May 28, 201411 yr Smale Riverfront Park Early Spring, 2014 Construction Update https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6_7i3r8mmc&list=UUzEyKFTvzIVq1PjPNoyS2vw edit: just realized this video is about 2 months old... my bad
June 20, 201410 yr Smale Riverfront Park Summer 2014 Update!!!! <iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/JhPDIfpIcO4?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
June 20, 201410 yr The "no wading" signs in the fountain look temporary, but they have got to go! They detract from the whole design and atmosphere of the fountain, some signage chiseled into the rock or some brass or other material would look a lot better.
June 20, 201410 yr If you work at the new GE office, how great will it be to walk outside and have lunch in the park by the river. I think the office spaces at the Banks are going to fill up very fast.
June 20, 201410 yr The "no wading" signs in the fountain look temporary, but they have got to go! They detract from the whole design and atmosphere of the fountain, some signage chiseled into the rock or some brass or other material would look a lot better. They were put there because people were in fact wading in that water. Once people start to learn which areas are "spraygrounds" and which areas are just decorative, I bet they will take them down.
June 20, 201410 yr This section of construction looks to be moving along pretty fast, can't wait to start seeing the carousel building and carousel go up. Also definitely like the design of continuing the cascades as you go under to the other side. It totally will be a big draw for people on lunch from the offices at the Banks.
July 15, 201410 yr Smale Riverfront Park receives $2.3M gift for new attraction Erin Caproni - Digital Producer - Cincinnati Business Courier A $2.3 million gift from a local family foundation will help create the Gardner Family Grove and Rose Garden at Smale Riverfront Park. The grove and garden, funded by the James J. and Joan A. Gardner Family Foundation, will be in the park to the west of the Roebling Suspension Bridge and south of Mehring Way. “The establishment of this grove and garden in Smale Riverfront Park is a joyful yet bittersweet occasion for the foundation and for our family,” said Gary Johns, chairman of the foundation and son-in-law of Jim and Joan Gardner. “Jim’s passing in November came at a time when the family was preparing to surprise him with the creation of this grove and the rose garden. This would have meant the world to him.” Cont "It's just fate, as usual, keeping its bargain and screwing us in the fine print..." - John Crichton
July 16, 201410 yr Having worked with Jim and Joan Gardner I can say they were amazing people. Some of the kindest I've ever had the pleasure to meet. Jim's dedication to his roses was quite obvious and it's nice to see this portion of the park will be dedicated to him. Awesome news.
July 18, 201410 yr The Helen & Brian Heekin Family/Chris & Trey Heekin Family / PNC Grow Up Great Adventure Playground, or HBHF/CTHF/PGUGAP for short....SMH...is looking GREAT!
July 18, 201410 yr Is it socially acceptable to play in a playground when you do not have and will not be accompanied by a child? Because that looks like fantastic fun.
July 18, 201410 yr Is it socially acceptable to play in a playground when you do not have and will not be accompanied by a child? Because that looks like fantastic fun. There is actually a sign in Washington Park prohibiting adults who are not accompanied by children from entering the playground area. I imagine that same sign might make an appearance in Smale. I have a photo of it because I found it pretty funny; I also took a few photos with a telephoto lens that line up a few of the dozens of security cameras in that park. It almost makes it look like a modern art piece.
July 18, 201410 yr Is it socially acceptable to play in a playground when you do not have and will not be accompanied by a child? Because that looks like fantastic fun. There is actually a sign in Washington Park prohibiting adults who are not accompanied by children from entering the playground area. I imagine that same sign might make an appearance in Smale. I have a photo of it because I found it pretty funny; I also took a few photos with a telephoto lens that line up a few of the dozens of security cameras in that park. It almost makes it look like a modern art piece. I'd imagine it'd be because of pedophile/creeper reasons.
July 18, 201410 yr But plenty of swingers. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 21, 201410 yr I don't see a single swing in that picture. Swings are kind of out-of-vogue right now for playgrounds. Look at Washington Park. All they have is that weird saucer-swing thing. Kids are still going to have a blast at this place though.
July 21, 201410 yr Oh that comment wasn't actually aimed at the picture of the new playground (which I think looks incredible) but as a joke towards the picture of the bar.
August 13, 201410 yr Carousel installation begins at Smale Park Erin Caproni Digital Producer- Cincinnati Business Courier The first pieces of what will become a carousel at Smale Riverfront Park were installed on Wednesday. Steel pieces for the structure west of the Roebling Suspension Bridge on the north side of Mehring Way were put in place throughout the day. Carol Ann's Carousel and seven other new park features, including a playground, event space, fountains and a rose garden, will open in spring 2015 before the Major League Baseball All-Star Game that will be hosted at Great American Ball Park. http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/08/13/carousel-installation-begins-at-smale-park.html
August 14, 201410 yr Things appear to coming along quite well down at Smale but I have not heard anything about the dock they were hoping to get approved & a grant for... anyone have an update on that? I think it is vital for the water to actually be used for transportation and recreation, making the river in effect part of the park. I was looking forward to a possible kayak rental place as well as the idea of having a functional modern waterway entrance straight to the city grid.
August 14, 201410 yr Anything on a navigable waterway takes forever, they are probably dealing with no fewer than 5-7 state and federal agencies.
August 17, 201410 yr Smale Riverfront Park Construction Update—Late Summer, 2014 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmawkGDZAxE&feature=youtu.be
October 27, 201410 yr I think they should do sand or something ... I know no one will probably swim, but it would give it a beach-like feel. I guess you'd have to prepare for constant rising of the river.
October 27, 201410 yr They're planning on that being a serpentine-wall-esque stepped area which I think will be nice and make that spot a lot more useable.
October 28, 201410 yr The beach idea isn't a bad idea at all. Toronto did it on their old waterfront: http://www.axiomcondos.ca/ "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
October 28, 201410 yr Toronto has several nice "non-swimming beach parks", including <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar_Beach">Sugar Beach</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HTO_Park">HTO</a>. It'd be neat to see something similar that encourage people to come down and relax along the riverfront.
October 28, 201410 yr That non-swimming beach park would be cool and add a unique dimension to the riverfront as opposed to another lawn area. But i wonder are the maintenance costs associated with that type of park high? Because there is no natural tide rising and falling to rinse the sand would it get dirty and full of debris (natural or man made)?
October 28, 201410 yr Probably the same as any playground with sand. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
October 28, 201410 yr Don't forget that the river floods. Any flood that rises up to the sand would wash most of it away and contaminate the remaining sand. Probably not the best idea on a river of that size unless you put it high enough to avoid all but the 100 year floods.
October 28, 201410 yr ^It could be done. It just has to be on the northern side of the park. The sand volleyball courts in Sawyer Point don't seem to have any trouble. I'm assuming the park will go far enough north to get decent elevation, though.
October 28, 201410 yr The river only rises over the flood plain once every 20-40 years. Last time was 1997.
October 28, 201410 yr ^Also, several truckloads of sand isn't the worst thing in the world to have to replace.
October 28, 201410 yr ^Also, several truckloads of sand isn't the worst thing in the world to have to replace. I still prefer the Serpentine Wall type construction because while the river doesn't flood very often, the stage does vary by 20-30 feet in any given year. Some sort of stepped concrete that will look good when the river is down below 25'-0" but won't wash away when it's 45'-0" is the way to go. Though it could work in collaboration with a faux beach so long as it was above at least the 55'-0" stage, which seems to happen every 4 or 5 years.
October 28, 201410 yr I was thinking this would be set up like an infinity pool, with the sand appearing to reach the water when you're on the "beach", but obviously not from other vantage points. You could still have a serpentine wall with at configuration.
October 28, 201410 yr The river only rises over the flood plain once every 20-40 years. Last time was 1997. With the way the weather is these days, that sort of predictability is up in the air. Hard to believe the 20-year anniversary of the 1997 flood is in 2.5 yrs.
November 3, 201410 yr Another new feature is coming to Smale Park, and it’s going to be ‘Big’ Nov 3, 2014, 10:56am EST Erin Caproni Digital Producer- Cincinnati Business Courier Cincinnati's Verdin Co. is creating a foot piano that will open in Smale Riverfront Park this spring. The piano, similar to the one that appeared in Tom Hanks' movie "Big," will be part of the Procter & Gamble Co. Go VibrantScape. That portion of the park will include sound, light, water and movement to create a unique play space. http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2014/11/03/another-new-feature-is-coming-to-smale-park-and-it.html
November 5, 201410 yr The Fall 2014 video update is now up, with bonus footage (and new music!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-xfwLCxDPg
November 5, 201410 yr Thanks Sani! Welcome to UrbanOhio, if I haven't welcomed you yet! I haven't listened to the music yet, but I am afraid because the old music was so awesome.
November 5, 201410 yr Around the 8 minute mark, the video shows how the river bank will gradually slope down to the water... but they don't say what the treatment will be. Grass, sand, cement, brick? Anybody know how that slope will be treated? He says that they want the area to work like a recreational lake, so it should be designed in a way that draws people down to the water. Curious to see how they handle this.
Create an account or sign in to comment