| Washington Park Reserve | |
|---|---|
Washington Park, Cincinnati, Ohio |
|
| Type | Public |
| Location | 1230 Elm Street, Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Created | 1855 |
| Operated by | Cincinnati Park Board |
Washington Park is bounded by West 12th, Race and Elm Streets in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. The park is owned and operated by the Cincinnati Park Board. The nearly six acre park was a Presbyterian cemetery before it was acquired by the city in 1855. The park has an old-fashioned bandstand and many trees. Several American Civil War cannons and busts of Civil War heroes Frederick Hecker and Colonel Robert Latimer McCook, who commanded the German 9th Ohio Infantry (Die Neuner) are in the park. There is also a bronze tablet (1931) given by Sons and Daughters of the (Die Neuner) 9th O.V.I.
The Centennial Exposition of the Ohio Valley and Central States was held here in 1888 with great success. It was, in addition to the celebration of Ohio's remarkable progress, designed to celebrate the settlement of the Northwest Territory.[1]
The park stands in the shadow of the Cincinnati Music Hall and the now-demolished Washington Park School was at its north end. A new School for Creative and Performing Arts is across Twelfth Street at its south end.
Cincinnati Park Board and nonprofit 3CDC are starting renovations for Washington Park in August. The renovations are estimated to cost $46 million. This includes expansion of the park from 6 acres (24,000 m2) to 8 acres (32,000 m2) and construction of a parking garage beneath it for up to 450 cars. In a similar renovation of Fountain Square, 3CDC used profits from parking to pay off loans it took out to develop the project. Construction is expected to take up to 18 months to complete.]
