June 29, 200519 yr jesus christ, who did their renderings. my sister could do better than that. these people need to talk to me.
June 29, 200519 yr ^ Kind of hard when you jumped ship for Chicago. Plus until you show us "your renderings" then I will call your bluff that you couldn't do anything better.
August 13, 200519 yr An update from the 8/10/05 Pulse-Journal: Voice of Freedom Park expanding Fishing, boating, reception hall part of plans Wednesday, August 10, 2005 West Chester and Liberty township residents who travel to places like Sharon Woods in Sharonville to fish, go boating, walk in a park or enjoy a reception hall soon won’t have to leave their own back yard. Those features are among the plans for Ronald Reagan Voice of Freedom Park on Hamilton-Mason Road. Crews broke ground this morning for a boathouse and lodge facility expected to be more than 7,000 square-feet, said Butler County MetroParks Director Mike Muska. The building will be on the southwest side of the 31-acre lake, which currently features a 1.4-mile walking path that opened late last year along its perimeter. ... http://www.pulsejournal.com/hp/content/news/stories/2005/08/10/pj0811VOFupdateWC.html
August 13, 200519 yr Oh calm down, you guys are gonna get your clinton parks and highways after he dies.
August 13, 200519 yr I don't think a good community would tolerate the kinds of activities that would go on in a Clinton park. (Nudge nudge, wink wink)
August 30, 200519 yr New draw for Freedom Park $1.8M boathouse, lodge coming to West Chester This rendering is fugly. The last thing I want to see when I'm on a "lake" is a big ole freaking water tower.
August 30, 200519 yr I drove by there the other day. What a FUGLY place. The only cool thing about that road was the Dented Silo, they tore down that landmark a year ago I think, oh well. http://www.cincinnati.com/local/westchester/Images/dentedsilo.jpg
September 5, 200519 yr Read that headline again. Yeah, right. From the 9/3/05 Hamilton JournalNews: Urban park planned for West Chester Township By Cameron Fullam Cox News Service A community park some are calling West Chester Township’s Fountain Square will be the latest development to help form Union Centre Boulevard into the township’s center. “It will be a place to gather,” said Jose Castrejon, vice president of planning and landscape architecture with McGill Smith Punshon Inc., the company trustees hired Aug. 9 to create a design for the urban park. “It will be some place where you can say, ‘Meet me at the fountain or clock or something else,’ and everyone knows where that is.” http://www.journal-news.com/news/content/news/stories/2005/09/03/HJN0903URBANPARK_s.html
September 6, 200519 yr Yeah, West Chester is soooooooo "urban". Please. I have nothing against WC, but a glorified shopping complex made to look like a downtown, fancy townhouses and an public square hardly make it "urban."
September 7, 200519 yr They need a fountain of a farmer or a row of corn some sort of memorial of days past.
September 7, 200519 yr I'm just thinking out loud here, but can a park itself actually be urban? I've thought it was the surrounding context of development that would classify its urbanity. Either way, people are not going to drive to a park in the middle of sprawling development and high-speed roads to gather or "meet at the clock."
November 22, 200519 yr From the 11/19/05 Enquirer: PHOTO: The Voice of America building in West Chester Township is in need of $1.2 million in repairs. If they are not made, the building may have to be torn down. Trustees must decide what to do. Enquirer file VOA building's fate on line Trustees must decide if $1.2M fix-up cost is worth it By Jennifer Edwards Enquirer staff writer WEST CHESTER TWP. - Leaders must decide soon whether to sink major money into the Voice of America building that was the scene of historic radio broadcasts across the world through several wars. Otherwise, the 61-year-old structure will continue crumbling and might need to be torn down. "This is urgent. We have to put at least $1.2 million into it to keep the building standing or walk away from it," Township Trustee Catherine Stoker said. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051119/NEWS01/511190391/1056/rss02
November 22, 200519 yr This rendering is fugly. The last thing I want to see when I'm on a "lake" is a big ole freaking water tower. LOL, valid point... The only cool thing about that road was the Dented Silo, they tore down that landmark a year ago I think, oh well. Thank god it is gone, what an eye sore.
November 28, 200519 yr I heard it "through the grapevine" that the project to built the reception/convention thingie in the old Mulhauser Barn is on hold because of money. Supposedly the old barn is sitting in pieces and only will last a couple years before it will be unusable.
December 27, 200519 yr From the 12/26/05 Hamilton JournalNews: Work on urban lifestyle complex to begin soon Live, work and play community will showcase downtown WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP — Changes in plans have temporarily stalled retail development at the Streets of West Chester, but the residential addition is moving right along schedule for this “urban living” complex. The final vision for the lifestyle center, east of Interstate 75 off Union Centre Boulevard, includes three more retail buildings south of the existing walkable shopping center to be developed by Continental Real Estate Companies. Although Continental is not committed to any timeline to finish the project, an anchor for the new portion of the Streets was expected in early 2006, said West Chester Township Administrator Judi Boyko. http://www.journal-news.com/news/content/news/stories/2005/12/25/HJN1226streets_s.html
January 14, 200619 yr From the 1/6/06 Enquirer: PHOTO: Construction at the $2.3 million boathouse and lodge due to open in the summer at Ronald Reagan Voice of Freedom Park in West Chester. The boathouse will have rental boats and a lodge with food service. The Enquirer/Tony Jones 'Boathouse summer' likely $2.3M project at Voice of Freedom Park in W. Chester on track By Jennifer Edwards Enquirer staff writer WEST CHESTER TWP. - A $2.3 million boathouse and lodge under construction at Ronald Reagan Voice of Freedom Park should be complete by early summer. The project is the biggest upgrade of the year for MetroParks of Butler County and is expected to significantly increase use of the 178-acre park along Cox Road. The 6,000-square-foot lodge overlooks the park's 30-acre lake and 1.4-mile walking and jogging trail. It features a shop, restrooms and a reception hall for up to 250 people that can be reserved for group events and will be used for park programs, said Mike Muska, MetroParks director. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060106/NEWS01/601060443/1056/rss02
February 19, 200619 yr From the 2/19/06 Enquirer: Dream of national VOA museum still alive BY JENNIFER EDWARDS | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER WEST CHESTER TWP. - Efforts to repair the crumbling Voice of America Building and convert it into a national museum are creeping forward. This week, a volunteer group working to restore the building hired a consultant to attract tourists. Township officials also agreed to spend about $100,000 to replace the boiler and other repairs. The Voice of America building is the last remnant of a once-sprawling antenna field that was used to broadcast U.S. government-sponsored news and editorials in multiple languages to nations all over the world. The West Chester site relayed signals from broadcasters in New York and Washington, D.C., from 1944 to 1994. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060219/NEWS01/602190359/1056/rss02
April 14, 200619 yr From the 4/13/06 Enquirer: 'Green island' to cost $1.5-$2M BY SUE KIESEWETTER | ENQUIRER CONTRIBUTOR WEST CHESTER TWP. - A $1.5 million park will provide an island of green in the central business district, township leaders say. Plans for the Urban Park at Centre Pointe Drive moved forward this week when trustees approved hiring McGill, Smith and Punshon to design the park. Quality Construction Management will oversee the work. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060409/BIZ01/604090313/1076/rss01
April 14, 200619 yr "The benefit of this project is that it will be a reprieve, a (place) that residents, office workers and visitors to the area can go and enjoy lunch on a table, a place to come for a cup of coffee after shopping." Yes, I can see where the Manhattan-like hustle and bustle of West Chester might overwhelm some people and they may need a break and be able to get away from it all. :-D :-D :-D
May 26, 200619 yr From the 5/25/06 Enquirer: Trustee priority is bike path to parks West Chester's Wong urges seeking grants BY JENNIFER EDWARDS | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER WEST CHESTER TWP. - Plans for a $1 million bike path through the township to the Voice of America Park at Cox and Tylersville roads accelerated this week when Trustee Lee Wong pledged to build at least part of it during his term in office. He also announced a public brainstorming session at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday so residents can discuss the project's details. It would cost about $1 million to build a paved, 10-foot-wide bike and walking path connecting Mason with West Chester and Liberty townships. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060525/NEWS01/605250394/1056/rss02
June 2, 200619 yr From the 6/1/06 Enquirer: Fundraisers suggested for trail Would connect VOA Park to Kings Island BY JENNIFER EDWARDS | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER WEST CHESTER TWP. - Thousands of people eventually could walk or bike from Voice of America Park to Paramount's Kings Island - if supporters can come up with $2.4 million. Residents began brainstorming Tuesday night on ways to raise money without increasing taxes for a six-mile bike trail around West Chester's Voice of America Park that also would connect with a path along Tylersville Road in Mason to the amusement park. Their suggestions include holding benefit festivals, rock concerts and triathlons; opening a fund at a local charitable foundation; and asking corporations for donations. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060601/NEWS01/606010383/1056/rss02
July 1, 200618 yr From the 7/1/06 Enquirer: PHOTO: Rick Campbell of West Chester takes a break from building one of the docks near the soon-to-open boathouse in Ronald Reagan Freedom Park. The Enquirer/Tony Jones Reagan Park's major upgrade gets close $2.3 million boathouse and lodge prepare to open in West Chester Township July 14 BY JENNIFER EDWARDS | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER WEST CHESTER TWP. - A $2.3 million boathouse and lodge at Ronald Reagan Voice of Freedom Park doesn't open until July 14. But it's already booking up - including a wedding to be held July 15 at the gazebo. The 8,500-square-foot lodge is the biggest upgrade at the 178-acre park off Cox Road since a 30-acre lake and 1.4-mile walking trail was built. The federal government turned the land over to the county in the mid 1990s. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060701/NEWS01/607010344/1056/rss02
July 2, 200618 yr "There's not a lot of places like this for kids anymore in a safe environment," Perhaps this guy needs to get out more and visit Hamilton County. After you visit Winton Woods and Sharon Woods, to even call VOA a park is laughable.
July 3, 200618 yr The West Chester trustees, Ronald-"The Voice of Freedom"-Reagan, and Bush can all go eat a shit sandwich.
July 3, 200618 yr "There's not a lot of places like this for kids anymore in a safe environment," Perhaps this guy needs to get out more and visit Hamilton County. After you visit Winton Woods and Sharon Woods, to even call VOA a park is laughable. Agree, Sharon Woods is a gem....just a 10 minute drive for most of E. West Chester---The bike trail around the lake is a good deal in the shade, some nice old giant sycamore trees. VOA can't compare, but then I like the natural setting vs. a "contrived" park
July 20, 200618 yr From the 7/17/06 Enquirer: VOA backers seek designation West Chester Twp. effort tries to get building declared historically significant BY JENNIFER EDWARDS | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER WEST CHESTER TWP. - Trustee Catherine Stoker and several residents will travel to Columbus next month to urge that the Voice of America building be declared a place of national historical significance. Such a designation would qualify it for potentially millions in federal grants and funding. Stoker and other volunteers will meet on Aug. 4 with the Ohio Historical Society to get them to recommend to the National Park Service that it be placed on the National Registry of Historical Places. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060717/NEWS01/607170334/1056/rss02
July 20, 200618 yr I hear Reagan one time saved an elementary from a flood with his bare hands! He used his super human strength to lift the school out of the ground and relocated it to higher land... Everything should be renamed after him... Next it will be Carew Tower ----> Reagan Tower!!!
July 27, 200618 yr This thread is somehow about two different parks. Oh, well. VOA Park may have a rescuer Butler Co. agency offers to take over and develop it BY JENNIFER EDWARDS | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER WEST CHESTER TWP. - MetroParks of Butler County has offered to take over West Chester's Voice of America Park and spend about $4 million to develop it. West Chester Township has struggled to improve its parks since voters rejected a 2003 park levy. The township had planned to install soccer fields and baseball fields but lacks the money for the jobs. Meanwhile, MetroParks has just completed a $2.3 million boathouse and lodge at its 186-acre Ronald Reagan Voice of Freedom Park, next to the 300-acre VOA Park. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060727/NEWS01/607270360/1056/rss02
July 28, 200618 yr So there are two? I just knew of the one that was already a MetroPark: http://www.butlercountymetroparks.org/index.cfm?page=voa
August 3, 200618 yr ^ Yeah, there's the Voice of Freedom park, which was named after Reagan and is the MetroPark. Then there's the Voice of America park, which is owned by West Chester Twp. From the 8/2/06 Enquirer: PHOTO: Superintendent Jason Boerger puts a boat into the lake Monday at Ronald Reagan Voice of Freedom Park in West Chester. The 178-acre park includes a 35-acre lake, a walking path, and a full-service boathouse and lodge. The Enquirer / Leigh Patton Reagan Park draws rave reviews Butler County's $4.2 million upgrade includes lake, boathouse and lodge BY JESSICA BROWN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER WEST CHESTER TWP. - The boathouse and lodge are open for business. And they're already drawing crowds. From fishermen to boaters to joggers, Ronald Reagan Voice of Freedom Park in West Chester Township is quickly becoming the crown jewel of Butler County's park system. "This has become our busiest park," said Mike Muska, director of Butler County MetroParks. "It's taking us to an entirely new level of service. I would venture to say this will become our flagship area for the county park district." ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060802/NEWS01/608020370/1056/rss02
August 9, 200618 yr From the 8/8/06 Enquirer: Register listing likely for VOA building THE ENQUIRER WEST CHESTER TWP. - Renovations likely will happen sooner rather than later to restore the Voice of America building into a national museum. Officials said Monday they expect the building to be placed soon on the National Register of Historic Places. That would qualify it for potentially millions in federal grants and funding, including a $700,000 Save America's Treasures grant. The township's parks project coordinator and others pushing to renovate the building were successful Friday in urging the Ohio Historical Society to recommend to the National Park Service that the building be placed on the National Register. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060808/NEWS01/608080352/1056
August 10, 200618 yr From the 8/10/06 Enquirer: $2.5M park plans offered for viewing THE ENQUIRER Check out design drawings for the $2.5 million urban park under construction in West Chester Township later this month during an open house at the township hall, 9113 Cincinnati-Dayton Road. Residents can view renderings from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Aug. 22, followed by a public update for township trustees on the project's progress. The park should be complete in time to hold next summer's annual Union Centre Boulevard Bash, township officials say. Amenities include walkways lined with gaslights, fountains, a bell/clock tower, stage, walking paths and benches. It's designed to become the township's central gathering place. For more information, call the township at (513) 777-5900. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060810/NEWS01/608100396/1056
August 10, 200618 yr "The benefit of this project is that it will be a reprieve, a (place) that residents, office workers and visitors to the area can go and enjoy lunch on a table, a place to come for a cup of coffee after shopping." Yes, I can see where the Manhattan-like hustle and bustle of West Chester might overwhelm some people and they may need a break and be able to get away from it all. :-D :-D :-D Yeah maybe these people need to visit Bryant Park in NYC to see how a park should be created to have that cup of coffee.
August 15, 200618 yr From the 8/14/06 Enquirer: Trustee: Put park plan to vote But others say West Chesterites just want place to play BY JENNIFER EDWARDS | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER WEST CHESTER TWP. - Should the public vote on whether the township should hand over one of its largest parks to MetroParks of Butler County so the largely empty land can be developed into ballfields and other park uses? Trustee Lee Wong thinks so and proposed as much last week. "Let the people decide if they want to deed the land over to the county to develop," he said. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060814/NEWS01/608140348/1056
August 16, 200618 yr I am amazed by all this. They had a square mile -- 640 acres -- donated for a park, and yet they sold off 50 or so for what appears on google maps to be a strip mall. Did proceeds from this land sale go specifically to fund construction of the park? To fund renovation of the VOA building? Meanwhile, the VOA building, whose significance cannot be understated, has been ignominiously encroached upon by this commercial development. Why not sell property along Hamilton-Mason Rd., well away from the building? Or just sell corner lots big enough for gas stations? And is this so-called "Dee Dee West" really just Dee Dee Ramone in hiding? Agreed, without having seen it in person, I'm sure this park is a dud. There do not appear to be any mature trees and the boathouse looks to be taking style cues from surrounding golf communities.
August 16, 200618 yr I drive by it quite often, it is hardly a "park" and more like and empty plot of land with an old VOA building. There isn't even bike paths or sidewalks off Tylersville by the park to bring people there. It isn't surprising because this it is in West Chester we shouldn't have high expecations of these abysmal townships.
August 16, 200618 yr VOA has two parks, the MetroParks and then the baseball/soccer fields. The MetroParks is very nice and the new boathouse is very nice. I was there yesterday afternoon and it was quite busy. Nice trails around the pond, people in paddleboats, and even some remote controlled sailboats were out. There was even a water fountain that had human and dog fountains. Now, the portion owned by West Chester Twp. is crude. This portion of the park shouldn't be considered as a park, but more as a ballpark and open fields. It is nice to not have a lot of trees, so kites and rockets can be flown without getting caught in them. Both Cincinnati and Dayton have great parks and VOA has its niche and is quite enjoyable.
August 21, 200618 yr From the 8/20/06 Enquirer: PHOTO: An artist's rendering of the townhome development called Village at the Streets of West Chester. Provided Townhome project set to get under way BY MIKE BOYER | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER WEST CHESTER - Ryan Homes expects to begin construction in the next month on the first of 75 three- and four-bedroom attached townhomes in the Village at the Streets of West Chester. The roughly 3,000-square-foot units, starting at $319,000, are part of the new residential community taking shape on 32 acres off Allen Road east of the Streets of West Chester shopping area at Interstate 75 and Union Centre Boulevard. The project includes condominiums by a separate developer, the Village at the Streets of West Chester LLC. E-mail [email protected] http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060820/BIZ01/608200308/1076/rss01
August 21, 200618 yr ^^ Those look like 75% of the new development happening in the DC metro. I can't say I dislike the elevations, but it's hard to judge the whole project without seeing plans.
August 25, 200618 yr Ooh!!! A clock tower! And an access road! Please pinch me--I'm dreaming! From the 8/24/06 Pulse-Journal: Clock tower planned for Union Centre Boulevard park Wednesday, August 23, 2006 By Cameron Fullam Staff Writer An 80-foot clock tower with bells and a pedestrian archway will be the focal point of an urban park off Union Centre Boulevard. West Chester Twp. trustees approved the design of the tower Tuesday, which will serve as the inspiration for the rest of the park, said architect Jose Castrejon of McGill Smith Punshon. Contact this reporter at (513) 755-5127 or [email protected]. http://www.pulsejournal.com/news/content/news/stories/2006/08/23/pj082406park.html
August 25, 200618 yr Wow...a clock tower!! How original, its not like any other community across the nation has tried to use a clock-tower as a community landmark before....oh wait...... Great effort though, I've got another original idea for WC...put in landscaped medians....this hasn't been done before, but I believe that these landscaped medians just may add a neat element to the landscape, not to mention how unique and special it will make WC. Oh and while you're at it, put in some brick paver cross-walks (if you have any cross-walks).
August 25, 200618 yr >Yeah maybe these people need to visit Bryant Park in NYC to see how a park should be created to have that cup of coffee. Actually there are a pair of pretty large and popular bars overlooking Bryant Park on the back steps of the library. I can't imagine West Chester allowing a bar to be built in its park.
August 25, 200618 yr From the 8/24/06 Enquirer: MetroParks to get VOA Park land Soccer, other fields could draw tournaments BY JENNIFER EDWARDS | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER WEST CHESTER TWP. - About half of the township's 330-acre Voice of America Park likely will be turned over to MetroParks of Butler County for development into soccer and other fields. Trustees Tuesday directed Administrator Judi Boyko to hammer out an agreement with MetroParks over the next several weeks. The township will then hold public meetings on the measure before finalizing it. ... http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060824/NEWS01/608240384/1056
August 31, 200618 yr From the 8/30/06 Enquirer: Multimedia Map: Proposed library site (PDF) Library relocation idea causes a stir BY JENNIFER EDWARDS | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER WEST CHESTER TWP. - A group of residents who oppose moving the township library to the Union Centre area could launch a referendum to halt the project. Led by West Chester resident Jim Hayes, the group of about 14 people asked more than 400 library patrons Saturday whether they wanted it to move to Union Centre. http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060830/NEWS01/608300360/1056
September 4, 200618 yr From the 9/3/06 Enquirer: CONSTRUCTION TO START THIS WEEK ON POINTE WEST CHESTER - Construction is expected to start this week on the Pointe at Union Centre, a $12 million office-warehouse building on 16 acres at Muhlhauser Road and International Boulevard, just south of the growing Union Centre interchange off Interstate 75. The 146,800-square-foot tilt-up concrete building is being developed by RGW Development and built by Design Build Solutions of Blue Ash. Developer Rob Wildermuth said the first tenant is Buckeye Distributing, supplier of the Red Bull energy drink, which will lease 20,000 square feet. Wildermuth said the building fronting on Muhlhauser is targeted for businesses that need a combination of customer visibility and warehouse area. Mike Boyer http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060903/BIZ01/609030343/1076/rss01
September 12, 200618 yr Well its good to see that other county seats, other than Cincinnati, get the shaft. Butler County throws all their crap organizations in the City of Hamilton (jails, social services, low-income housing). But now, when it comes to selecting a site for the Butler County Visitors Bureau (something desirable) they go ahead and put it in West Chester. IDK, but if you ask me I think it is crap...if you're going to locate all of your gov't services/organizations in one area then it has to work for both the desirable and undesirable. Its unfair to pick and choose....IMO County visitors bureau picks West Chester as new home Hamilton Journal News Chris Dumond September 12, 2006 WEST CHESTER TWP. - Nearly a year into its existence, the Butler County Convention and Visitors Bureau has chosen to call West Chester Twp. home. It is a decision that has ruffled some feathers in Hamilton — the county seat — where Mayor Don Ryan offered office space with free rent and utilities. Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2186 or [email protected] http://www.journal-news.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/09/11/hjn091206cvbhamilton.html
September 12, 200618 yr Why don't they just move the county seat to WEST CHESTER TOWNSHIP? You know they'd like to. Hamilton is sooooo 20th Century. :(
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