 
The City of Cincinnati offers a variety of park systems, including a 1,400-acre forest, a Conservatory, nature centers, arboreteums and dog parks. In addition, the public art collection is the largest in the Midwest. The park system has been rated by the Trust for Public Land as "excellent," and USA Today ranked the network of reserves as one of the three best managed in the United States. Alms ParkLocated in the historic Columbia-Tusculum neighborhood on the east end of Cincinnati, the 94-acre Frederick H. Alms Memorial Park on Mt. Tusculum offers a breathtaking view of the Ohio River and Lunken Airport. The point was originally nicknamed "Bald Hill" for the clearing created by Native Americans, who cleared trees to have an sightless view of the early settlers of "Columbia." Later, the land was owned by Nicholas Longworth who used the property to produce Catawba wine prior to the Civil War. It was later sold to Federick H. Alms, who donated it to the Cincinnati Park Board in 1916.Eden ParkEden Park is home to the Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park and the Krohn Conservatory. One of the most popular parks in the city, the hilly reserve includes a historic and picturesque gazebo, various fountains and Twin Lakes that offers spectacular views of the Ohio River and northern Kentucky.The Krohn Conservatory is located within the park and is one of Cincinnati's crown jewels, featuring an indoor rain forest, tropical house and desert garden, along with spacious rooms for orchids and floral displays. Showcasing more than 3,500 plant species from around the globe, the aluminum and glass Conservatory was constructed in 1933 at the height of the Art Deco era, and features sweeping, simple curvatures and decorative elements that evoke an earlier era. Numerous exhibits are hosted at the Conservatory throughout the year, including the popular "Butterfly Show," a showcase of thousands of butterflies that roam a themed garden, and themed wine tastings.  Mt. Airy ForestMt. Airy Forest, located along Colerain Avenue, offers a bountiful assortment of rolling hills, streams, gardens, wildlife, and forested areas within ten minutes of downtown Cincinnati. It is the city's largest park and offers some of the most diverse landscapes within the region.Mt. Airy Forest dates to 1911, when the Cincinnati Park Board purchased 168 acres of land and began the first municipal reforestation project in the United States. The land was previously a collection of small farms, whose land was degraded from overuse and poor agricultural practices. Over the next ten years post-purchase, over 1,000 acres were purchased for the purpose of reforestation and conservation; this total would increase to over 1,400 acres. Today, there are 700 acres reforested in hardwood, 200 acres in evergreens, 269 acres in native woodland and 170 acres of open meadows. Located within the forest is the 120-acre Mt. Airy Arboretum, containing more than 5,000 plants representing 1,600 species and varieties of trees and shrubs. Nestled amongst the plantings is a picturesque spring-fed lake. Mt. Echo ParkLocated along Elberon Avenue in Price Hill, Mt. Echo offers 84 acres of steep wooded hillsides that contain short hiking trails, several playgrounds, picnic areas, and several spectacular overlooks of the Ohio River valley. The centerpiece of the park is the Mt. Echo Pavilion, constructed in 1928 by the Works Progress Administration that is often used for dances, community events and other functions. Sharon WoodsSharon Woods is a Hamilton County park located in the Cincinnati suburb of Sharonville. Containing the placid 35-acre Sharon Woods Lake with boathouse as its centerpiece, the park also features a 2.6-mile paved loop around the lake, the Sharon Centre visitor center and an 18-hole golf course. To the immediate south of the lake is the Sharon Woods Gorge, an Ohio nature preserve that showcases 90-foot cliffs, towering maple and ash trees, and small waterfalls along Sharon Creek.Shawnee WoodsShawnee Woods is one of Hamilton County's more remote reserves located west of Cincinnati near the Indiana border. Situated on over 1,400 acres, the park includes an 18-hole golf course and the Shawnee Centre, a pro shop, snack bar and visitor center that contains archaeological exhibits.Shawnee Woods also contains the Springhouse School and Log Cabin, illustrating early pioneer education and life, a boat launch ramp that accesses the Great Miami and Ohio rivers, and over 1,200 acres of wetlands that provide bountiful habitats for birds, fish and animals. | ||
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