Preserving Green Space

It is easy to understand why Washington Park became Cincinnati’s first public park. Over-the-Rhine’s dense population was the primary inspiration for Cincinnati’s Nineteenth Century nickname, “the Paris of the West.” OTR fluctuated between being the most densely populated neighborhood in America and being the second or third, but it remained a very crowded area for decades. At its population peak, OTR was home to over 45,000 people. That averages out to roughly 130 people living on every acre of land. It was common for entire families to live in 500 sq. ft. apartments. Living in such close quarters caused the neighborhood to be home to hundreds of “public houses,” places ranging from living-room saloons to large beer halls. It also increased the importance of the plush green oasis across from Music Hall. Washington Park was the first place that people living in such a compact area could go to experience the tranquility of trees, fountains, and a grass lawn.

OTR’s current population is only about 10% of what it was in 1900, but park space is still important to a pleasant living environment and the neighborhood’s sense of place. The OTR Foundation has been and remains dedicated to assuring the retention, maintenance, and appropriate expansion of our park space. Currently, we are particularly concerned with the future of Sycamore Park, the green-space north of the current School for Creative and Performing Arts. Previously owned by the City, the park was given to Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) several decades ago. During the ownership of both of these political entities, Pendleton residents have spent a great deal of time maintaining and improving the park, doing everything from planting flowers, bushes and ornamental grasses to periodically needing to mow the park during times of inadequate maintenance. CPS promised to turn the sites over to the City of Cincinnati Parks Department in 2003, but then listed the property for sale after making this commitment. When directly asked, representatives of the school district (including the former Superintendant) have subsequently reaffirmed CPS’s intention to turn the properties over to the City for parkland, but continue a pattern of acting contrary to this pledge. Believing that retention of Pendleton’s only park is critical to this part of Over-the-Rhine’s sense of place and community, the OTR Foundation has spearheaded an effort to make sure that CPS honors its promises and that the park is retained by the community.