Washington Park (Cincinnati, Ohio) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Washington Park Reserve |
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Washington Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
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| Type | Public |
| Location | 1230 Elm Street, Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati, Ohio |
| Created | 1855 |
| Operated by | Cincinnati Park Board |
Washington Park is a cool public park located in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States. You can find it between West 12th, Race, and Elm Streets. The park is managed by the Cincinnati Park Board, making sure it's a great place for everyone to enjoy.
This park, which is about 6 acres big, has an interesting past. Before it became a park, it was actually used as a burial ground for Presbyterian and Episcopal churches. The city of Cincinnati bought the land between 1858 and 1863 to create the park we see today. Washington Park has a classic bandstand and lots of trees, perfect for relaxing. You can also see cannons from the American Civil War and statues of heroes like Friedrich Hecker and Colonel Robert Latimer McCook. Colonel McCook led a group of German-American soldiers called the 9th Ohio Infantry. There's even a special bronze plaque from 1931, given by the descendants of these brave soldiers.
In 1888, the park hosted a big event called the Centennial Exposition of the Ohio Valley and Central States. This celebration showed off Ohio's progress and marked the settlement of the Northwest Territory.
The park is right next to the famous Cincinnati Music Hall. While an old school used to be at the north end of the park, a new School for Creative and Performing Arts is now across Twelfth Street, at the park's south end.
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Park Improvements: What's New at Washington Park?
The Cincinnati Park Board and a group called 3CDC worked together to give Washington Park a huge makeover. The park was closed for about 18 months for this big project. It officially reopened on Friday, July 6, 2012, with a special ribbon-cutting event and a concert by the Mukunoki Chorus from Gifu, Japan. They were in town for the World Choir Games, which were happening in Cincinnati at the same time.
How Much Did the Renovation Cost?
The park's renovation cost around $46 million. This money helped make the park even bigger, expanding it from 6 acres to 8 acres. They also built an underground parking garage with space for up to 450 cars. This is similar to how Fountain Square was renovated. 3CDC uses the money from parking fees to help pay back the loans they took out for these projects.
Fun Activities and Events at the Park
3CDC is in charge of planning all the cool events at Washington Park. They make sure there's always something fun happening! Since the renovation, the park has hosted many different activities. These include concert series with jazz, R&B, and bluegrass music. You can also catch movie screenings, join yoga classes, or even play in a kickball league. The band Over the Rhine has also performed concerts there.
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Images for kids
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Washington Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
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A view of Music Hall from Washington Park in Cincinnati, Ohio
