02/05/2023
Before Smale Riverfront Park was a park, the area was occupied by Riverfront Stadium aka Cinergy Field. The stadium was the home of the Reds (1970 - 2002) and Bengals (1970 - 1999). It was demolished at the end of 2002, which eventually made way for a beautiful greenspace to be constructed in the heart of downtown Cincinnati.
Construction on the park began in 2008 and opened to the public in May 2012, though construction didn't finish until 2015. John G. Smale gifted $20 million to create this park, and dedicated the gift in honor of his wife, Phyllis (hence the name John G. and Phyllis W. Smale Riverfront Park). This park has become one of our most popular and heavily visited parks.
The park boasts multiple water play features, giant swings, an interactive foot piano, an imaginative play area for kids, expansive pollinator gardens, and Carol Ann’s Carousel. Several historical monuments can be found like the Black Brigade Monument and the recently dedicated Marian Spencer Statue.
If you love Smale Riverfront Park as much as most, please vote it as 2023 Best Riverwalk in the USA. Tomorrow is the last day of voting: https://bit.ly/3wbiMtS
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