I haven't heard anything about that in so long though. Does anyone know if the plan changed? Or why, if it hasn't, it's taking so long?

There were proposals to do something similar along this area. However cost have always been a major factor for not doing it. Plus the additional approvals from the Army Corp of Engineers

22 minutes ago, jmicha said:

Isn't the reasoning that this will eventually be more of a wall similar (but much less extensive) to the Serpentine wall that leads down to a dock? I haven't heard anything about that in so long though. Does anyone know if the plan changed? Or why, if it hasn't, it's taking so long?

At one point in time they were thinking about putting a beach at this point. I know the dock is still in the plans but not really sure what else is in store for the riverfront. 

The dock should be put in the same category as the FWW caps -- something that has been part of the plan for years and years but our political and civic leaders have no intention of actually building.

Wouldn't a beach just get washed away every year with the spring floods?

24 minutes ago, BigDipper 80 said:

Wouldn't a beach just get washed away every year with the spring floods?

 

Yeah, I assume after a few months a "beach" would look like... what it looks like right now. Plus, Pre-COVID I used to walk along that path almost daily and... on a daily basis you see some pretty nasty "stuff" float by.

 

Aside from a wall or something like the serpentine wall, I don't know how else you build something that will last there. The river routinely fluctuates between 25 and 50 feet deep. And on occasion can go significantly higher than that for short periods. Anything below a 50 foot level isn't going to last more than a season unless it's fixed.

Granite block paving like at the public landing might be a decent middle ground option.  It's not as involved as poured concrete walls or steps, but it's more durable than grass.  Not sure if this area is too steep for that. 

1 hour ago, taestell said:

The dock should be put in the same category as the FWW caps -- something that has been part of the plan for years and years but our political and civic leaders have no intention of actually building.

The dock we at least have a grant for and there has been talk of it recently.  The grant from the state got extended for two more years, so I at least think there's a chance it happens.  The caps aren't happening anytime soon.  Certainly not before the banks is actually completed, and who knows when that will happen. 

Four years later...

 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers picks design for Smale Park expansion

 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has selected a preferred design for the expansion of Smale Riverfront Park west of the Roebling Bridge.

 

The project aims primarily to safeguard Smale, Cincinnati’s award-winning 32-acre park at the Banks, from slipping into the Ohio River, which it is currently doing at a rate of several feet per year.

 

The preferred design, spanning 2.6 acres of riverfront between the Roebling Bridge and Paycor Stadium, will extend minimally from the current footprint of the park at ordinary river levels, but it will far expand the amount of recreation space available to the public, satisfying another project goal.

 

More below:

https://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2024/09/25/smale-riverfront-park-expansion-preferred-design.html

 

Has there been any talk about kayak rentals? Even if you own your own kayak (which most people don't), that location will be hard to get a kayak to (assuming you are parking in one of the nearby garages and then walk it there). Would be nice if you could just rent a kayak from there. 

 

Also - any further talks about the proposed transient boat dock? I thought there was some talk about it in the last few years... but I'm forgetting where it stands. 

Edited September 25, 2024Sep 25 by jwulsin

Ground breaking in 2027?  There's not going to be much land left south of the current walking path by then.  

Even if they put in a series of concrete walls and armor rock I can still see this area being scoured out over time during high water and getting filled with sediment and drift.  I do think a kayak access is a good idea in theory however without easy access from vehicles as shown,  it would be easier to launch from public landing or other ramps where the grades are easier and you can pull up close to the water.    What happened to the planned Marina for Smale?

 

 

 Would be nice to have kayak access to the Millcreek south of the concrete channelized section. 

I doubt there’s any plans for a kayak rental. The current in that area can be pretty strong and you’d open yourself up to some liability 

Aside from perhaps the views of downtown (which you can get from land) its an absolute garbage place to kayak anyway. We have the 3 Miami rivers for that and they are wonderful.

plus, if you want to set paddle to see downtown there used to be a great launching place for UC crew teams to practice. located at the mouth Licking River.  I guess it's still in use. 

I would imagine the kayak access will be used more as a stop and pick up or a turn around point for a more skilled kayaker. 11 miles from Armleder, 4 miles from Schmidt, <1 from Licking, 5 miles to Riverside, >5 miles to Villa Hills, 7 milles to Anderson Ferry.

 

On 9/28/2024 at 9:05 PM, anusthemenace said:

its an absolute garbage place to kayak anyway.

 

Hard disagree. Most kayaking trips are through wilderness or protected areas. It is so uncommon to kayak through the center of a city. It's an exciting vantage point to engage with the city. 

I really wish they'd build a transient boat dock. There's a lot of recreational traffic up and down the Ohio River and it would be nice for people to have an option to stop and see the city. Heck. It would be really cool to have a larger dock just so we could have boat tailgates for Bengals games like they have at University of Washington and Tennessee.

On 9/30/2024 at 10:21 AM, Chas Wiederhold said:

Hard disagree. Most kayaking trips are through wilderness or protected areas. It is so uncommon to kayak through the center of a city. It's an exciting vantage point to engage with the city. 

 

Alright maybe not the worst spot but you would have to drop in up north, if you do so at this spot you'll have to fight the current or you'll just immediately start drifting south and away from downtown rather quickly. The Ohio is also just much more dangerous the smaller rivers. I didn't say not to build it but I doubt it will see anywhere near the use that the other rivers do.

4/5/25:

 

 

 

On 4/5/2025 at 8:35 PM, Lazarus said:

4/5/25:

 

 

 

 

Serpentine Wall continues to impress! It's almost like it was designed for a flood event like this!

It's crazy a similar type of wall wasn't included in the original Smale design.  Could have been something that was paid for at much lower cost 10+ years ago.  Instead it now has to be added at a tbd much higher cost before the current parks entrance to the water becomes a complete safety hazard.