Smale Riverfront Park connects downtown Cincinnati to the Ohio River and the existing riverfront parks. A wonderful location to view the bustling activity along The Ohio River Trail, and a place to gather and celebrate as a community. 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. I was on a roadtrip and my family dropped me off in downtown Cincinnati and I gravitated to Smale Riverfront Park because I wanted a place to explore nature and see river views. I explored the scenic walkways along the Ohio, flower gardens, fountains, public art, picnic spots, and plenty of space to just chill. One of my favorite features were the riverfront swings, big, bench-style swings tucked along the water that are perfect for kicking back and enjoying the view. They're surprisingly comfortable and such a great spot to unwind and reconnect with your inner child. The park has amazing views of the Roebling Suspension Bridge and Ohio River are worth the visit on their own, the paths are wide and great for families, and there's lots to explore without feeling overcrowded. There are splash zones for kids, places to sit and picnic, and tons of photo ops. read more

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This was our first thing we decided to do when we got into town. Parking was not easy and we just ended up in the lot paying a crazy amount of money but the views alone were worth it. Plus it was a nice little park. My son also enjoyed everything here like seriously did not want to leave. I loved the swings, just what a gorgeous place. read more

There are many small parks along side of Cincinnati River. Smale is among one the many. Each park has its own theme, some has tennis courts, some has jungle plays for kids, some has open space for sports, some has water plays, others have picnic options, and many more. It's really fun to walk along side of the river and check out all the parks. There are convenient parking garages , kids play areas, shopping and restaurants near by. Also very close to all the stadiums. enjoy the beautiful river views, @WineDinenVacay highly recommend this park. read more

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Really nice park right on the water, the Ohio River, in Cincinnati. Came here very early (6:30am) to take a quick walk before my flight back home to the Bay Area and it was FREEZING! But it was so beautiful. I did want to go all the way to the end but it was cold and looked a bit sketchy only because it was super dark and cold. Other than that, great looking park and bridge. read more

nice park ... very cool interactive things to do for kids adults of all ages. Great for all times of year.. with amazing sights of the city, bridges, and ohio river. From the winding pathed and interactive sights this was worth checking out. read more

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loved the vibe! Live bands playing, walking by the riverfront, swinging on the many swings by the riverfront. My 5 year old had fun in the flying pig, you gotta activate it by pulling on the ropes attached to the wings and the body. Also see the world's largest chime foot piano. My kid also had fun in the water play features. The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge is also right here.. can enjoy the breeze and walk through there! The Carol Ann's Carousel was closed actually, but when they saw him crying outside they exclusively opened it for him, that was so lovely! read more

Sometimes you just need to take a break, breathe in some fresh air and let yourself find peace. Parks are wonderful places to do it. They let you relax your mind, while enjoying being surrounded by nature. Smale Riverfront Park located in Cincinatti, is definitely a great place to clear your mind and enjoy oneself. There is a rock garden as well as plenty of flowerbeds and trees to enjoy nature. There are also sculptures to take a look at. There are plenty of benches to sit in as well as swings, which are a pleasure to use. The park also has amazing views of the Ohio River and the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge. It's a great little park to spend even a couple of hours in and have a picnic with friends, family and loved ones. I would recommend anyone in the area to take advantage of the amenities found in this beautiful park. read more

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Smale Park will always hold a special place in my heart ... even though I still don't really know it's pronounced like "small" or "s-mail." Not only was this one of the first places I visited when I moved to Cincy a few years ago ... this was where I met my fiancé for the first time. From the stunning Roebling Suspension bridge, to the blooming tulips and roses, to the modern art displays ... you almost don't mind that the Ohio River is more brown than blue. This is a great place to take a long walk and enjoy the sunshine, or a lovely place for a picnic. Smale Park is popular, especially as the weather warms up, so be prepared to see lots of families with children, people walking their dogs, bicyclists, scooterers, and even roller-skaters. I don't mind the hustle and bustle: it's a pleasant reminder that there's a diverse community of folks living in Cincinnati, and that being by a river is one of the many things that makes our city unique. read more

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My absolute favorite park in the city. The park is so beautifully kept with the most gorgeous tulips, gardens, and lawn. It has a perfect view of the river accompanied by large swings and benches to take it all in. Our kids love the play areas and interactive activities such as the in-ground keyboard. They also host free events including festivals for children and live music. Voted Best Riverwalk in the US, Smale is truly the best. read more

Snake riverfront park is very beautiful and relaxing park area in the downtown Cincinnati Ohio waterfront area. Me and my family was in town for a weekend getaway to go to a concert at nearby great American ballpark. We was walking around the area and came across this park that has several cool waterfall fountains. All kinds of pretty scenery and amazing views. Overall very nice park that is situated perfectly between the cities professional baseball and football stadiums. read more

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What an absolutely gorgeous park with a fantastic view of the city, the bridge and NKY! I happen to be related to one of the talented people that maintain the greenery and flowers. So glad he insisted we come for a visit. It's the perfect place for either a relaxing or power walk or a run. It's peaceful and beautiful. Cincinnati riverfront has really come a long way in the seven years we've been gone. Smale Park is a crowning jewel. read more

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Such a great spot to bring the kiddos, dogs, family, and friends. I appreciate all of the walk-up activities Cincinnati has to offer. It makes our city quite enjoyable. The nature-based play and water features are a huge hit for my toddler, and the joy it brings her is ten-fold for us. I will mention there was not an available restroom that was open. I do think in spring with many warm days and busy crowds they should be available. read more

Smale Riverfront Park - Flowing water for the kids! - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

What a great, wide open space. You can take a walk along the river. Get a sweat in, with a run along the trails. Chill out on the giant Couples swings. Take a stroll along the various flower beds. Have a picnic of play games with friends in the open green spaces. This is such a great park, with nice views of the bridge, and New Port, across the river. read more

Smale Riverfront Park - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Such a nice park with lots of things to see and enjoy. Loved the beautiful flowers and mini-garden areas, strong swings facing the river, playgrounds with something for all ages (interactive gym/music making), and other little art throughout. We took family visiting Cincinnati and it was the perfect little spot for a summer outing. You can take beautiful pictures, enjoy the breeze, walk over the bridge, or hang out with kids. There's clean public bathrooms under the main bridge. Overall really enjoyable afternoon at this park. read more

A great park near downtown Cincy. It's also by the Ohio river. It's a huge park with walking paths and biking paths as well. There is a garage right in front of the park which is very convenient. A nice place to have a evening stroll. read more

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Smale, a definite urban gem. There's something for every season here, and for that reason you have no excuse but to enjoy this park. Spring: a beautiful display of green grasses and blooms. Gorgeous tulips and daffodils fill this space. Summer: baseball season! The lights from the ballfield combined with the swings on the riverfront= perfection. Fountains for the kiddos (and adults). Nearby bike/scooter rentals for cheap. The absolute best. Fall: Continuation of summer pop up activities put on by the city, transitions to Football... same beautiful park/play set/ activity center. Blink at Smale is awesome. Winter: Christmas trees adorned with ornaments galore. Whisky lights and holiday cheer. Parking is ample in nearby garages ($3/hr) and street parking. read more

Cool park with a great view of the Roebling Bridge and just across the river lies Kentucky. Parks are, at least in my opinion, an integral part of a city. We need a spit to escape the concrete, asphalt and steel and put our footsteps within the ground that nature created. We need a place where a community can gather as neighbors and friends, where the stress and urgency of a city is left if even for a moment. This park is a wonderful escape from the city and a place that I offer my recommendation and give it five stars. read more

Clean, accessible waterfront park that stretches for miles. It has numerous play grounds, swings and in the summer a couple of food truck/snow cone trucks that set up to sell their products. It also hosts numerous festivals like this years pride and was right next to where Oktoberfest was held. The landscape is always well maintained with flowers in the spring and green grass year round. I always recommend going to this park to almost everyone that I meet. read more

Smale Riverfront Park - Flowers and the waterfront with Covington, Kentucky in the background. - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

WOW! This is an amazing park!!! We are limited to outdoor activities, and this one did not disapoint. We came to Cincinnati area for a few days for a little vacation, staying on a farm in the suburbs. It was so damn hot while we were here, so we did not do very much. Our last night we came downtown. We had dinner outside at Moerlein Lager House looking out at this park and the river. After dinner we came to the park. We admired the splash pad, sat on one of the many swinging benches, played in 2 different playgrounds, walked halfway across the bridge, and admired the lights on the small fountains at night. I was blown away by how great this park is. The flowers are amazing, the swinging benches are brilliant, the water play areas are so fun. This park, and the area around it are brilliant examples of urban planing. Such wonderful attractive uses of public space. read more

Well done Cincinnati!! Such a beautiful park and walkway! I'd come here often if I lived closer! Absolutely beautiful in the summer! read more

Smale Riverfront Park - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Absolutely beautiful and well-maintained park, perfect for a walk or run. The attention to detail in the greenery of this park was impeccable, and I greatly appreciated the accessibility of restrooms along the route. Wasn't hard to find parking on the street, either, especially during off hours. This park offers a serene view of the city and river, and seems safe to walk on. Whenever I come here, my spirits are immediately lifted. read more

Smale Riverfront Park - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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Wow! What a park. This is such a clean, beautiful, modern, and functional park. The park district really takes great care of the park. There is tons of walking places and beautiful flowers/trees plus the amazing views of the Ohio River and Northern Kentucky. I went with a group of other moms so we stayed pretty much by the water play area and playground. The water area is so great and super clean. The kids had so much fun playing in the different areas. They also really liked the big piano you can step on to play. It was even fun for me and reminded me of the scene in "Big" where Tom Hanks plays on the giant outdoor piano. The fitness area is really cool and something different I have never seen in a park before. The playground is such a natural fit for the park. My daughter had a lot of fun climbing and running around. The big swings are another nice feature. For being metal they are very comfortable. The view is also really nice. We didn't spend anytime there, but they have giant chess and checker sets that looked liked a lot of fun. They also had really nice bathrooms. There are tons of restaurants in the area if you don't want to pack a lunch. The Southbank Shuttle also stops nearby, which makes getting around the city really easy and affordable at only a $1/per person, per ride. I cannot wait to come back and explore the park more! read more

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We went to Smale Riverfront Park one afternoon recently and found the venue to be totally beautiful! The scenery is spectacular, and the flowers are gorgeous. There are paths for walking, hiking, and biking, scooter and bike rentals, and even water play areas where kids can get cool :-) The park is lovely and a wonderful contribution to the Cincinnati community; it even has both a Carousel AND a Ferris Wheel! I suggest that whenever possible, you come to this park, enjoy the beautiful surroundings, and have a relaxing time. read more

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Smale park is a family friendly attraction in downtown Cincinnati. The park lines the Ohio river and has views of downtown (north) and Kentucky (south). When visiting this park, there are walking trails, swings, playgrounds, and more. It's a great way to get out of the house and enjoy the views and weather. During the summer, there are often times vendors selling snacks and treats. That is a good way to beat the heat, and enjoy something new. read more

The waterfront area of Cincinnati is quite magnificent, offering excellent views as the river comes around a bend, multiple bridges, and a variety of waterfront amenities. It's open and has plenty of seating, as well as gardens and playgrounds. There are some public restrooms near the end of the Roebling bridge. The sports venues dominate the landscape, but there is plenty of reason to hang around even when it's not a gameday. read more

Well maintained little flower garden at the base of robeling bridge. Water features for children and ample flower beds over flowing with beautiful variety. read more

Smale Riverfront Park - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This is such an amazing park. Located right in the heart of downtown Cincinnati, it offers a view of the Roebling bridge. There is so much to do and see. There are plenty of water pumps, jets, etc that are great for a sunny day. There's a mist area to cool down, if you don't want your kids to get wet. The flying pig, the giant foot piano, talking pipes etc are so much fun for kids. You could stroll along the river. There are giant swings that face the river. You can swing on them in 2's and 3's. Our almost 8 month old had a blast on it. I'm sure he'll be able to enjoy the rest of the park, come next summer. We missed seeing the carousel and the rose garden this time. We'll definitely be back. Wish we had a park like this back in Lexington or Louisville! read more

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Oh my goodness! One of the most beautiful urban river walks I've seen! Clean and completely family friendly on a post rainy afternoon. read more

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Smale Park is such an amazing addition to our riverfront. This park truly has something that everyone can enjoy. When I visit Smale Park, sitting and relaxing on the bench style swings is a must! You can't beat the view, and they are fun for everyone. Another one of my favorite aspects of the park is the water features. I have brought my little sister to play in the water on multiple occasions and she has always had a blast. The playground is a definite must to check out whether you have kids with you or not. Cincinnati Parks always does such an amazing job with their landscaping/flowers which just adds to the overall beauty of the park. The carousel is awesome, and I love the unique detail of each individual horse. If you haven't visited this park yet you need to as soon as possible! read more

Smale Riverfront Park - View from the park on a gorgeous evening - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This is a great place to visit, young or old! We love bringing our almost two year old little boy. He can enjoy the water-splash area, the over-sized musical instruments and climb around on the playground. This place is also perfect for a date night. You can walk across the bridge or just sit and swing, enjoying the skyline at sunset. read more

The best park by far in this area. I will drive an hour to let my son play in a well kept beautiful park like this one. It's truly beautiful and during the summer all the flowers so colorful bloomed just perfect for the kids the way it is laid out plenty of room. read more

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Cincinnati's spectacular riverfront should be the envy of just about every city in America. The hundreds of millions of dollars the city has invested in two stadiums and miles of trails along the Ohio River has produced a public space like few others, offering joggers, walkers and cyclists a near-perfect environment to soak in the city skyline. I took in Smale Park on two unseasonably hot mornings during a recent trip to the Queen City, running from the Kentucky side of the historic Roebling Bridge across to the start of the trail just east of Paul Brown Stadium. From there, the path follows the riverfront beneath the shadow of Great American Ballpark to the Montgomery Inn Boathouse, just over a mile in length. The terrain is mostly flat, with just a few slight inclines to get the blood pumping. The scenery is wonderful, with the sweep of the Ohio on one side and downtown Cincinnati on the other. Along the way, there are wide sweeps of luxurious grass, inviting benches, and fountains that beckon everyone to find refreshment from the summer heat. History buffs will find monuments and markers chronicling Cincinnati's rich heritage, as well as the prominent spot where the first settlers landed in 1788. Smale Park is a gem of urban planning, and one of Cincinnati's premier sights. Don't leave the Queen City without paying it a visit. read more

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Great place for a morning walk. The views are wonderful between the two states. If you're into architecture or the structure of bridges you'd love it here. The landscape was amazing and although it was pretty early there were many others walking and/or jogging. Once out of downtown Cincinnati there were no homeless sleeping in the park which was also refreshing. read more

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Cincinnati is lucky to have Smale Riverfront Park. Smale Park is clean, modern, and picturesque. The swing-benches overlooking the river are one of my favorite places to spend a nice afternoon with a book. Have kiddos? Let them run through the fountains and create an insta-worthy afternoon in front of the downtown skyline. Look close and you can find some Cincinnati "easter-eggs" like the Black Brigade monument, paying homage to the entirely African American brigade that protected the North in the Civil War. In addition, on the playground, you'll find the large "Pig" swing/art installation paying tribute to Cincinnati's nickname "Porkopolis." Visit the Carol Ann Carousel to see a plethora of artwork and the "seats" each being a unique Cincinnati-centric character. Smale park is the perfect end-cap to the iconic Roebling bridge. I'm proud to call this park a part of our city. read more

This is a fantastic riverfront park with so much different kinds of development. The park itself is clean, well lit and well taken care of. Great for a jog or a walk. You can go all the way through the Freedom Park, through Sawyer, to Smale up to the stadium. There are patches of grass, swings, picnic tables near the Farmer's market location, a bike trail. And then there is a whole cultural aspect: the Freedom Center, US Bank Arena, new Music Venue under construction, the Reds and Bengals stadiums. Even though there are not many concerts or events now, there is a ton of architectural gems and things to do. Don't forget to check the original piece of Berlin Wall. You can end your visit by grabbing a bite at one of many restaurants and bars there. Excellent city park. read more

Best place for a weekend walk in Cincinnati! As a covington resident my dog an I make the short trek to Smale most weekends. So many great sitting areas, access to the river trail, and (my dogs favorite) the swings! Always helps to stop by the Banks to quickly grab something to eat or drink. read more

Smale Riverfront Park - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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On a recent trip to Cincy, I thought I would only be wowed by my meal at The Eagle. (Side Note: you should totally head there for a meal.) Ask my boyfriend, and he'll tell you that my favorite part of our visit was Smale Riverfront Park. We stumbled upon it on a walk, and our stroll along the Ohio River quickly turned into me sprinting to a 19-foot tall piano. With one gaze up at the enormous bell chimes I had instantly transformed from an adult to a big kid. "Watch me! Watch me!" I stomped on the foot keys, and with a little handy foot work the melody to "Mary Had a Little Lamb" dinged and donged for the whole park to hear. I was giddy with glee. After my quick concert, I looked to see what else was around me and gasped. The giant foot piano was just one of several pieces of interactive equipment in the Vibrantscape. Next, I darted over to the Oinkithopter, a giant metal flying pig sculpture. "Coooooooooool!" I pulled the reins and quickly learned that wings were FLAPPABLE, and I didn't stop flapping until I was approached by an actual child, asking if she could have a turn. This is just a preview of the hour I spent at Smale, and had I not had an agenda that day, I wouldn't have left the park. My recommendation is that if you have a child or want to bring out your inner child, make sure you set aside an hour or two for play at Smale Riverfront Park. read more

Smale Riverfront Park - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Beautiful scenery. Loved walking along the water and seeing the different art installations. Plenty of seating areas to stop and take in the view. read more

Smale Riverfront Park - Bridge - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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You have to go here if you are in Cincinnati. Kid friendly, paid parking easily accessible and stunning views. Activities include a giant music piano thing, a water fountain, walkway around riverfront to walk or jog and swinging benches for adults. Absolutely love this place for the stunning views. read more

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A must go to spot in Cincinnati and it's low cost!!! My family (with 2 little kids) go to Smale often. We park in the parking garage under the Freedom Center right by the park which cost by the hour ($3 an hour). You can relax, play in the water, large kid areas, amazing spots to take photos with friends/family, beautiful city view, carousel, fairs wheel, and lots of area to run and play. We bring towels for the kids and could spend a whole day there. It's not a bad walk at all for some good eats, plenty of side walk for biking/scooters, pet friendly (poop bag stations spread out throughout the park), and you're guaranteed to enjoy you're time here. Lastly, I'm impressed at how friendly the community is when we visit. Everyone seems so willing to take pictures for you and offer up places to check out near the park. It's a high tourist area and enjoyed watching all the diverse individuals interacting with one another with smiles on their faces in this beautiful Cincy spot. read more

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