SB
483
.C5
A3
B 387780
A PARK SYSTEM
FOR THE CITY OF
CINCINNATI
REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSION
OF CINCINNATI TO THE HONOR-
ABLE BOARD, OF PUBLIC SERVICE
OF THE CITY OF CINCINNATI :::
1907
ARTES
LIBRARY
1817)
འ་་་-
VERITAS
SCIENTIA
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
PLURIBUS UNUM
TCEBOR
SI-QUÆRIS-PENINSULAM·AMŒNAM
CIRCUMSPICE
RECEIVED IN EXCHANGE
FROM
Chicago Public Library
!
**
To Secretary City Club of Chicago,
Dec.31,'09
COMPLIMENTS OF
GEORGE E. KESSLER
Kansas City, Mo.
Your Request 12/28
:
EXCHANGE
CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY
Cincinnati. Park &mmission
JUVANT
A PARK SYSTEM
FOR THE
CITY OF CINCINNATI
.
REPORT OF THE PARK COMMISSION
OF CINCINNATI TO THE HONORABLE
BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE OF THE
CITY OF CINCINNATI, STATE OF OHIO
1907
CITY OF CINCINNATI
HON. EDWARD J. DEMPSEY, Mayor
BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE
JOHN R. BENDER, President
ANTHONY HERSCHEDE, Vice-President
GEO. E. MARKLEY,
W. S. MARX
CHAS. A. MILLER
PARK COMMISSION
L. A. AULT, President
MAX SENIOR, Vice-President
HENRY RATTERMANN, Secretary
WM. SALWAY
WM. B. POLAND
COUNCIL ADVISORY COMMITTEE
LUCIEN WULSIN
ALBERT H. CHATFIELD
JULIUS FLEISCHMANN
GEORGE PUCHTA
W. W. TAYLOR
GEORGE E. KESSLER & CO.
Landscape Architects
SB
483
.C5
43
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF CINCINNATI
SHOWING PARK SYSTEM.

F. Humphry Woolrych
Henry Wright
ત
BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF CINCINNATI, SHOWING PROPOSED PARK SYSTEM.
UNI
OF
MIC
List of Illustrations
1. Frontispiece, Bird's-eye View of Cincinnati..
opposite 4
2. Key Map to the System of Parks and Parkways, opposite 9
3. Ohio River View from Eden Park..
4. Ohio River View from Mt. Echo
opposite 10
. opposite 12
5. Washington Park, showing Revised Plan and Added
Playground Area
6. Lincoln Park Playground Plan
•
.page 19
page 21
7. Hunt Street Athletic Park
opposite 22
8. Lytle Park Plan ..
page 23
9. Freeman Avenue Playground Plan
page 24
10. Terminal Square (John Street) Playground
.page 25
11. McMicken Avenue Playground Plan
page 27
12. Kansas City, Hillside Parkway View
13. Kansas City, Parkway View
opposite 28
opposite 30
14. Present Canal View, which becomes
Central
Parkway.
between 32 and 33
way..
15. Proposed Treatment of (Canal) Central Park-
16. Central Parkway below Clifton
17. Views from "The Paseo "
· page 35
The Paseo" part of Kansas City Park
between 32 and 33
System
opposite 38
Continued.
5-
List of Illustrations-Continued.
18. Burnet and Eden Parkway Plan
opposite 40
19. Views showing Kansas City Park System, between 40 and 4I
20. Children's Swimming Pool, Chicago..
21. Children's Outdoor Gymnasium, Chicago
22. Indoor Gymnasium, Chicago
·
23. Map of the Congested Area Population of Cin-
cinnati..
•
•
page 46
.page 47
page 48
between 50 and 51
24. Map of Cincinnati showing Existing Park
Properties.
. between 50 and 51
25. Map of Cincinnati showing Proposed Park
System ..
between 50 and 51
26. Outline Map of Park System of Washington,
D. C...
between 50 and 51
27. Map of the Metropolitan Park System of
Boston
•
between 50 and 51
28. Map of Cincinnati showing the Probable Lines
of Industrial Development of the City, between 50 and 51
29. Main Map, showing General Plan of System of Parks
and Parkways of the City of Cincinnati, inside back cover
-
6-
To the Honorable Board of Public Service of
the City of Cincinnati:
GENTLEMEN:
On June 25, 1906, the City Council passed an ordinance,
reading as follows:
"Be it ordained by the Council of the City of Cincin-
nati, State of Ohio:
"Section I. That there is hereby appropriated from
the Park Extension Fund, the sum of fifteen thousand
dollars ($15,000) to provide for the expense of making a
comprehensive and adequate plan for improving or com-
pleting the improvement of any parks or boulevards in
the City of Cincinnati.
Section 2. Said money shall be paid out by the
Treasurer upon warrants issued by the Auditor upon order
of the Board of Public Service.
"Section 3. This ordinance shall take effect and be in
force from and after the earliest period allowed by law."
On July 5, 1906, the following resolution was adopted
by your Board:
7-
Resolved: That the following be and are hereby ap-
pointed to serve, without compensation, on the
New Park Commission, for the purpose of
devising plans and systems for the contem-
plated extension of Park Systems:
MR. MAX SENIOR,
MR. HENRY RATTERMANN,
MR. Wm. B. POLAND,
MR. L. A. AULT,
MR. WM. SALWAY;
and the Clerk be instructed to officially notify
them of their appointment, with the request
that they meet the Board for a conference July
18, 1906, at 3 P. M.
BOARD OF PUBLIC SERVICE,
By M. J. Keefe, Secretary.
Under the authority of the ordinance and the resolution
appointing the undersigned this Commission made a care-
ful canvass of the country's expert landscape architects,
finally choosing Mr. Geo. E. Kessler, of Geo. E. Kessler
& Co., Kansas City, as the man best fitted for the work of
laying out a comprehensive plan for parks and parkways
in Cincinnati. Herewith is transmitted to your Honorable
Board the following comprehensive report and recommen-
dations of the landscape architect:
- 8 -
KEY MAP TO THE
SYSTEM OF PARKS AND PARKWAYS.
13
Im
.1
13.
14
D
12
7
9
17
18
19
10
C
11
6
B P
5
8
16
15.
32
35
30
1
35
20
h
21
20
'g
d.
3
2
22
20
33
31
30
34.
29
24
26
23
E
1
27
R
25
P
2 PARKS
a,b, Squares and
Playgrounds
1, 2, Parkways and
Connections
KEY MAP
to the SYSTEM OF PARKS AND PARKWAYS for
WEST
NORTH
SOUTH
EAST
CINCINNATI-
REPORT OF THE
PARK COMMISSION OF CINCINNATI·
1907
28
PARKS.
A. Mount Echo Park.
B. Wilson Common.
C. Elberon Park.
D.
Westwood Park.
E.
North Side Park.
F.
Clifton-Lafayette View Park.
G. Burnet Woods.
INDEX TO KEY MAP.
Burnet Ave. and Reading Road Park.
Inwood Park.
H
I.
J.
Eden Park.
K. Owls' Nest Park.
L. Duck Creek Park.
M. Reading and Paddock Roads View Park.
N. Hyde Park.
O. Red Bank Park.
P.
Columbia Park.
Q. Waterworks Park.
R. Miami Park.
PUBLIC SQUARES AND PLAYGROUNDS.
a. Terminal Square and Playground.
b. Lytle Park and Playground.
c. Washington Park and Playground.
d. McKinley Square.
e. Lincoln Park and Playground.
f. Freeman Avenue Playground.
g. Hopkins Park.
h. Vine and Hollister Park.
i.
Auburn Place.
j. McMicken Avenue Playground.
k. Hunt Street Athletic Grounds.
1. Spring Grove Avenue Playground.
m. Hoffner Street Playground.
n. Fairmount Playground.
o. Price Hill Playground.
p. Storrs Playground.
q. New Western Pumping Station Park and Play-
ground.
PARKWAYS AND CONNECTIONS.
I.
The Mall.
13.
North Bend Parkway.
25.
Columbia Avenue.
2.
Gilbert Avenue Viaduct.
14.
Linden Avenue.
26.
Grandin Road.
4.
6.
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3. Court Street.
15.
Ross Avenue.
27.
Grandin Road Viaduct.
West Court Street Viaduct.
16.
Forest Avenue.
28.
Eastern Hills Parkway.
5. Bassett Road.
17. Ludlow Avenue.
29.
Observatory Avenue.
Bold Face Parkway.
18.
Morrison Avenue.
30.
Duck Creek Parkway.
7.
Western Hills Parkway.
19.
Dixmyth Parkway.
31.
Smith Road.
8. Central Parkway.
20.
Burnet and Eden Parkway.
32.
Paddock Road.
9.
Fairmount Viaduct.
21.
Mount Auburn Hillside.
33.
Carthage Parkway.
10. Glenway.
22.
Mount Adams Hillside.
34.
Red Bank Road.
II.
Fairmount Parkway.
23. Columbia Parkway.
35.
Bloody Run Parkway.
I2.
West Fork Parkway.
24. Torrence Road.
THIS CUT MAY BE FOLDED OUT FOR EXAMINATION
DURING READING OF REPORT.
UNIV
AA
OF
CH
To the Park Commission of Cincinnati:
GENTLEMEN:
With this report there is submitted to you a plan for
a comprehensive system of parks and parkways, generally
within the borders of the present City of Cincinnati.
The accompanying general plan and detailed drawings
showing the properties recommended for acquisition and
the several units are more particularly described later in
the report.
The general recognition in all our cities of the need of
open places, the opportunity for recreation out of doors,
as well as for enjoyment of natural surroundings without
going far beyond the city's boundaries, makes superfluous
any arguments in favor of the establishment of all the needed
public grounds and their necessary lines of intercommuni-
cation.
The older urban communities of the United States
as well as many of the newer ones, have already proven
the great value of such improvements in the comfortable
enjoyment of beautiful surroundings and in the positive
commercial value of attractive appearances.
Cincinnati has still the opportunity to transform itself
into an attractive city unrivaled among American com-
munities, yet it cannot defer this great work longer without
losing much that is still good, and every year's delay means
added cost and largely reduced areas of available lands.
The fact that the people of Cincinnati are not unappre-
-9-
ciative of the natural possibilities of their city and the value
of pleasing surroundings is demonstrated in many of the
very beautiful residence sections in which private effort
has accomplished in limited districts what the public should
do for the city as a whole.
Reference to the perspective view at the beginning of
this report forcibly illustrates the city's distinctive and
especially fortunate topographical situation. The general
difference in elevation of nearly four hundred feet between
the table lands of the residence districts and the valley
lands of Millcreek, the Little Miami and the Ohio, has
to the present time preserved the hills for residence purposes,
leaving the lower levels to the business city and to indus-
trial uses.
Had the railroads entering this city been readily
enabled to reach the upper levels with their tracks, the
unbroken residential areas on Walnut Hills and on the
western hills would have been impossible, in as much as
the tracks are invariably followed by factories and busi-
ness areas. This is forcibly illustrated in the condition
of affairs rapidly developing throughout the Millcreek
Valley, and doubtless to soon be duplicated in the valley
of the Little Miami.
The three main divisions of the city present each a
different problem from the point of view of a park system
and its improvement, namely: the general business area
and lower city, the western division separated by the Mill-
creek Valley, and the eastern and northern division, now
the great residence section of the city.
The great business area on the lower levels and the
densely populated residence districts on those levels require
ready communication with every residential district, aside
from the need of conveniently placed local playgrounds,
designed especially to take the children off the streets.
In Cincinnati the question of access, along fine and
easy lines into the very heart of the business district is
IO -
VIEW OF THE OHIO FROM EDEN PARK.

UNI
OF
WICH
VIEW LOOKING EAST FROM EDEN PARK.
COLUMBIA PARKWAY FOLLOWS THE HILLSIDE ON THE RIGHT.
especially and very fortunately solved through the exist-
ence of the Miami and Erie Canal. While the fact may
be maintained that the canal at this time serves business.
interests to some extent, it can in time be removed with
immaterial hardship and reconstructed in the Millcreek
Valley, which will leave the present canal and its adjoining
roadways an unsurpassed, main, central artery from the
heart of the business portion of the city, connecting it
with every residence district.
While almost every other important American city is
endeavoring to do for improvement of its business center
just what this canal can be made to do for Cincinnati,
yet few are able to accomplish this without enormous cost,
and in view of this situation, it cannot be too strongly rec-
ommended that the canal and parallel streets be acquired
and exclusively improved as the city's most important
parkway.
In this way would be secured an excellent solution of the
problems of traffic congestions which must inevitably come
to Cincinnati in the course of its material growth, as they
have come to all of our larger cities. New York is just
considering a report of its Municipal Improvement Com-
mission, which suggests improvements which can only be
realized at an enormous cost, but which are felt to be abso-
lutely necessary for the relief of present crowded condi-
tions. Philadelphia is at work upon one large parkway
from its business center, which will cost at least six million
dollars. Similar improvements are under consideration,
and in some cases being actually carried out in Cleveland,
Buffalo, Kansas City, St. Paul, St. Louis and other cities.
Each of the above cited improvements contemplate much
more radical and costly changes than can be at once secured
in the proposed Mall, and especially the Central Parkway,
which have been planned for this city. It is therefore
recommended that early action upon this important ques-
II
tion should be taken, with a view to keeping free from
encumbrances of every kind, the properties which will so
adequately form the heart of the entire park system. Other-
wise, it will be only a matter of a short time until, in the
inevitable growth of the city, relief from traffic congestion
will become imperative, and less adequate lines of com-
munication must be secured at a greatly enhanced cost
and under well-nigh insurmountable difficulties.
It is therefore felt that the consideration of any plan
for the outlying districts demands these central improve-
ments as its most important starting point.
An important pleasure highway centered on the Mall
must be carried across the railroads in the Millcreek
Valley, reaching into the western hills residential district,
which is now completely isolated.
To the east the main connection should be made along
the hillside into the Walnut Hills district, and north, along
convenient and natural lines into and connecting with the
entire country lying northeast of Cincinnati, all of which
is described in greater detail hereinafter.
The city can be readily served with parkways of suffi-
cient width in many places to establish recreation grounds
within easy reach of practically every residential area.
The fortunate existence of convenient, unimproved val-
ley lands forming many of these proposed parkways, makes
it possible to provide the city with ample park areas, at
the same time using these properties for the driveways
connecting the different sections with each other and with
the parks, making it possible to establish a system of
parks and parkways without the purchase of especially
extensive parks and consequently at a greatly reduced cost
of acquisition.
In the plans are embraced the recommendations to
acquire certain lands of comparative small area on several
of the most pronounced promontories overlooking the city
12
VIEW OF THE OHIO FROM MT. ECHO.

UNIV
OF
H
HA
LOOKING EAST FROM MT. ECHO, PRICE HILL.
189
and its beautiful surroundings, and the opportunity to still
acquire these unspoiled properties, such as the Mount
Echo lands on the western hills, the hillside reaching along
Mount Auburn from Burnet Woods to Eden Park and the
hill slopes along Columbia Avenue to the promontory above
Columbia, and that at Red Bank, should not be lost.
Without necessitating material cost for improvements
or maintenance, the now very prominent, barren and
ugly hillsides skirting Mount Auburn and extending into
Mount Adams, can be transformed into a pleasing setting
for that part of the city nestling at the foot of these slopes
and framing the structures surmounting the summits,
thus completely changing the present appearance of this
portion of the city. The parkway along the hill slopes
facing the Ohio River from Eden Park east can be made
an area rivaling in appearance and in value the famous
Riverside Drive of New York, while especially serving as
a fine means of communication between the business dis-
trict and the important residence section along its summit.
The same conditions would be true of the hillside along
the western hills which overlooks the great industrial section
of the Millcreek Valley, but the importance of this section
will be immeasurably enhanced when the city has solved
in a more satisfactory manner the troublesome question of
smoke consumption, making possible a clearer view from
those hills toward the east.
It is unfortunate that in the past no attention has been
paid to the matter of securing river front property within
the city, and for the present at least the reclamation of that
river front seems out of the question, but the city still has
an opportunity to secure a long stretch of river frontage,
as yet unspoiled, at the mouth of the Little Miami River,
and the plans embrace the suggestion of the acquisition
of a larger area, reaching from Columbia to California
across the mouth of the Little Miami Valley. Should
13
this land for the present at times be submerged by the floods
of the Ohio River, still the city could not make a purchase
that would in time become so important as this property,
which would be available as a broad, level tract for the
pursuit of all of the larger out-door sports, and at the same
time form a much-needed connecting link between the
city and the finely situated reservoirs of the new water-
works. The conditions now existing along the river below
this property illustrate the desirability of an early purchase.
When the whole system as recommended shall have
been secured, and this should be done with the least possible
delay, it will be found that Cincinnati has acquired a com-
prehensive scheme of parks and boulevards at a com-
paratively low cost and serving practically every district
of the city; a system really complete, with the possible
exception that no very great outer park has been provided
for. Within the present limits of the city areas of such ex-
tent are not feasible, consequently in the future the city
will have to look to outlying lands which may at any time
be possible of acquisition.
It is therefore believed that the recommendations here-
with submitted are very conservative, and cover only such
improvements as have been felt to be entirely necessary to
fill the present essential needs of Cincinnati for park pur-
poses; while there has been left to some future time the con-
sideration of an outlying system of large country park reser-
vations, comparable in their extent to the Middlesex Fells
or Blue Hills of the Boston Metropolitan System, or the
Rock Creek Park of Washington, or the proposed great
outlying reservations about Chicago, Baltimore, Provi-
dence and many other cities of the country. But it
may be
remarked that in the case of most of these other cities an in-
ner park system has, to a large extent already been secured.
A careful study of the plan presented will show that
the largest proportion of the properties recommended are
14
in the form of parkways or boulevards, and in as much as
such improvements are intimately related to the adjoining
and contiguous private lands, the immediate response of
these adjoining lands to the public improvements made will
immeasurably enhance their value and repay many times
the cost of acquisition, construction and their continued
maintenance, returning to the adjoining lands great values
and to the city considerable additional revenue through
the increased tax duplicates. But aside from any ques-
tion of money returns, the city can now make no invest-
ment, surer of return to its citizens in comfort and enjoy-
ment of their homes, that will compare with the improve-
ments made through this park project.
Cincinnati should lose no time in making these compre-
hensive improvements, thereby taking its place among the
larger of the American cities, and which can thus be made
second to none in the convenience and attractiveness of
its public parks.
A further detailed description of the system planned
follows:
15
Underlying
Principles
General Description of the Proposed System of
Parks and Parkways:
In preparing the plan for a comprehensive system of
parks and parkways for this city, the following ideas have
received primary consideration.
To provide adequate recreation grounds, accessible to
all of the principal areas of population, now existing and
most probable in the immediate expansion of the city.
To relieve unsightly conditions resulting from the neg-
lected and untenable property which exists throughout the
limits of the built-up sections, by reasons of the natural
rugged formation of the land, and which will result in some
of the most attractive park properties that have been planned.
To preserve as far as possible the unrivaled natural
scenery and delightful views found in every portion of the
outlying districts.
To connect into a comprehensive system all of the
park properties thus selected together with those now exist-
ing, for both easy access into each property and for pleasing
communication from one to another.
The result is a plan forming a system of parks and
parkways connecting the existing park properties, and
providing for a number of new park lands and their con-
nections. As has already been explained, it has been found
NOTE. —The various features of the Park System as here explained can be
readily traced with the assistance of the Key Map at the beginning of this
Report, or more accurately upon the General Map which appears at the end
of the entire Report.
- 16 -
possible to make this system quite complete and sufficient.
in its extent without going beyond the city boundaries
for any of the important improvements, and the city is
especially fortunate in having these considerable tracts of
unimproved land conveniently located and well adapted
to this important use.
For the purpose of readily explaining the character General
and relative position of the improvements involved a Description
résumé of the entire system is first given, dividing the
subject into sections which are suggested by the natural
divisions of the city.
In the first place there have been selected a number Playgrounds
of sites for additional open squares in the crowded sec-
tions, which with the existing parks will form a series of
recreation grounds conveniently distributed and available
to all portions of these districts. With such additions.
there will be in all seventeen properties of varying sizes
of which nine are now owned by the city, and some of these
have been somewhat improved.
Attention has been given to the important problem of
relieving the congested traffic conditions in the lower or
main city and to securing an adequate cross-town con-
nection. The features to be noted regarding The Mall,
the maintaining of Court Street as a special thoroughfare,
and the aqueduct reaching onto Price Hill on the west;
the Central Parkway
Parkway forming a main artery into the
northwest section; while to the northeast depending,
for the present, on the Gilbert Avenue Viaduct soon to be
erected by the city for connection into Walnut Hills, and
by the parkway skirting Mount Adams into Columbia
Parkway and the eastern sections of the city.
The Western System comprises the hillside treatment
along the western side of Millcreek Valley; the hillsides
below Price Hill, the abruptness of which renders them of
little value for other purposes; a general park for Price
Business
District
Western
System
17
Northern
System
Central
System
Eastern
System
Hill, and a general park for each of the districts of West
wood and Cumminsville and a system of connecting park-
ways including attractive valley parkways west of Fair-
mount and in the valley known as West Fork.
The Northern System comprises the extension of Central
Parkway along the route of the canal and finally into the
Paddock Road, which becomes the main artery connecting
into the suggested county parkways which follow the pres-
ent North Bend Road and Carthage Avenue, and a branch
paralleling the B. & O. Railroad into Norwood. There
are also two fine view points selected overlooking the north-
ern valley, one in Clifton, the other in Avondale.
The Central System comprises connections from the
Central Parkway into Burnet Woods at Dixmyth Avenue
and at Riddle Road; an adequate connection between
Burnet Woods and Eden Park; a central north and south
line leading from Eden Park by the Park Avenue Bridge,
and following throughout the greater portion of its extent
the valley now known as Bloody Run, connecting finally
into Central Parkway and Paddock Road; a central east
and west parkway extending from the Central Parkway
along McAlpin and Forest Avenues into Bloody Run and
connecting with the eastern system on a line which is the
projected continuation of Duck Creek Road between
Montgomery Boulevard and Bloody Run.
The Eastern System with a main connection into the
city around Mount Adams, comprises the Columbia Park-
way, reaching into Grandin Road and across the Grandin
Road Viaduct to Columbia Park, an area to be taken just
above the section known as Columbia. From here Colum-
bia Avenue is again followed northward connecting into
a park above Red Bank at the reservoir. From here
the lower line continues northward to the intersection of
Carthage and Duck Creek Parkways while running east
from Red Bank Park, connection is made with the central
18 -

MUSIC
HALL
ELM.
-ST
or
¤
OUT DOOR
GYMNASIUM
FOURTEENTH
WADING
POOL
SCREENED
READING ROOM
OPEN
LAWN
BALL FIELD.
d
TWELFTH
ST.
REVISED PLAN OF WASHINGTON PARK
AND ADDED PLAYGROUND AREA.
·
THIS PARK IS IN THE HEART OF
THE CONGESTED AREA.
४
ST.
SHELTER
BUILDING
COURTS
Hwoy
RACE
ST
-19-
Miami
Valley
east and west line along Observatory Avenue and finally
by way of the Duck Creek Road extension into Bloody
Run. A secondary north and south line is secured in
this section connecting with Columbia Parkway by Tor-
rence Road to the present city property known as Owl's
Nest Park, thence into the valley to be taken as Duck
Creek Park and by way of Duck Creek Parkway into
Norwood and the northern system.
Connecting with the eastern division, though not essen-
tially a part of it, is the large reservation for outdoor sports
to be known as Miami Park, and adjoining this the park
at the new waterworks.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE MORE
PROMINENT FEATURES.
Playgrounds and Public Squares.
The selection of these new sites has been made after
a careful consideration of the needs of the various crowded
districts. A study of the distribution of population was
first made, with the careful assistance of the Commission,
based upon the registration records for each precinct, and
the results have been tabulated in a graphic form on a map
of the central portion of the city included in this report.
From this will readily be seen the districts of greatest con-
gestion and the location of the present park properties,
namely Washington, Lincoln and Lytle Parks. It will
also be evident that many of the crowded districts are
now entirely without recreation conveniences, while others
are of too great extent to be conveniently accommodated
by the present parks. The new selections have been made
with a view to serving these districts otherwise unprovided
for and the securing of a convenient distribution of such
* See map opposite page 50.
-X-
20

— 21 —
HOEFER
ST
TRACK
OUT DOOR
APPARATUS
BALL
FIELD
6
GYMNASIUM
& BATHS
PLAN FOR PLAYGROUND IN.
4
LINCOLN PARK
.
KENNER
ST
α
CHILDRENS
WADING
POOL
COURT
E
HOPKINS
ST
REPORT OF THE
PARK COMMISSION OF CINCINNATI
1907
Geo E.Kessler & Co Landscape Architects
FREEMAN
AVE
H.W. OT
Washington
Park
Lincoln
Park
improvements that no child in these districts will have
a distance to walk prohibitive to its ready use of the facili-
ties for play and exercise which these recreation grounds
are intended to provide.
In some of the more built-up sections, it is difficult to
provide without great cost as large a space for this purpose.
as might seem desirable, but each selection has been made
with a view to securing the least costly property without
inconveniently placing the improvement, and in turn each
improvement, though restricted in size, has been planned
with a view to the greatest use of the space allotted.
Washington Park is situated in the heart of the most
congested area and it would be difficult and expensive now
to obtain as fine a piece of ground in this locality. The
value, therefore, of preserving this property as purely an
open air park cannot be overestimated, and the extent of
the park is not sufficient to admit of any curtailment of its
use as a purely open recreation spot. It would therefore
be unwise to encroach upon it by a special playground,
though this is a much-needed improvement in this section.
With this in view, it is proposed to secure the remaining
portion of the block lying north of the park, which, though
the property is now occupied by a number of rather large
tenement buildings, a considerable expenditure will be
warranted as making a very valuable addition to the park
for the purpose of accommodating a thoroughly equipped
playground as an accessory to the park, and of opening
up an unobstructed frontage for the Music Hall. It is
also suggested to revise the plan of the park itself with a
view to making its entire area more available and attrac-
tive.
Lincoln Park is a somewhat larger property than Wash-
ington, and may well accommodate a comprehensive play-
ground at its western end without materially altering or
curtailing the present beauties of the park. Here it has
i
22
HUNT STREET ATHLETIC PARK.

AVE
KEEPER
ELSINORE
SWIMMING
POOL
SPECIAL
BATH HOUSE
GYMNASIUM
REPORT OF THE
PLAN FOR
HUNT ST ATHLETIC PARK
CINCINNATI-
PARK COMMISSION OF CINCINNATI
20000
SUNKEN FIELD
TOR TENNIS & SKATING
MINS OUTDOOR
GYMNASIUM
امام
O
R
R
GILBERT
UNIV
OF
MI
HUNT
O
EDE N
1907
100
GEO. E. KESSLER & Co.
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS
130
200
SCALE IN FEET
BASEBALL
FIELD
RIGHT
ΟΥ
WAY
PARK
ST
CHILDRENS
WADING
POOL
PLAYGROUND
SHELTER
DESMOINES
ST
DORCHESTER
AVE
FLORENCE ST

LAS
FOURTH ST
FOURTH
ST.
O
Shrubber
PLAN FOR LYTLE PARK.
REPORT OF THE PARK
1907
COMMISSION OF CINCINNATI
8
LAWN
ALK
LYTLE
Flower Bed
LAWRENCE
CINCINNATI
PRESENT
BUILDING
SHRUBBERY
ELEVATION
ON LAWRENCE ST
Scale in Feet.
ST.
SEATS
GEOE KESSLER & CO
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS.
ST
OPEN
AIR
GYMNASIUM
CHILDRENS
Subway to
Locker Rooms
Parallel
Bare
rectors
COURTS
PLAYGROUND.
SHELTER
THIRD
ST
L
*
-23-

24
GYMNASIUM
AND BATHS
COLERAIN AV
Y
PLAN FOR
.FREEMAN AVE. PLAYGROUND.
CINCINNATI.
ORK
OUTDOOR GYM.
MENS COURT
MUSIC
SAND
PILE
STAND
OUTDOOR GYM.
WOMENS COURT
HUL B E
R
T
SUNKEN FIELD
FOR
BASEBALL AND SKATING
20
50
SCALE IN FEET
100
AVE
ST
FREEMAN
AVE

EAS
SMITH
ST
LOCKER
ROOMS
OUTDOOR APPARATUS
WOMENS COURT
SAND
COURT
FOURTH
FIFTH
D
BASKET BALL
FIELD
GYMNASIUM
BATHS
REPORT OF THE
1907
PARK COMMISSION OF CINCINNATI
SAND
COURT
LOCKER
ROOMS
OUTDOOR APPARATUS
MENS COURT
JOHN
ST
ST
TERMINAL
SQUARE,
AND (JOHN STREET) PLAYGROUND.
GEO. E. KESSLER & CO
910
ar
SCALE IN FEET
100
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTS.
ST
CENTRAL
AVE.
- 25-
Lytle Park
Hunt Street
Athletic
Grounds
Freeman and
McMicken
been possible to plan for a gymnasium and neighborhood
assembly hall, an outdoor gymnasium, running track and
basket ball field, and a special court for small children,
equipped with a shelter, wading pool, and juvenile appa-
ratus.
It is suggested that better illumination be provided for
both Lincoln and Washington Parks.
Lytle Park and McKinley Square have already been
planned as recreation parks with sufficient shelters and
athletic apparatus to make them of increased value in
their neighborhoods.
It is proposed to make on the newly filled land along
Hunt Street below Eden Park large and comprehensive
recreation grounds. This will form a central and general
recreation park and be accessible not only to the immediate
locality but to a large district to the north. The southern
end of this improvement has been planned as a complete
athletic field and gymnasium building, with both an open-
air and indoor bathing pool of generous dimensions. The
central portion affords ample space for two baseball dia-
monds arranged so as not to interfere with the traffic on
the streets. The entire north end has been given over to
an elaborate children's playground.
New playgrounds have been planned on property to
be secured at Fifth and John Streets, Freeman Avenue
Playgrounds and York Street, and McMicken Avenue and Walnut Street.
They have been carefully planned for the best use of the
available space.
Terminal
Square
The location of the playground for the West Sixth
Street district has been chosen at Fifth and John Streets
with a view to the probable location of the New Union
Station, in which case it has been thought that by com-
bining such a feature with a plaza along the station front
a tract of property of moderate size could be made to serve
both purposes to their mutual advantage.
- 26 -

STATION,
3rd DISTRICT
POLICE
MS MICKEN
OUTDOOR
GYMNASIUM
BACK
SEATS
SAND
PLAN
FOR
MSMICKEN AVE. PLAYGROUND.
CINCINNATI
COURTS
WADING.
POOL
GYMNASIUM
BATHS.
LANG ST
03
CHILDRENS
PLAYGROUND
ST
10
20
SCALE IN FEET
AVE.
ORE
ST
WALNUT
ST
-27-
Playgrounds
in Suburbs
Pumping
Station Park
In the plan for this improvement there has been shown
a continuous plaza from Central Avenue to Smith Street.
occupying one-half of the block between Central Avenue
and John Street north from Fourth and about one-third
of the block between John and Smith Streets between
Fourth and Fifth, while the remainder of the latter block
comprises the playground with shelter buildings so arranged
as to give due privacy to the playground while at the same
time presenting an interesting feature from the plaza side.
Playgrounds have been planned for each of the more
crowded outlying districts; for Cumminsville one at Hoff-
ner Street and Borden Avenue; one at Spring Grove Avenue
and Burgoyne Street, and one in connection with North
Side Park; for Fairmount at Waverly Avenue and Reis
Street; for Price Hill in connection with Elberon Park,
and for the community known as Storrs near the head of
West Eighth Street a playground is planned in connection
with the Hillside Parkway at a point just above the junc-
tion of State and Elberon Avenues. While here and there
throughout the entire system suggestions,have been made
for playgrounds, or special recreation spots in connection
with the parks and parkways, thus making it possible to
provide these for every community.
It is proposed to lay out the park at the new Western
Pumping Station to serve both as a general playground
for the district and as an open-air park overlooking the river.
Larger Properties.
Comprehensive areas have been selected in connection
with fine view points, both for the purpose of preserving
these views to the public and as properties capable of
attractive park improvement.
Columbia Park has been thus selected to occupy the
larger portion of the hill rising above Columbia, with beau-
-28-

2.207
THE HILLSIDE PARKWAYS WILL AFFORD UNLIMITED
OPPORTUNITIES FOR ATTRACTIVE WINDING PLEASURE DRIVES.
UNIV
OF
MICH
tiful outlooks over the Little Miami Valley and of the Columbia
stretches of the Ohio River. This, and Red Bank Park, Park
a similar improvement at the reservoir above Red Bank,
form the eastern termini of the park system proper. From
the northern property interesting views are afforded over
Duck Creek Valley and the suburbs to the northeast.
For the western terminus on the river bluffs Mount
Echo Park has been selected as affording unsurpassed
views both up and down the Ohio River. It comprises a
tract of very rugged land, the greater part of which is un-
available for building purposes and should make a park
unrivaled by any similar improvement in the country.
These terminal parks, together with Eden Park, will
preserve the best scenery along the Ohio front.
A number of other large properties have been selected
in each of the main divisions of the city not convenient
to Eden Park and Burnet Woods, the existing large park
properties.
Elberon Park will serve the community of Price Hill,
which we believe is the best property for this purpose to
be found in that entire vicinity. It is almost without
present improvements and lies beautifully sloping in all
directions, commanding an extensive view over the entire
country to the northwest. The development as suggested
in the plan comprises a formal arrangement of garden
and shelter pavilion based upon a main entrance at the
corner of Elberon and Warsaw Avenues and occupying
the higher portions of the ground, while the remainder of
the tract will be treated along natural lines.
Westwood Park has been selected of à size commen-
surate with the large area of rapidly growing residence
property which it would serve. It has been planned to
include two high points overlooking the branching valleys
and a considerable portion of valley land well adapted
for park purposes.
Mount Echo
Park
Elberon
Park
Westwood
Park
29-
North Side
Park
Duck Creek
Park
Parkways
Really
Parks
Clifton and
Avondale
Parks
Similarly North Side Park is to serve the Cumminsville
district. It is located on land that has a most attractive
natural growth and has been planned with a playground
occupying the lower and more easily accessible portion of
the park, with an outlook pavilion on the high ground at
its northern boundary.
Duck Creek Park is little more than a widening of the
parkway to embrace the low-lying property west of Madi-
sonville Road, which is now well wooded and naturally
a beautiful park land, with an available location for a lake.
The foregoing are the only new properties selected
which it has been thought sufficiently extensive to desig-
nate as parks. There are, however, many portions of the
proposed parkways of ample width to form in fact a con-
tinuous park or chain of parks of interesting diversity.
This is especially the case with Bloody Run, Fairmount
and West Fork Parkways. Again the Central Parkway at
its junction with Dixmyth Parkway presents possibilities
for securing an extensive park area of natural beauty.
Here can be easily formed a lake of considerable size by
means of widening the canal and permitting it to extend
back into the depression of Dixmyth Parkway. A play-
ground may also be secured on the low-lying grounds be-
tween the canal and the present Workhouse.
The view points selected near Clifton Avenue and at
Reading and Paddock Roads are to be merely of sufficient
extent to preserve the beautiful outlook over the northern
valleys, which at the same time they would somewhat
serve as recreation grounds for the immediate neighbor-
hoods.
30

UNIV
OF
THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF MANY OF THE PARKWAY LINES WILL REQUIRE LITTLE MORE THAN THE
ADDITION OF PATHS AND DRIVEWAYS.
P255
Parkways and Connections
The selection merely of properties for park purposes
here and there amid the natural beauties of much of the
territory lying within the city's boundaries would be a
commendable undertaking, but it would fall far short of
giving Cincinnati an improvement at all adequate or pro-
portionate to park improvements which are being planned
and rapidly carried out in almost every other important
city of this country. One of the most important subjects
which presents itself in planning for developments of this
nature is that of securing more adequate accommoda-
tions for relief of the growing traffic congestion of the
crowded districts and convenient cross connections sup-
plementing the main arteries of travel in the outlying dis-
tricts. In this manner by connecting into a system by
means of parkways and similar improvements the parks
which have been planned, there would be gained the dual
advantage of greater convenience for traffic and of ex-
tending the value of the parks themselves. There will
also be served a largely increased territory by means of
the parkway, which becomes, in fact, in many places nothing
less than a continuous park. Thus fifty acres devoted to
a parkway may be of more actual value than two or three
hundred acres in a single spot. It may also be remarked
that most of these parkways are projected either along the
lines of hillsides or in the unused valleys of the interior,
thus at once serving to clean up neglected areas and form
beautiful improvements. In many places nature has left
but little to be done except the construction of the actual
conveniences of driveways, paths and shelters. There
could be no more fitting and beautiful land for park purposes.
than the picturesque valleys of Duck Creek, Bloody Run, or
West Fork, while the hillside lines are in many cases equally
Relief of
Traffic
Congestion
Value of
Parkway
3I
The Mall
Public
Buildings
Group
attractive and would merely accomplish what every think-
ing citizen must long have felt to be a most important
improvement.
Taking first the question of the relief of traffic conges-
tion and the planning for the future development of the
business district, the importance at once centers in the
projected Mall and Central Parkway. In the former it
is proposed to secure by the elimination of a narrow strip
of comparatively unimportant business property, lying
between South Canal and Court Streets, a fine central
court forming the heart of the entire system and extending
between South Canal and Court Streets from Plum Street
to the Courthouse, which will form a court four hundred
and twenty-five feet wide and twenty-five hundred feet
long. This should be connected through north of the Court-
house into the arteries of the northeastern sections.
The first importance of this improvement lies in its
location as a spacious central union of practically all of
the present and projected main arteries of traffic. With
Court Street entering from the west and accommodating
the entire western territory; with the Central Parkway
forming a broad artery from the north; with practically all
the main north and south streets of the city intersecting it;
and with an ample entrance for Hunt Street, Gilbert Avenue
and the eastern parkway connection, entering at its eastern
end; there will be provided a plaza of ample dimensions
in which will be centered all of the traffic of the city. Its
location is not sufficiently removed from the present main
business center to require any great foresight to see that
this would soon become completely joined with the business
district, forming itself a center for much of the business
activity of the city. Its minor value, though by no means
unimportant, would be the possibilities for a group plan
of public and quasi-public buildings brought together in
convenient relation to one another and planned for a mon-
32
PRESENT APPEARANCE OF THE CANAL.

UNIV
OF
MICH
FIGHT PICTURES
ESVERS
CANALICE COY
STABLES
PRESENT APPEARANCE OF THE CANAL, WHICH BECOMES CENTRAL PARKWAY, SHOWING THIS BROAD
RIGHT-OF-WAY, NOW UNSIGHTLY AND OF LITTLE VALUE.
PROPOSED TREATMENT OF CENTRAL PARKWAY.
(CANAL)

485
WALK
320
5 10!
30.0
P
DRIVEWAY.
WALK
WALK
32'-0"
DRIVEWAY.
Wright
UNI
150-0"
SECTION.
#
CENTRAL PARKWAY, LOOKING SOUTH FROM LIBERTY STREET.
PRESENT CANAL.
58
WALK
umental architectural effect such as is only possible in build-
ings of this character, but which has been done in almost
all of the great cities of Europe and is being projected and
even carried out in many of the chief cities of this country.
An enlarged and improved Courthouse would in time form
one of such buildings, while the proximity of the City Hall
and the Music Hall would readily render them part of
such a group.
Even more important is the Central Parkway. It is Central
proposed that this improvement shall occupy the route of Parkway
the present canal, which has fortunately been spared to
the city, as a wide passage into the very heart of its business.
center, forming a feature of inestimable value for devel-
opment as proposed, but at present little used and unsightly
in appearance. By this improvement there would be
secured a continuous and unobstructed thoroughfare serv-
ing the entire great district of the Millcreek Valley, as well
as becoming the chief avenue into the city of many parts
of Clifton and other communities on the hills. Starting
from the western end of the Mall and extending northward,
it is proposed that the Central Parkway shall occupy the
entire right-of-way of the canal. Thus will be secured
a grand boulevard one hundred and fifty feet wide over
all, with a driveway on each side of a continuous central
park space, the latter to be diversified and embellished
with gardens, fountains and other features, some of which
would be on the level, others depressed, as made possible.
by the present bed of the canal, while wide walks on each
side would provide adequate space for seats for the rest
and pleasure of those living in the nearby neighborhoods.
This improvement would be uniform as far north as the
present Mohawk Bridge, and doubtless would become
a favorite location for clubhouses, hotels, apartment houses
and many other like institutions, making, altogether, an
improvement similar to Commonwealth Avenue in Boston,
33-
but otherwise unparalleled except in European cities. From
the Mohawk Bridge northward the parkway would be
somewhat more restricted and diversified, but with ample
space to insure it being the most adequate and popular
connection to all of the great north territory, even serving
many localities of Clifton and the central part of the city.
A portion of the Central Parkway from McMicken and
Central Avenues to Dixmyth Parkway should have a marked
effect in cleaning up this unsightly section. While the treat-
ment of the parkway itself could be of such a nature as to
screen to a large extent the necessarily unpicturesque im-
provements along its lines.
Proceeding north from Dixmyth Parkway, the Central
Parkway follows below the hills of Clifton, taking advan-
tage of the attractive natural conditions which there exist,
and turning northeastward it is joined into the western
system by a viaduct just south of Spring Grove Cemetery.
and spanning Millcreek and the railroads. Throughout
the portions of Central Parkway so far considered it is
proposed that the canal be entirely eliminated, and be
reinstated by turning it from its present course at a point
just south of Spring Grove Cemetery and the viaduct last
mentioned in such a way as to occupy from this point
southward the bed of Millcreek, with such alterations in
line as to overcome the winding deviations of this stream,
and finally to be given an outlet to the Ohio River by means
of locks very close to the present mouth of Millcreek,
which point would naturally become a center for ware-
houses and shipping industries.
Returning to the Central Parkway, and passing north
from the viaduct at Spring Grove Cemetery, the parkway
is happily enlarged by quite a tract of ground, now an
unused valley belonging to Spring Grove Cemetery. But
the parkway can no longer occupy the canal as heretofore,
but, skirting the hills to the south and above the canal,
34-

Wright
2
CENTRAL PARKWAY BELOW CLIFTON, LOOKING SOUTH.
DIXMYTH PARKWAY ENTERING FROM RIGHT OF PICTURE.
35-
Main
Viaduct
it is carried parallel to that waterway over Mitchell Avenue
and through St. Bernard, where it turns eastward near Ross
Avenue and finally connects into Paddock Road and Bloody
Run Parkway.
Repeated reference has in different sections of this
report been made to the Central Parkway, but in as much
as it is the fundamental line upon which the entire system.
is necessarily based, and from the fact that from no part
of Cincinnati can the business region be readily reached
without entering upon or crossing the (canal) Central Park-
way, this particular division of the entire proposed park and
parkway system at once evidently becomes the most im-
portant feature of the entire project and enters into the
discussion of every other unit of the system.
Returning to the Mall, connection is made westward
by Court Street, which has been selected as the main cross-
town line, to be maintained free from car lines, poles, or
other obstructions and improved so far as is possible in
a business street of this nature. This leads directly into
the West Court Street Viaduct across Millcreek Valley,
a much-needed connection, forming the main artery onto
Price Hill and the extensive territory beyond. It is rec-
ommended, however, that this West Court Street Viaduct,
wherever located, should not be constructed until the city
is prepared to do something more than the spider-web,
unsightly and short-lived steel structure that now seems
to be considered sufficient for this purpose. The viaduct
should receive careful study if it is to be a credit to the city
and should be so planned as to cross above all the railroads
and State Avenue, reaching the hill at a point some twenty-
five or thirty feet above State Avenue, to be amply wide
to accommodate a large traffic and planned especially with
a view to giving an easy access by way of Glenway and the
hillside drives into the western district.
From the western end of the viaduct the Western Hills
Parkway extends northward, the drive located about mid-
- 36
Western
Hills
Parkway
way up the hillside, crossing over Harrison Avenue into West-
ern Avenue below Fairmount. Glenway extends up the hill
from the viaduct as at present, existing on very good lines,
and thence westward below Elberon Park. While south
from the viaduct the Hillside Parkway continues under
the Eighth Street Incline Plane, taking in the entire slope
until it reaches into Wilson Common, with a driveway
connecting on comparatively easy grades into Bassett Road, Bassett
passing just under the outlook point of Wilson Common. Road
From Bassett Road access is obtained into Mount Echo
Park without any further grade, or, if desired, this property
may be approached along Elberon Avenue and entered
from the east but on rather steep grades. From Bassett
Road northward the line passes under the viaduct on Eighth
Street and into Garfield Avenue, which should be made a
parkway about one hundred feet wide into Elberon Park,
while southward Garfield Avenue or Bold Face Parkway
makes a connection down through the valley into Sedams-
ville and Riverside.
Glenway running west from Elberon Park sweeps north-
ward on high ground into Westwood Parkway. This park-
way follows an almost unbroken ridge of high land which
is in fact the water divide between Millcreek and the
Big Miami, passing through College Hill down into Car-
thage to the junction with Paddock Road. At Westwood
Park one line is carried down the valley toward Fairmount
and finally into the Western Hills Parkway with a viaduct
crossing the Millcreek Valley to Central Parkway. Another
line leads from Westwood down the valley and crossing
West Fork reaches North Side Park above Cumminsville,
and thence by Linden Avenue on a line paralleling this
street to the viaduct crossing Millcreek, connecting into
Central Parkway below Clifton as heretofore noted.
The general plan for these valley parkways will be to
construct a road on each side of the deeper portion of the
Bold Face
Parkway
Glenway
North Bend
Parkway
37
Valley
Parkways
Paddock
Road
Outer
Parkway's
Inner
Circuit
valley, with occasional cross connections, resulting in a
chain of elongated parks with occasional lakes and other
embellishments. In this way the residence property may
be brought to a frontage on these bounding driveways,
while the parkway would eliminate the necessity of heavy
grading for the use of the valley for other purposes or as
in many places its entire neglect as waste land.
From the Carthage junction of Paddock Road the
outer parkway is continued as Carthage Parkway south-
eastward into Duck Creek Parkway and Red Bank. Pad-
dock Road itself is to be made a main line parkway with
a wide central road necessitated by the heavier traffic which
it must accommodate; this is to be paralleled on either
side by a pleasure driveway separated by grass plots and
tree spaces.
In considering the outer parkway lines it has been
thought necessary at this time only to project them along
the main line of travel now used, but these should at least
be kept open and free from obstructions and with such
alteration in line and construction as to make them more
pleasing and available for driveway purposes. But in
time they will doubtless become of more importance than
would be served by a single driveway line. It will there-
fore be well to keep in mind their final widening and devel-
opment into important parkways with additional park
lands probably developing into a chain of large outlying
reservations to serve the communities which will gradually
spread even beyond their boundaries.
By continuing the Central Parkway on a line parallel
with Ross Avenue into Bloody Run Parkway and thence
eastward into Norwood, the inner circuit is completed by
returning into the city by way of Duck Creek Parkway,
or, if desired, farther east.
One of the most important improvements projected is
the development of Bloody Run Parkway, which occupies
-38

BO
AIND
P.225.
VALUE OF THE
NARROW PARK-
WAY.
VIEWS FROM
"THE PASEO,"
A PART OF
KANSAS CITY'S
PARK SYSTEM.
THE WIDTH OF
THIS IMPROVE-
MENT IS NOT AS
GREAT AS THAT
RECOMMENDED
FOR THE MAIN
STEM OF BUR-
NET AND EDEN
PARKWAY.
Parkway
a valley of much natural beauty and of considerable extent. Bloody Run
At its junction with Forest Avenue the valley widens,
forming a comparatively level park area. Continuing
south, it is proposed to bring the main line under Gilbert
Avenue and along the east side of the German Protestant
Cemetery, from here following a diagonal line in a valley
less pronounced but with few improvements of value,
connecting into Alms Place to McMillan Street. From here
it again takes the valley line in the center of a wide block
between present improvements, over a deep depression it
crosses Francis Lane, reaching the Park Avenue Bridge
through a practically unoccupied property, and in this way
connects into Eden Park.
One of the most difficult problems encountered in pre-
paring the completed system is that of a connection between
Burnet Woods and Eden Park, which has been given
special study. The solution which it has seemed best to
recommend is that worked out in the plan. Leaving
Eden Park by means of a viaduct and passing over Flor-
ence Avenue, a narrow ridge is reached paralleling Hunt
Street at its eastern side at an elevation considerably above
it. Passing along this ridge on a double line parkway,
Burnet Avenue is reached by going under McMillan Street
with additional passageway made under this street, while
Burnet Avenue is used from this point to University Avenue.
This, with the connection from here into Burnet Woods,
has been termed the "Burnet and Eden Parkway."
It has been deplored that a property of such importance
and beauty as Burnet Woods should be inaccessible except
from the western side, while the main territory which it
should serve lies to the east. It is with this in view and
the difficulty of finding any other satisfactory solution for
its connection with Eden Park, that so important and
extensive a feature has been planned between the park
and Burnet Avenue. It will readily be seen that any single
Burnet and
Eden
Parkways
17
39
:
Its Embel-
lishments
line driveway up and down over the hills that intercept
this connection would be trivial and inadequate in reaching
the desired end. It is therefore proposed to take half of
the block between University Avenue and Daniels Street
making a double line parkway highly embellished and
interspersed with a variety of park improvements, which
would form an interesting approach throughout this entire
stretch and, in fact, carry Burnet Woods itself through
to an entrance from Burnet Avenue. As difficult and
radical as this project may at first appear, it is well war-
ranted by the results secured and will afford a chain of
parks which can appropriately be given all of the archi-
tectural and garden embellishments that the imagination
can depict. At the same time it is believed from knowledge
of similar improvements in other cities that the surrounding
property will so respond to the improvement as to leave no
cause for criticism or regret in the securing of this impor-
tant feature. An instance of such existing improvement
most nearly paralleling that here projected is the Paseo
of the Kansas City park system, which was carried out by
securing a strip of property of very similar proportions and
conditions and resulted in the fine improvement, from which
illustrative views are given in this report.
In explaining the plan for the Burnet and Eden Park-
way, the following features may be noted. Starting from
Burnet Avenue, an important architectural feature, possibly
a colonnade, is planned as a monumental entrance, not
only for the parkway itself, but suggestive that there is
the more important property of Burnet Woods beyond.
Encouraged by such an entrance, the visitor would pass
westward along the lines of the driveways or the ample
walks, diversified with occasional fountains, or broadening
into rest spaces which would be sheltered by heavy border
plantations of trees and shrubbery. The descent into the
first valley is marked by a flight of steps enclosing a wall
40
PLAN FOR BURNET AND EDEN PARKWAY.

E.RS
UNIV
OF
H
BURNET
WOODS
DENNIS
ST.
260.0.
ALICE
ST.
BISHOP
ST
BISHOP
ST.
1907
REPORT OF HE
PARK COMMISSION OF CINCINNATI
MADISON
ST
DANIELS
E
MADISON
ST
UNIVERSITY
SANDERS
ST.
ZELTNER
ST
JEFFERSON AVE
JEFFERSON
AVE.
R
S
PUBLIC
SCHOOL
PLAYGROUND
LIBRARY
PARKWAY PLAN
SECTION
PLAN
FOR BURNET AND EDEN PARKWAY
WEST OF BURNET AVENUE.
PUBLIC
SCHOOL
VINE
09
LIBRARY
ST
STREE
PLAT OF EXISTING PROPERTY LINES
Dotted lines indicate boundaries of Proposed Parkway.
VINE
ST
GEO. E. KESSLER
LANDSCAPE
& CO.
ARCHITECTS
EUCLID
AVE.
LAK 23
T
E
EUCLID
N
Z EDEN
FOSDICK
AVE
GOD
AVE.
400
09
VAUGHAN
ST
100
SCALE IN FEET.
200
EDEN
O
N
BELLEVUE AVE
ST
300
89
AVE
210.0
FOSDICK
OAK
0
AVENUE
BELLEVUE
HIGHLAND AVE
AVE
330.0
ST.
09
6.412
210.0"
AVE
200.0
2800
HIGHLAND
ST
BURNET
AVE
BURNET
AVE

THE FORMAL
CHARACTER OF
BURNET AND
EDEN PARKWAY
ESPECIALLY
CALLS FOR THE
USE OF ARCHI-
TECTURAL EM-
BELLISHMENT.
THE NARROW
PARKWAY IS
ENHANCED BY
ARCHITECTUR-
AL DETAIL OF-
TEN FORMING A
FRAME FOR EF-
FECTIVE VIEWS.
用
​fountain, which, in turn, supplies water for a pool in the
sunken garden feature between Gerard and Eden Avenues;
while between Eden and Euclid Avenues has been planned
a little lake, which will become a picturesque feature; and
in connection with it there will be a shelter building and
sand-courts for the children, while a portion of the lake
may have a sandy beach forming a wading pool-always
of the greatest attraction for the little ones. At Vine Street
an interesting possibility is presented of embracing the
grounds about the Branch Public Library and the Twenty-
third District School, while additional playground space will
appropriately be provided for the latter. Descending again
into the valley between this and Burnet Woods there is a
wall and steps with a garden feature, and from this into
Burnet Woods the parkway is treated in an informal manner
more in keeping with the larger property.
It may be remarked that the Paseo from which these
views have been taken is not as extensive as the one here
projected, and the idea is readily brought out that this will
become in reality a continuous neighborhood park with
many interesting nooks for the enjoyment of those living
in the immediate vicinity. The value of such an improve-
ment is therefore twofold, in providing the much-needed
connecting link and forming at the same time one of the
most attractive local improvements that has been planned.
In the projected improvements on Forest Avenue,
Observatory Avenue and other similar lines, it is necessary
only to use these already attractive streets as they now stand,
except for special points of correction and the securing
of uniformity in construction, tree planting, walks, etc.,
all of which should be placed under the charge of those
entrusted with carrying out the other park improvements.
Columbia Parkway, occupying largely the present line
of Columbia Avenue, is an improvement which has been
in the minds of a majority of the citizens for many years.
Forest
Avenue, Etc.
41
Columbia
Parkway
Mount
Adams Im-
provement
Torrence
Road
To make it of value it is necessary that at least one tier of
lots on the south side of Columbia Avenue should be secured
throughout the entire line and present buildings removed,
while as much of the hillside property above Columbia
Avenue should be secured as it is possible to obtain through
donation and moderate purchase. The result will be a
beautiful hillside park and driveway overlooking the Ohio
River, and sufficiently removed from the business activi-
ties which line its shores to form an interesting outlook
over these and to the distant hills beyond. However, the
whole improvement will be of little value unless it is con-
tinued below Eden Park and around the base of Mount
Adams connecting into the Mall by means of Gilbert Avenue
Viaduct. It is therefore proposed that, beginning at a
point from one-third to one-half the distance up the side of
this hill to take the remaining hillside practically to the
crest, removing the small houses now existing there, and
on this slope to build a driveway reaching into Eden Park
and Columbia Parkway on easy lines, while at a point
opposite Court Street it is proposed that a series of stairways
and terraces shall lead directly to a hilltop observation
point which will command an interesting view of the entire
business section.
As has already been explained, the main line of Colum-
bia Parkway is carried back into the hills and over the
Grandin Road Bridge for a connection into Columbia
Park, while Columbia Avenue is to be used as a parkway
of the present street width from the point of departure of
the main line parkway to the base of Columbia Park.
The parkway taking the line of Torrence Road is for
the most part little more than accepting present conditions,
reaching up the valley between pleasing residence proper-
ties, and winding up into Owls' Nest Park, an attractive
little spot now owned by the city. Northward from here
it will again take a neglected valley, dressing up much of
42
the rugged and unkempt property now remaining among
otherwise beautiful residence districts of Walnut Hills.
Here it reaches into Duck Creek Park and thence by Duck
Creek Valley into the northern system as already explained.
Miami Park and the waterworks property have already
been sufficiently explained in the general description.
The improvement projected for the hillsides of Mount
Auburn and reaching thence to the westward along the hill
above McMicken Avenue, has been shown chiefly for the
purpose of drawing attention to the possibilities of cleaning
up these unsightly conditions and beautifying these bald
waste lands without proposing that they shall be made of
any great practical value at this time in the form of con-
tinuous parkways with connecting drives, which, on account
of the many indentations and steep slopes, would be a very
costly and difficult undertaking. However, Inwood Park,
already the property of the city, forms the nucleus for an
improvement of this kind and the value of making more
presentable the conditions on this hillside, which is in view
from every portion of the business district, will doubtless
be appreciated and should be undertaken by the city with
the other projected improvements.
Mount
Auburn
Hillside
Summing up the entire improvement, we can readily
assure you that the entire system does not comprise any
project which should be found very difficult of achieve-
ment or in any way subject to criticism as an over-elaborate
or idealistic proposition. While the scheme is necessarily
extensive, as must needs be to cover so completely the
city with needed park improvements and adequate con-
necting parkways, still the total area proposed is remark-
ably small. An approximate estimate has been made fully
covering all of the improvements planned, except the small
single line driveways which occupy practically only present Areas
rights-of-way, and it has been found that the entire park
areas amount to ten hundred and fifty acres; while in the
43-
parkways, forming as they do much more important im-
provements than the suggested parks, there is a little less
actual land area, or very nearly nine hundred and eighty
acres, which, together with your present park area, makes
a total of approximately twenty-five hundred acres.
Respectfully submitted,
GEO. E. KESSLER & Co.,
Landscape Architects.
The report of the landscape architect has had our care-
ful consideration and approval, and we earnestly recommend
the earliest consistent execution of all the projects herein
presented. With such funds as are at present available, or
which may be made available in the near future, the Park
Commission suggests and recommends that the acquisition of
the necessary property connecting Burnet Woods and Eden
Park by means of the proposed parkway be accomplished,
beginning preferably with the property which adjoins Eden
Park and is planned to eventually be devoted to the parkway.
The key of the whole plan is the taking over of the
canal, which, in Mr. Kessler's report, is designated as the
Central Parkway. This will eliminate an eyesore from
the central part of the city below the hills; do away with
the temptation to barter the people's property to the rail-
roads; give us at once what no other city in America has,
namely: a parkway 150 feet in width through the heart of
the city, and lastly, make the canal one in reality by con-
necting it with the Ohio River through Millcreek. By
44
turning the canal into Millcreek just west of Spring Grove
Cemetery and continuing it to the Ohio River, two very
important problems will be solved, namely: cause the rec-
lamation of all waste bottom lands. Moreover, these low
lands will be filled, and there will no longer be backwater
from the Ohio River to menace viaducts or the inhabi-
tants of Cumminsville district.
As far back as 1896, so eminent an authority as Captain
H. M. Chittenden, a United States Government Engineer,
made a special study of the feasibility of connecting the
canal with the Ohio River by way of Millcreek, and
reported favorably.
The Park Commission feels that in recommending the
abandonment of the canal within the territory above men-
tioned, and its connection with the Ohio River as indicated,
the Commission shows its loyalty to the canal question in
general and the betterment of the Miami and Erie Canal
in particular.
Statistics show that, compared with other cities of equal
importance in population, Cincinnati is lamentably behind
in the matter of park areas, for, while standing as eleventh
in point of population we rank but fortieth in point of
park area, and, even were it possible to acquire at once
all of the property contemplated in this report, we still
would not be in the fore rank in this respect.
The question of recreation and playgrounds in the
congested districts of our city; the connecting of our pres-
45-

—
-46-
0
CHILDREN'S SWIMMING POOL, CHICAGO.

CHILDREN'S OUTDOOR GYMNASIUM, CHICAGO.
-47-

UNIV
OF
MICH
48-
111
INDOOR GYMNASIUM, CHICAGO.
ent parks with driveways, and the embellishment of small
parks as view points, which have been most carefully selected,
will recommend themselves without further argument.
The selection of a Plaza in front of the proposed New
Union Railway Station, thus giving the stranger entering
the city a favorable impression, has appealed strongly to
your Commissioners. It is a notorious fact that, in con-
trast with what is seen abroad, the passenger terminals
in American cities are almost invariably in squalid sur-
roundings, and the proposed Plaza would serve the double
purpose of presenting a pleasing aspect to strangers enter-
ing the city, while serving a thoroughly congested district
with park area and a playground. Even should the
Union Railway Station be placed elsewhere, your Com-
missioners would still favor a Plaza fronting this station.
Your Commission has also considered plans for the
creation of a Board to carry out the scheme contained in
our accompanying report. In such consideration we have
examined the various methods, present or prospective,
which other cities have adopted, or are now discussing,
and, after obtaining advice as to the legality of such meth-
ods in Ohio, we submit the accompanying skeleton of a
Bill (marked Appendix A) to be submitted to the General
Assembly of Ohio, providing for the creation of a Board
of Park Commissioners.
The plans as proposed are not idealistic, but are thor-
oughly feasible, and while extensive are still very conserva-
:
49
tive for a city embracing approximately fifty square miles
within its boundaries, with a population of four hundred
thousand, and having an assessed valuation of $237,500,000.
In conclusion, we beg to recommend to your Board
the approval of this comprehensive plan as a whole, ex-
pecting that the municipality will consistently and grad-
ually acquire the properties embraced herein distributing
the improvements equitably in the different sections of the
city, and as rapidly as the city's means will permit.
We wish to thank the members of your Honorable
Board individually and collectively for the courteous treat-
ment and hearty cooperation you have always shown this
Park Commission.
Respectfully submitted,
MAX SENIOR,
HENRY RATTERMANN,
WM. B. POLAND,
L. A. AULT,
WM. SALWAY.
50-

सगळ
10
INS
PRICE HILL
PLAYGROUND
HO
LINCOLN
PARK
MAP OF THE
AREA OF CONGESTED POPULATION-OF-
CINCINNATI
IN ITS RELATION TO THE PRESENT AND
PROPOSED PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS
REPORT OF THE
PARK COMMISSION OF CINCINNATI
1907
GROVE AV
SPRING
PLAYGROUND
LIBERTY
37
MCKINLEY PL
COURT 37
BURNET
WOODS
MC
MILLAN
INWOOD
PARK
MT AUBURN
LAYGROUND
HINGTON
EIGHTH ST
CITY HAL
U.B.RO.
STH
PLAYGROUND
VINE
37
2ND
LYTLE
PARK
HUNT ST
AVE
GILBERT
HUNT ST
ATHLETIC
PARK
EDEN PARK
MT ADAMS
RIVER
Explanation.
PRESENT
PARKS.
NEW PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS.
ZAMORE THAN 100 PERSONS PER ACRE
MORE THAN 200 PERSONS *
MORE THAN 300 PERSONS &

BRIDGETOWN
ROXD
NORTH
BEND
HARRIS
SON
WILSON
COMMON
ROAD
AVE
COLERAIN
LIMITS
EIGHTH
SPRING GROVE
HAMIL
TON AV
LUDLOW AV
BURNET
COOOM:
CAR
SMILLAN
INWOOD
PARK
MCKINLEY
LINCOLN
WASHINGTON
PARK
PARK
ST.
MAP
VINE
N
OF
PIKE
READING
ROAD
EDEN
HOPKINS
PARK
PARK
LYTLE
CINCINNATI
SHOWING EXISTING PARK PROPERTIES.
REPORT OF THE
PARK COMMISSION OF CINCINNATI.
-
11907-
Block lines represent Square Miles.
OWLS NEST
PARK
GILBERT
HYDE PARK
PUMPING STATION
FARK
MADISON
WATER
WORKS
PIKE

UNIV
OF
BRIDGETOWN
NORTH
BEND
CITY
HARRISON
AVE
COLERAIN
LIMITS
SPRING GROVE
HAMILTON AV
VE.
LUDLOW AV
BURNET
WOODS.
CART
W
७
READING
ROAD
AVE
MEMIL
LAN
AVE
EIGHTH
ST
ப
RONT
E
BE
ST.
ST.
VINE
EDEN
PARK
MAP OF
CINCINNATI.
SHOWING PROPOSED PARK SYSTEM.
REPORT OF THE
PARK COMMISSION OF CINCINNATI
1907.
Block lines represent Square Miles
ILBERT
CARTH A
GE AVE.
MADISONVILLE
PIKE.
EASTERN
WATER
WORKS
PARK
へ
​MICH

2
ROCK
RE
EK
RK
20010GFDAL PARK
OUTLINE OF THE
PARK SYSTEM OF
WASHINGTON
DC.
PARK LANDS SHOWN IN GREEN.
BLOCK LINES REPRESENT SQUARE MILES
NALL
POTOMAC
POTOMAC
PARK
RIVER
UNIV
OF
MICH

ARLINGTON
RES.
ர
}
NEWTON
LOWER FALLS
יח
प्ल
MIDDLESEX
FELLS
CHESTNUT
HILL
RESERVATION
COMMON
3
MAP OF THE
METROPOLITAN PARK SYSTEM
OF
BOSTON
BLOCK LINES REPRESENT SQUARE MILES
FENS
ARNOLD
FRANKLIN
ARBORETUM
PARK
HYDE
PARK
LYNN
WOODS
B
REVERE
BEACH.
THE BLUE HILLS
8
BOSTON
BAY
AEW
UNIV
OF
MICH

UNIE
OF
LISTO
AVE
COLERAIN PIKE
BOUND
BURNET
MC
1000M
KILLAN
EDEN
PARK
GILBERT
Explanation
MANUFACTURING PROPERTY
WITH SWITCHING FACILITIES.
RETAIL BUSINESS PROPERTY
EXISTING PARKS
REMAINING LIGHT SPACES
RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY
RAILROADS.
MAP
OF
CINCINNATI-
SHOWING THE PROBABLE LINES OF.
INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPEMENT OF THIS CITY.
PARK COMMISSION OF CINCINNATI
1907.
BOUNDARY.
EASTE
WATER
WORKS
MICH
Outline of a Bill Providing for Creation of a
Park Commission in Municipalities within the
State of Ohio.
I. Whenever five percent of the voters of any munic-
ipality within the State shall petition the Deputy State
Board of Supervisors of such city for the privilege to deter-
mine by ballot whether there shall be appointed a Board
of Park Commissioners, with the powers hereinafter pro-
vided for, said Board shall order and hold, within sixty
days of the receipt of such petition, a special election, pro-
viding said petition asks for such special election; and if
said petition does not ask for such special election, then
the question presented in the petition shall be submitted
to the electors at the next general election.
II. If a majority of the electors, voting at such elec-
tion, shall vote in favor of the appointment of such Board,
the Mayor shall immediately appoint five electors of said
city, as members of such commission. Said five members
shall be appointed for a term of one, two, three, four and
five years, and their successors shall be appointed for a
term of four years. They shall serve without compensa-
tion and shall give bond in the sum of $5,000.00 for the
faithful performance of their duties.
The Mayor shall have the power to remove any or all
of the five members so appointed at any time, but before
51-
such removal shall take effect he shall transmit in writing
to said Board the reasons for such removal or removals.
III. Said Board shall have the following powers:
(1) (a) Exclusive power to divide the city into such
number of Park Districts, as they shall deter-
mine upon, and to constitute such districts
Special Taxing Districts for the purpose of
levying taxes, within such districts, as is
hereinafter authorized.
(b) Exclusively all the powers now vested in
Council in the purchase, acquisition and ap-
propriation of real estate for parks, park
entrances, boulevards, children's playgrounds
and viaducts connected therewith and in the
improvement, construction, repair and main-
tenance of the same; all legislation passed
in the exercise of this power to be presented
to and signed by the Mayor.
(c) Power to adopt regulations as to the use of
parks, park entrances, boulevards, children's
playgrounds and connecting viaducts, and for
the protection thereof, and to impose penal-
ties for the violation of such regulations, the
same to be published in the same manner
as ordinances; all legislation passed in the
exercise of this power to be presented to and
signed by the Mayor.
(d) Power to occupy any street, avenue or public
way for boulevard purposes, and when so
occupied to improve and maintain the same
as such, and when so occupied to levy special
assessments upon the abutting, adjacent, con-
1
52
tiguous and other specially benefited land or
lands in the vicinity, to pay the cost of such
improvement and maintenance; all legisla-
tion passed in the exercise of this power to
be presented to and signed by the Mayor.
(2) (a) Exclusively all the powers and perform all
the duties and be governed by the same rules,
conditions and limitations as to parks, park
entrances, boulevards, children's playgrounds
and viaducts connected therewith now vested
in and imposed upon the Board of Public
Service.
(b) Power to employ a secretary, engineer, a
legal counsel, clerks and such other employ-
ees as may be necessary for carrying into
effect the objects of this act.
(3) (a) All the powers of Council in the issuing of
bonds for the purchase of real estate or other
property for parks, park entrances, boule-
vards, children's playgrounds and viaducts
connecting therewith, subject only to the ap-
proval of the Mayor and to such limitations
on the exercise of such power as may be
provided by this act.
(b) Power to levy taxes to provide a fund for
the purchase, acquisition or appropriation,
or for the improvement, construction, repair
and maintenance of parks, boulevards, park
entrances, playgrounds and connecting via-
ducts, on either (1) all the property of the
municipality as a whole, or (2) on all prop-
erty within any Park District which may
53-
J
have been created a Special Taxing District
by said Board, and the fund arising from
such levy on any Special Taxing District shall
be used only for the purchase, acquisition, or
appropriation or for the improvement, con-
struction, repair or maintenance of such parks,
boulevards, park entrances, playgrounds and
connecting viaducts, as are or may be located
within said Special Taxing District.
Any ordinance providing for the levying of
a tax shall be presented to and signed by the
Mayor, and if he approve the same, it shall
then be transmitted to Council, which body
shall, without amendment or revision, certify
the same to the County Auditor, who shall
collect the same, as other taxes are collected.
This power of taxation to be limited to a
certain number of mills or fraction thereof
each year.
(c) In addition to the power to levy special assess-
ments to pay for the cost of the improvement,
construction, repair and maintenance of streets,
avenues or public ways which may be used
for boulevard purposes, said Board shall have
power to levy special assessments, according
to the method prescribed for the levying of
assessments by Council, upon the abutting,
adjacent, contiguous or other specially bene-
fited lands, to pay for the improvement,
construction, repair or maintenance of parks,
boulevards, park entrances, playgrounds and
connecting viaducts.
54-
Press of C.J.
Krehbiel
& Co.
Cincinnati,
Ohio, U.S.A
DO NOT REMOVE
OR
MUTILATE CARD
C(UHMER3W =e
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
3 9015 07466 4866
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