Posted June 12, 200520 yr Here are a few pics of the new section of the park. I would guess 1/4 of the park is fenced off and still under construction.
June 12, 200520 yr ^ Ah, yes. That playground wasn't even there the last time I was there. It was just dirt and bulldozers. Fernbank Park will be nice when it's done. Have you seen the master plan?: http://www.saylerpark.org/Fernbank%20Park%20Master%20Plan.pdf
June 12, 200520 yr Wow - that looks like a great suburban park. 12 miles of paved trails, all that river frontage - very nice. Any idea how high the river could rise and still not flood it? If this was taken within the last few weeks, the river would have been at 26/27 feet for these pictures.
June 12, 200520 yr Let's see...the park ranges from 470' above sea level or so around its ends and about 480'-485' near the middle. How high is the river (feet above sea level) during pool stage?
June 12, 200520 yr Here's the USGS Site Map for Cincinnati. It says, "Gage datum 428.88 feet above sea level", which is right in downtown (I believe at the Roebling). I assume that means the river bed, from which the height is measured, which would mean pool stage is about 455' above sea level, and downtown's flood stage of 52' is at 481' above sea level. Looking at topo's of downtown, that sounds about right. There's going to be some drop between downtown and Sayler Park, which is 15 miles downstream, but probably no more than a few feet. The river drops at 7"/mile between Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, and at 3.4"/mile between Cincinnati and Cairo, but much of that drop occurs at dams. How much, I have no idea, but if half the drop is at dams, that would mean only about three feet of difference between the Roebling Bridge and Fernbank Park. Anyway, this means that January's flood, at 57 feet, would have hit between 480' and 485' at Fernbank. Given your elevation info of "the park ranges from 470' above sea level or so around its ends and about 480'-485' near the middle", I guess the answer is yes, it will probably see some water on occasion.
June 12, 200520 yr ^ Yeah, those are just the numbers I got from the CAGIS map. It would be interesting to have a graphic showing what stage of the river would flood what parts of the park. Unfortunately, I'm not interested enough to actually make the map.
June 13, 200520 yr Based on the pdf file, the park is only half done. The pics were taken near Fiddler Overhead and the fenced off area starts at the River Promenade. As for flooding, one of the older buildings(I hope they get rehabbed) did have a "flood ruler"?!? on it's side. It was broken but it indicated at 70 to 75 feet the building would be half under water. I don't know if that helps. I didn't take a pic of it. I was living on the edge today and decided the jump over the caution tape and take a few more pics today. . . . what makes the park worth the visit for me.
June 13, 200520 yr ^That's great - I'm a sucker for river shots. I went out today to a few parks, but didn't venture this far west - just Eden and Alms, then back along Eastern Avenue through town up to Prima Vista and its environs...definitely have to go check this place out in person, though.
May 29, 200619 yr City parks draw visitors Lack of options have many residents driving to Hamilton County BY JESSICA BROWN | ENQUIRER STAFF WRITER Greater Cincinnati suburbs are booming. But their parks are playing catch-up. Butler, Clermont and Warren counties are millions of dollars and years behind Hamilton County when it comes to setting aside land and putting money into park systems, an Enquirer analysis has found. The result: People flocking to outlying counties for new houses and high-performing schools find themselves driving back to Hamilton County to enjoy a day in a really nice park. Many wish they could find better parks closer to home. As summer prompts more people to play in the parks, the differences are striking. Read full article here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060529/NEWS01/605290349/1077
May 29, 200619 yr I really enjoyed reading this article. Hamilton County does have a great park system, and Cincinnati has many wonderful ones also. In the three years since I moved here, going to the park has become a regular activity. The parks where I moved from were like those in the Butler and Warren counties: small and with few activities. Some day the folks who moved to those counties will realize the opportunity that they've squandered in order to save a few dollars a year in taxes.
May 29, 200619 yr What a great article. Hamilton County's parks are a true gem, and the amenities provided make the systems top notch. I personally spent plenty of time at the parks in the system, and given all the other people I see at the parks while there I surely am not alone. Whether it be frisbee golf at Winton Woods, bike running on the Shaker Trace, enjoying the flowers at Krohn Conservatory, or admiring the view at Mt. Echo, there is so much to do that is unrivaled in the suburban counties.
May 29, 200619 yr The one bad thing is that Hamilton County residents pay for these parks that the northern suburban residents just drive their SUV's to in order to enjoy. These residents will never move back to enjoy these parks and give up their 'sense of security'. They will soon develop parks of their own to be proud of and then realize that the cost of living in their 'safe communities' has gotten too high in order to provide the services they desire. Which will then lead to the further sprawl out into the precious farmland of Ohio. :wtf:
May 29, 200619 yr Well, the Hamilton County parks have an admission fee - something like $3/car per season. But yeah, that's pretty nominal.
June 1, 200619 yr The one bad thing is that Hamilton County residents pay for these parks that the northern suburban residents just drive their SUV's to in order to enjoy. Well, to have a superb park system with amazing bike trails, frisbee golf courses, and playgrounds, I'd happily spend $5 a year to keep a good thing going. Add in the fact that for the last two years Hamilton County Residents can get the 5 dollars back via a $5 Gift Certificate, and I think it could be much worse. Plus, nonresidents of the county have to pay the same fee too, and going to the Butler County Metroparks also costs $5 a year.
October 25, 200618 yr Cincy Parks Photo Thread Index: Vol. 1: Piatt Park Vol. 2: Ault Park Vol. 3: International Friendship Park Vol. 4: Bicentenial Commons Vol. 5: Eden Park Vol. 6: Mount Echo Park Vol. 7: Mount Storm Park Vol. 8: Alms Park
March 20, 200718 yr Why the city would want to compete with Clifton restaurants is beyond me. Park plan includes restaurants BY JANE PRENDERGAST | [email protected] A century after the first master plan for Cincinnati parks, designers are marking that 100th anniversary with a new plan – an inches-thick wish list of amenities and policies that sets the tone and direction for all the greenspace throughout the city for decades to come. In the works 18 months, the Centennial Plan will be unveiled Wednesday. Among the ideas:Restaurants; Better amenities. And among the goals for the next generation of parks: increased nature education and better accessibility. Read full article here: http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070319/NEWS01/303190066
March 20, 200718 yr -- Restaurants. Expanding Krohn Conservatory in Eden Park to include, off the back, a restaurant with a roof-top deck; restaurants also would be added at Burnet Woods in Clifton and Cincinnati Riverfront Park downtown at The Banks; Every time I visit Krohn Conservatory, I imagine tunnelling behind the waterfall straight out to a cantilevered overlook on the cliff overlooking the river. If you could have a cup of coffee on a summer evening there, all the more incredible! Honestly though, it seems the park staff has a hard enough time keeping the grass cut, concession stands open and toilets unlocked. They do need a bigger and more reliable budget, I agree.
March 20, 200718 yr Just for reference, here's Mohr37's thread on the 1907 Kessler Plan, with loads of drawings and such... Yeah, Step 1: keep the toilets open. Step 2: run the already existing concession stands. Step 3: maintain the infrastructure, like walkways and playground gear and whatnot...then a wish list makes sense. However, if talking about the possibilities helps get more funding to the parks, that's great. The parks system does a great job, from what I can tell... Not sure I'm all that excited about a rooftop deck off the Conservatory, but eh, that's fine...but Jimmy, if you want coffee at the overlook, it's just a set of stairs away from the Conservatory!
March 20, 200718 yr Here is some more info: Check out the plans Go to the unveiling of the latest draft, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Krohn Conservatory, Eden Park. Log onto www.humannature.com, click on projects. At www.uptownconsortium.org, see parks around Clifton and Avondale that are part of the consortium's redevelopment plans. E-mail planner Steven Schuckman: [email protected]. The first man with a plan A hundred years ago, Cincinnati got its first parks master plan - by George Kessler, a landscape architect who ultimately did 230 projects in 100 cities. Cincinnati had about half a dozen parks then, on fewer than 400 acres. Among the highlights of Kessler's 1907 plan was a system of parkways to link parks. Among them is what is now Central Parkway. It was water then. It was Kessler who suggested turning the waterway into a roadway.
March 20, 200718 yr I noticed the Burnet Woods plan shows parts of MLK between Burnet Woods/EPA and UC having a planted landscape median - similar to the one just further west near Stetson Square and the medical campus. Does anyone know if it will be constructed like this?
April 23, 200718 yr Cincinnati Parks launches wind turbine project April 23, 2007 | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER A wind turbine is helping to supply energy to the Cincinnati Park Board's administration building in Eden Park, the board said Monday. The demonstration project is a residential-size wind turbine in a 120-foot tower on Sinton Avenue, next to the Park Board building, according to a news release. The Bergey WindPower Excel-S wind generator was installed by Athens, Ohio-based Third Sun Solar & Wind Power. Read full article here: http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/04/23/daily4.html
August 13, 200717 yr Cincinnati Park Board adds nearly 60 acres Building Cincinnati, 8/10/07 The Cincinnati Park Board has accepted additional acreage near Mount Airy Forest and near Rawson Woods. The largest donation, from the Hamilton County Park District, includes 55.8 acres in three seperate areas (see map below): * Between Kirby and Glenwood avenues * Off of Colerain Avenue between Bahama and Hawaiian terraces * Off of Colerain Avenue between Hawaiian Terrace and High Forest Lane The City and county park boards cooperated in acquiring Clean Ohio funds with the intent of eventually having the acreage controlled and maintained by the City board. These properties are part of a connected greenway of nature preserves envisioned in the Park Board's Centennial Master Plan. Terms of the deed include a state restriction that it must only be used as greenspace, but that light recreational uses such as trails are acceptable. In the event that the Park Board can no longer maintain them, control would revert to the county park district. Rawson Woods The Cincinnati Park Board also accepted the donation of 1.1 acres near Rawson Woods from Paul Pratt. The site, at the end of Warren Avenue, will not be developed and will have no public access. LABELLED GOOGLE AERIAL MAP: HCPB deeded WINDOWS LIVE BIRD'S EYE VIEW: Rawson Woods (looking west) GOOGLE AERIAL MAP: Rawson Woods http://buildingcincinnati.blogspot.com/2007/08/cincinnati-park-board-adds-nearly-60.html
August 18, 200717 yr ^How did you make that labeled Google Arial Map? Are the outlines pretty accurate? Thanks for the post by the way.
August 19, 200717 yr ^How did you make that labeled Google Arial Map? Are the outlines pretty accurate? Making a labelled map is fairly easy. Just go to Google Maps and click on "My Maps" on the tab to the left of the map. Then click on "Create a New Map" and go from there. You can add points of interest, draw lines, etc. You can create as many maps as you want, but I think you need a Google ID to save them and share them. Getting a Google ID takes about 30 seconds. To answer your other question, the outlines on my map are fairly accurate. They're by no means perfect since they were drawn by hand, but they're pretty close.
August 29, 200717 yr Dogs may get their day downtown August 29, 2007 | CINCINNATI BUSINESS COURIER With its residential population growing, City Manager Milton Dohoney thinks downtown Cincinnati needs a dog park or two. Dohoney said in a news release that he is forming a committee of city staff and community members to explore the feasibility, size and location of one or more downtown dog parks. The committee will include members of organizations like the Cincinnati Kennel Club, SPCA, Downtown Residents Council and Cincinnati Park Board, among others. Read full article here: http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2007/08/27/daily34.html
September 6, 200717 yr Park project unearths much-needed dirt Soil from Kenwood Towne Place to fill soggy fields, save city $200,000 BY CLIFF RADEL | [email protected] About 40,000 tons of donated Hamilton County soil will fill a hole in Evanston, saving Cincinnati at least $200,000 on a project to create an area where kids can play ball and adults take walks. The donation benefits a three-year, $2 million revitalization of Owl's Nest Park. Material excavated from Kenwood Towne Place - future home of a Crate & Barrel storejust east of Kenwood Towne Centre - is heading to the park touching Evanston, East Walnut Hills and O'Bryonville. Thirty thousand cubic yards of soil will fill a hole now occupied by two subpar ball fields on the northern end of the 10.4-acre park. .... When the dirt starts going south to Cincinnati, 100 trucks a day will dump their loads five days a week for five months. The dirt will cover fields that are, in places, 15 feet below street level. They've put a few of the drainage things in, so you can really get a feel for how much dirt they're going to add in - crappy cell phone photo:
September 7, 200717 yr What a great idea to fix this park up with the dirt from Kenwood. Also, this is a good example of regional cooperation!
September 13, 200717 yr So the walkway that connects the Magnolia Garden area with Mirror Lake (I forget the name - some sort of nature trail) - they're paving that, making it wheelchair accessible from the gazebo end and the Magnolia Grove end, and I'm guessing adding steps in where the path currently dips down to the park. I like natural dirt trails, but I do like this idea - that trail was treacherous, and completely inaccessible for a lot of folks...plus it's such a pleasant way to walk to Mirror Lake, as compared with the sidewalk along the winding street, where cars just go zooming past...
September 13, 200717 yr I'd say lots of steps would be necessary if this is the trail I am thinking of.
September 18, 200717 yr I'd say lots of steps would be necessary if this is the trail I am thinking of. Then yeah, it's a different trail than you're thinking of! Here's a gmap of the trail: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1327253
September 23, 200717 yr Reds, CRC may build youth baseball complex at Oskamp Field Building Cincinnati, 9/20/07 Site plan by GBBN Architects The City is considering allowing the Cincinnati Recreation Commission (CRC) to enter into an agreement with the Reds Community Fund to build a youth baseball complex at Oskamp Field in Westwood. An ordinance authorizing the agreement is currently in Council's Education, Health and Recreation Committee. The complex would include four baseball fields, a "Miracle League" field, and a new restroom/concessions facility. The Miracle League field is made of a synthetic rubber surface that increases safety and access for children with disabilites. The $4 million project will be built in two phases. Part of the price tag will fund an endowment for the CRC, which will own and maintain the complex. Construction is expected to begin in October and will be completed by June 30, 2007. The Reds Community Fund has been holding a fundraising effort for the project since last year. The project was designed by GBBN Architects. Close-up of Miracle Field by GBBN Architects WINDOWS LIVE BIRD'S EYE VIEW GOOGLE AERIAL MAP http://buildingcincinnati.blogspot.com/2007/09/reds-crc-may-build-youth-baseball.html
September 24, 200717 yr ^^That will be a nice upgrade. I played many baseball and soccer games there. Will it still be used for soccer?
September 24, 200717 yr Yea, they have football and soccer fields in a greyed out text! This park is always packed. A little reinvestment will go a long way here!
October 8, 200717 yr Council approves of parks master plan Building Cincinnati, 10/5/07 City Council has passed a resolution naming the Cincinnati Parks Centennial Master Plan as its guide for future decisions involving the City's parks. The master plan, which has been in the works for two years, represents a vision of the City's parks and greenspace for the next 20 years. The plan has already been approved by the Cincinnati Park Board. This is the second major piece of parks legislation this year. In June, the City passed an ordinance establishing a new zoning designation for park land which would protect it from being developed without a public hearing. http://www.building-cincinnati.com/2007/10/council-approves-of-parks-master-plan.html
October 11, 200717 yr Park Board may add to California Woods Building Cincinnati, 10/8/07 An ordinance authorizing the Park Board to add acreage to the California Woods Nature Preserve has been passed to the City's Finance Committee. The Park Board is seeking authorization to spend up to $200,000 from its Permanent Improvement Fund to purchase an undisclosed amount and location of acreage that is contiguous with the park. The price of the property is $275,000. To make the purchase, the Park Board plans to combine $184,000 it receives from the fund with $91,000 raised by private sources. The remaining $16,000 from the fund would be used for the demolition of two small structures and a trailhead to access the park's trail system. In the future, this property will have access to the Ohio River Bike Trail and the Little Miami Scenic River Bike Trail and will likely be used as a stopping point.* The California Woods Nature Preserve consists of 113 acres of forest, one acre of prairie, a nature center and miles of trails. The park is located at 5400 Kellogg Avenue. MAP OF CALIFORNIA WOODS (PDF) * Meaning that this property will likely be the strip of land at the northern part of the park, along Kellogg Avenue.
October 27, 200816 yr The Cincinnati Park system has a new website - http://www.cincinnatiparks.com/ - and has a new e-newsletter that you can sign up for if you're interested. You can sign up for that here: http://www.cincinnatiparks.com/email-signup/
November 19, 200816 yr Didn't see a place for this.... Cincinnati Parks has recently completed a master plan for the second century of public parks in Cincinnati. The University of Cincinnati is working with Cincinnati Parks and Uptown Cincinnati to develop specific plans for parks in Uptown. As part of this process, graduate student teams from the College of Business are surveying those who live, work or study in Uptown Cincinnati. The teams have developed an online survey to collect this information. We would really appreciate it if you would complete it by clicking on the online site noted below: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=eWF0QMmd1C9evA6fV2sxiQ_3d_3d The questionnaire will take about ten minutes to complete. Your answers will, of course, be anonymous. Thank you so much for your help!
November 19, 200816 yr Owl's Nest master plan coming to fruition http://www.soapboxmedia.com/devnews/owlsnest1118.aspx With the delivery of thousands of cubic yards of fill dirt to the site, work officially has started on the first phase of the Owl's Nest Park renovation in Evanston and East Walnut Hills. The dirt, which is coming from the Hoff Academic Quad construction site at Xavier University, will bring the former ball field area up to the level of Fairfax Avenue. The site will continue to be filled for the next several weeks, and bids for the first phase of construction will go out in the next few weeks. The Cincinnati Park Board, the Owl's Nest Advisory Council, and neighboring community councils worked together to develop the park's master plan. Steven Schuckman, superintendent of planning and design for Cincinnati Parks, says that the plans for this park fit into a much larger design. "This fits exactly within the new Centennial Master Plan, which calls for improving neighborhood parks and in making improvements which help act as a catalyst for neighborhood investment," he says. The master plan for Owl's Nest includes: An entrance plaza at Fairfax Avenue A nature study area and amphitheatre A continuous pathway system New lighting Improved picnic and seating areas Renovation of the ball fields New half-court basketball areas "Owl's Nest is an important neighborhood park in that it serves both the East Walnut Hills and Evanston communities as well as an adjacent business district," Schuckman says. "At over 10 acres, it's a valuable neighborhood resource and a gathering place to bring together these different neighborhoods in an enhanced park." Funding for the project is coming from the Park Board, the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, the Cincinnati Reds Community Fund, and private donors.
November 22, 200816 yr Yeah, I saw a bunch of dump trucks spreading fill dirt at the ball field on Friday morning, driving to work. Great to see it coming along!
November 22, 200816 yr My mom sent me this survey that was sent out to all UC faculty regarding Burnett Woods. The survey asks basic questions about the park and what services people would want to see, but the interesting part of it is there is a description of five restaurants that people can vote as to which one they would like to open in the park. The survey is closed to me now, so the descriptions of these are purely based on memory: Uptown Live: Theater, music, etc. while you eat. Kind of like a Shadowbox Cabaret type of thing is what I was thinking. Le Jardin: Built into the hillside in Burnett Woods with lots of class. Features a garden that you can actually choose your own vegetables. There will be a lecture series once a month on composting and gardening. Their motto was something like, "everything happens more naturally in this part of the city..." Treehouse Cafe: Built to resemble a treehouse atmosphere, "trendy" first floor bar/lounge, upstairs is the restaurant. It said it would be good for families as well as tourists or young adults. Organic Cafe (something like this?): Interior would look like it was created from Burnett Woods with lots of wood, fireplaces, subdued lighting, etc. Lots of vegetarian dishes, most of the food would be grown locally, there would be a smoothie bar on the first level, out door seating in warmer months. Micro Brews brewed on site, and large wine list. Picnic Place: A small stand where you can grab pre made picnic baskets with blankets to picnic in the park. If any of this info is incorrect, or incomplete, I apologize, but like I said I am going strictly off memory. here is the link, I dont know if it will work as it says the survey is now down, but go ahead and try it anyways. http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=eWF0QMmd1C9evA6fV2sxiQ_3d_3d
November 23, 200816 yr The Mayor and Cincinnati delegation of 50+ people were in China for a park dedication of our sister city, Liuzhou. Cincy's park board help create the park including . . . . . .China's own Suspension Bridge. No comment. :-D Planning for the next 30 years! Laure Quinlivan is blogging about it. http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=PluckPersona&U=9181da252354408cb6251b6b2e176b1f&plckController=PersonaBlog&plckScript=personaScript&plckElementId=personaDest&plckPersonaPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3a9181da252354408cb6251b6b2e176b1fPost%3a9da91166-f557-4944-bb48-b460cce7907f&sid=sitelife.cincinnati.com
November 23, 200816 yr http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=20531&folder_id=3208 Pretty cool website ranking cities park systems. Cincy did pretty well
December 3, 200816 yr Lytle Park plan taking root http://www.urbancincy.com/2008/12/lytle-park-plan-taking-root.html Lytle Park is rich with history and is poised for a face lift. The park sits on the site of the Lytle family homestead that was built back in 1809. The homestead site then became known as Lytle Square and was then owned by the City of Cincinnati in 1905. Lytle Square was then marked to be demolished to make way for the connection of I-71 to Ft. Washington Way. Public protests saved the parkspace and led the creation of what is known to be one of the first uses of air-rights over an expressway in the nation. Lytle Tunnel nows runs underneath this small yet important park in the south-eastern portion of Downtown. The park also boasts an 11-foot statue of Abraham Lincoln that was a gift to the City from the Taft family. The Taft family connections don't end there though as the Taft Museum of Art is located on the eastern edge of the park. The park is now in the process of a master plan that will give the park a new look with new features. A couple new water features are planned, a new stair connection to Lytle Street (GoogleMap), new garden space, new streetscape along 4th, and more open lawn spaces for creative use are some of the key features of the plan. At a November 20th public meeting the plan was "well-received" and no major changes were suggested. No specific timetable, budget or financing has been set for the changes, but the next step is to finalize a master plan with more specifics that will be taken to the Cincinnati Park Board for approval. Preliminary Lytle Park Master Plan (259kb)
December 3, 200816 yr The water wall and event stand/toilets are both good moves, but can't they keep a playground of some sort there? The Anna Louise Inn does house families with kids often, and I think it may be the only public play structure in the CBD.
December 3, 200816 yr I thought there were talks about puting a restaurant in the park? I'm not sure how you could fit a restaurant into Lytle Park. It is quite small and any addition like that would basically take up the entire park. Maybe you're thinking of the earlier conversations about the possibility of a restaurant being added to Burnett Woods.
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