The Cincinnati Park Board has been selected to receive the National Facility/Park Design Award by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) for Smale Riverfront Park.
This award recognizes the uniqueness and innovativeness of the Park’s design, the inclusiveness of the design process and the creative ways the Cincinnati Park Board met the objectives and needs of the community.
NRPA will present the award publicly at a special reception at the association’s 2013 National Congress & Exposition in Houston, Texas on Wednesday, October 9, 2013.
The Cincinnati Park Board initiated planning for the park in 1997 and has managed the project since then. Phase 1 of Smale Riverfront Park opened on May 18, 2012 and with the 2nd phase now open, the park has grown to 10 acres and represents an investment of over $30 million of both public and private funds. Ultimately the park is projected to cost $120 million.
Smale Riverfront Park has been a catalyst for the development of the newest downtown neighborhood – The Banks development.
“Since its Grand Opening in May, 2012, Smale Riverfront Park has attracted thousands of visitors,” said Willie F. Carden, Jr., Director of Cincinnati Parks. “The work of our outstanding team ensured that Smale Riverfront Park would exceed all expectations in terms of use and popularity—and it has. Future phases are already under construction and will include a carousel, innovative new playgrounds, promenades and additional water features. The Park Board will accept this award on behalf of the citizens of Cincinnati who have longdeserved this tremendous rebirth of their historic riverfront.”
Each year, NRPA National Awards are presented to individuals and agencies across the U.S. to honor their efforts—both professional and personal—in the field of parks and recreation. Recipients are selected from a pool of applicants by NRPA’s National Awards and Scholarship Committee, and are chosen for excellence in a variety of topics, including professional and voluntary service, programming, leadership, research and public outreach.