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. 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 two sites: the Washington Park School site and the greenspace north of the current School for Creative and Performing Arts. Cincinnati Public Schools promised to turn these sites over to the City of Cincinnati in a 2003 contract, but the contractual language is very vague and CPS listed the properties for sale after making this commitment. Representatives of the school district have subsequently reaffirmed their intention to turn the properties over to the City for parkland, but are taking actions contrary to this pledge, agreeing to lease the property to the City (despite already being contractually bound to deed it over.) The OTR Foundation has spearheaded an effort to make sure that CPS honors its word.

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