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Great Parks Receives Over $1 Million in State Funding for New Westwood Park

Great Parks says the funds will be used to develop the park under the master plan, which includes amenities like trails, boardwalks, playscapes, a greenhouse, an accessible treehouse and more.

Jul 24, 2024 at 1:50 pm

The Great Parks park at the former Gamble estate in Westwood. Photo: Provided by Great Parks

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A big project from Hamilton County’s parks system is getting some help from Ohio’s state budget.

Great Parks announced Tuesday that it will be receiving $1.25 million in state funding for its newest park on the grounds of the former James N. Gamble estate in Westwood. The park opened in April 2022 and the parks system completed its master plan for the space this past January.

The money is coming from Ohio’s biennial capital budget and will be administered by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Great Parks says it will be used to develop the park under the master plan, which was formed in collaboration with the community and includes amenities like trails, boardwalks, playscapes, a greenhouse, an accessible treehouse and more.

Todd Palmeter, CEO of Great Parks, said in a press release that he’s extending thanks to those who offered their support to the park, including Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine; state legislators, including those from Southwest Ohio; Hamilton County and City of Cincinnati leaders; the Cincinnati Business Committee/Cincinnati Regional Business Committee Capital Budget Prioritization Task Force and the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber.

Great Parks Recommends Its Favorite Cincinnati Parks for Every Sort of Outdoor Adventure: CityBeat spoke with Amy Roell, Great Parks’ director of programming, to help you plan your summertime fun outside.

“We are grateful for this broad support of the new Great Park in Westwood — a true urban oasis inside the City of Cincinnati that has strong backing from the community,” Palmeter said in the release. “Securing this state funding for the park is the latest example of how we are using public and private dollars together to achieve the public’s vision for the future of Great Parks.

The Westwood park will be updated in four phases, which could take up to seven years and over $18 million to complete.

Trail That Would Connect Lunken Airport to Sawyer Point Gets Green Light: An agreement reached on easement means the Oasis Trail can move onto the design and engineering phase.

The Westwood park is located at 2918 Werk Road. You can read more about its master plan here.

Slideshow

28 Hikes in Greater Cincinnati That'll Make You Feel One With Nature

Mt. Airy Forest5083 Colerain Ave., Mt. AiryForest trails zigzag through the thick — and sometimes hilly — Mt. Airy woods with trails ranging from 0.7 miles to 4 miles. Mt. Airy is also home to Everybody’s Treehouse, Ohio’s only wheelchair-accessible public treehouse, as well as a beautiful arboretum, mountain bike trail and a dog park.

Fernbank Park50 Thornton Ave., Sayler ParkThis peaceful park offers a 1.2-mile paved walking loop that offers gorgeous riverfront views and shaded benches perfect for a break to rest or people-watch. Fernbank also has the 1-mile Sycamore Trail that takes you through the woods. It’s also just a short walk away from 13 Below, a microbrewery that makes delicious beers and hard seltzers (we recommended the orange cream one on a hot summer day). In the warmer months, Cabana on the River is also open, offering guests beachy foods, refreshing margaritas and amazing views of the Ohio River so you can relax and refuel.

Sharon Woods11450 Lebanon Road, SharonvilleThere’s no need to drive too far if you want to hike to a waterfall in Ohio. Great Parks’ Sharon Woods in Sharonville is home to several along its Gorge Trail. This moderate-level, out-and-back trail stretches about 0.7 miles one way. You start the hike at Sharon Lake and follow the creek, where you’ll spot several small waterfalls. As you take in their beauty, you’ll notice the alternating layers of shale and limestone rock in the gorge. These rocks are filled with fossils that date back to the Ordovician period – about 450 million years ago. The park also boasts a 2.6-mile paved, multipurpose trail around Sharon Lake and a 1-mile fitness trail.

Ohio River Trail (Downtown Cincinnati)Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park: 1135 Riverside Drive, East End; Smale Riverfront Park: 166 W. Mehring Way, DowntownFor an easygoing urban hike, you can’t beat the couple-mile stretch of the Ohio River Trail between Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park in the East End and Smale Riverfront Park downtown. Start your journey at either end and meander along the river, enjoying the views of the Roebling Bridge and Northern Kentucky. On the way, you’ll also pass through Sawyer Point and Yeatman’s Cove, which offers plenty of relaxing spots to rest. Or, you can go off-trail and onto the Purple People Bridge, which will take you over the river to Newport on the Levee where you can refuel with a drink or snack from Bridgeview Box Park.

Ault Park5090 Observatory Circle, Mt. LookoutAult Park is nestled within a quiet nook of Mount Lookout. Here, the suburban rush slows to a lull. From early morning until late afternoon, the sprawling landscape is full of people traversing its paved loops and gravel trails. If the park were smaller than its boastful 224 acres, it may feel crowded.

Big Bone Lick State Historic Site3380 Beaver Road, UnionIf you're up for a short drive, Big Bone Lick State Park in Union has a collection of easy and moderate trails that pass through the historic site's woodlands, grasslands, savanna and salt-sulfur springs. Named after the Ice Age megafauna that once occupied the area and its saltwater streams, the park is still home to a collection of giant mammals: bison. The 10 to 15 on view are a link to the Ice Age and an attempt to reestablish a herd of the endangered animals at the park.

Click to View 28 slides

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About The Author

Katherine Barrier

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she oversees the digital and social media strategies, edits web and print content and writes for the dining and arts...