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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
5 years ago
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
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
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
6 years ago
This is such a wonderful urban park setting with the majestic and powerful Ohio River along one side, and the spectacular Cincinnati skyline flanking the other. The day we were here (in February) it was grey and blustery--definitely not a day for exploring outside. But we made sure to walk down to the riverbank from the Underground Railroad Freedom Center to at least check it out quickly before we drove back home. We were able to see the ferris wheel, one of the bridges, and a playground. We would have loved to explore more to find the carousel, the swings, and the musical instruments and whatever other fun treasures. I'm adding this to our list of summer day trips for 2020 when we're allowed to travel again. Since it's outside, I'm hoping it will be easy to social distance while visiting. read more
7 years ago
Ohio riverfront and park was a very pleasant surprise to my family. Beautiful design with plenty to do! I love the ambiance and the swings, while my family loved all the water sounds. Very peaceful and we felt extremely safe walking it again late at night. It's a must do if in town read more
What a great addition to the Cincinnati Banks! It was a beautiful day to venture out to the park. We chose Smale Riverfront Park because we wanted to to chill out downtown Cincinnati. This parks includes: -Playgrounds - Boat docks - A Great Lawn -Green spaces for festivals and community events -A carousel - Gardens -Bike trails -Walkways -Tree groves -A river's edge promenade with over-sized "porch" swings Water features (jets, cascades, pools and waterfalls) -Grand stairs It's considered historical marker indicating the position of home plate of the former Cinergy Field (Riverfront Stadium). It also includes the Schmidlapp Stage and Event Lawn, the Walnut Street Steps and interactive fountain, the Main Street interactive fountain, the Black Brigade Monument, tree groves, a labyrinth, Cincinnati Bike and Visitor's Center, and the Moerlein Lager House located right next to it. We took our French Bulldog with us so this is pet friendly (the rules are on the board) and there are bags in each station if you need to pick up after your dog. What a great addition to the downtown area! I'm glad I finally visited! read more
4 years ago
5-stars for a beautiful and unique park along the river. The views of the river picturesque, especially if you are sitting in one of the giant swings. They have a nice trail for those who are exercising and fun activities like giant chess, giant checkers, foosball, and ping pong in the shade under the bridge. Other things that can't be missed (especially if you're with kids) is the labyrinth sidewalk maze, giant piano (like Big!), flying pig that you can climb inside, and the water works system. There are lots of places where you can get wet (fountains to play in as well as the water works area), so if you're there in the summer, send the kids in swimsuits or bring a change of clothes. If you aren't interested in the water, there is a misting area to cool down. This is a great stop for an outdoor adventure with kids and a great stroll and swing by the river for adults. read more
Amazing views of Downtown and Ohio River The place is surrounded by major sports stadiums and the city has added a lot of new props like the Feet Piano, Flying Pig, Fountain, Carousel, etc. Great place for the whole family. read more
7 years ago
I took a run along the riverfront park and thoroughly enjoyed it. There is so much to do here. I especially liked the Black Brigade walkthrough. read more
Love, love, love this park!! What a wonderful addition to Cincinnati's Riverfront. Strap on your pedometer and prepare to take in the views of the glorious city. There are activities for the young and young at heart. We especially enjoyed the swings. The fountains and misting stations are welcomed features for a hot day. This park is within a short walk to dining and entertainment. I'm not sure about parking options because we purposely parked far away... But a must-do on a beautiful day. read more
11 years ago
Dammit Cincinnati. I spent my entire youth absolutely despising you, my hometown. My teenage years (mostly talking 1997 - 2000) were spent fantasizing about the day I could leave. And leave I did! Nothing to do we said. Downtown is deserted and not fun we said... But then you go and do something like create Smale Park, and TOTALLY REDEEM YOURSELF. It's too late for me, but keep up the good work. Perhaps you'll get more of your sons and daughters to stay. read more
Great addition to the riverfront. This was a huge leap forward in the revitalization of the Cincinnati riverfront area. It's my preference for playing in fountains on a hot day because it's less crowded than Washington Park. We love the addition of the swings that overlook the river and the open green spaces for picnicking. I can't wait for the new addition to the park to open that includes more kid-centric play areas and activities. Pro-Tip - Find out if there is a Red's game, because parking becomes and issue and gets expensive. If there is, park across the bridge in Newport and think about a nice walk or bike ride. read more
Fifteen years in the making, Smale Park was worth every bit of time invested to make a stunning green space along the Riverfront. Located behind the Freedom Center and next to Moerlein Lager House, the park just opened in May 2012. With cascading, light-up fountains, exotic flowers, and balconies overlooking the beautiful Covington cityscape, it's exciting to have such an eclectic space Downtown. The park is divided into two sections, separated by Mehring Way. The entrance and stairwell neighbors the Moerlein Lager House. Across the street is the Black Brigade Monument; a tribute to the African-American soldiers who fought in the Civil War. These troops were the first organized group of free African-Americans to serve in the military. Sculptures feature an 1862 Cincinnati newspaper declaring martial law during The Siege of Cincinnati, a mother and child looking out over the river, and the Black Brigade exchanging a sword with Cincinnati's mayor. A path entwines with a wall of stories about the Black Brigade, each with a small panel of texts to accompany the artwork. The Black Brigade monument stand in the exact spot where a pontoon bridge was built across the Ohio River to move 72,000 Union soldiers from Cincinnati to Northern Kentucky to defend the city from 8,000 Confederates. Next to the monument is a zen garden; a spiral of concrete paths centered with a small Buddha. Simple leaf plants line the area between the concrete path, creating a serene, relaxing garden. Smale Park is a new treasure to the Queen City, and even better, it's still expanding! Phase II of the landscape will continue west of Roebling Bridge. Perfect for evening strolls, puppy walks, or bike rides, Smale Park is the newest must-see on the river. read more
Absolutley stunning. A Beautiful addition to the Cincinnati Riverfront. As someone else stated I looked around in shock at the finished park and thought to myself, "What city are we in?" Great for kids during the day, or a romantic walk in the evening. Though not huge, the planning of this park is spot on. Lots of green space and maxing out the wow factor with the fountains and steps! Great park all the way around. read more
13 years ago
I've heard the correct pronunciation of this park is 'like snail' but when I say it, it makes me cringe. The sound is reminiscent of a word like 'moist', which I also dislike. This said, I know it's someone's name and I would like to state I think no less of said family/person, they didn't choose their name. And their park in honor of them is GREAT! But, still, eww... Onto the content of 'small' or 'smalley' park (in my mind), what's not to love? The space seemed like it was begging for something interesting to happen there and it has! Whether you go to just look at the water and pretty lights, walk the maze, read about the history of the Black Brigade, admire the bridge, start a bike trip through the string of parks present in Cincinnati's waterfront, or SWING!, it's all amazing. I love the swings, I enjoy the people watching, and one of these days I may, as an adult in non-swim wear, just run through that splash park. A great addition to Cincinnati and the waterfront! read more
Smale park is unbelievably awesome addition to Cincinnati. The grounds are meticulously cared for and beautiful. There are lots of places to picnic layout and enjoy, and you can also play and meet lots of new friends. For families with kids, there are few better places in the city to go to, especially in the warm water. Our kids had a blast playing in the different water environments - from the fountains near Great American Ballpark, to the splash area with pumps, drains and fun nozzles. And even in the creek area that stones to jump on. Great views of the city and river. I remember as a kid driving to Reds games from Florence, KY. We would always park in Covington and walk across the bridge. And, it was pretty dirty and shady looking on the OH side. Still shake my head and am just so happy about the investment to clean up the Banks and make this a beautiful place for locals and tourists to visit. read more
11 years ago
So lucky to have this unique space spanning the Cincy riverfront! Breathtaking landscaping job alone, never mind all the neat features. Get out, take a walk, once you've walked enough take a seat on the bench swings over looking the river. There's many fountains just to tantalize your eyes, or for the kids or *ahem* big kids at heart to run through. There's various play scapes that look like none I've ever seen... Featuring an actual flying pig, giant keyboard that plays organ bells, and some cool slides we wished we could've tried sans other adults judging us. Great view of the Roebling Bridge and steps to walk up on it. Don't forget to stop by the new carousel, but beware it's $2 a ride. I'm sure I'm forgetting something, so go check it out yourself! read more
A very nice place to hang out in downtown Cincy. We loved this nice grassy area right near the waterfront. The big metal porch swings were hilarious to walk by... kind of like running a huge gauntlet of pendulums. The kid's play area was a lot of fun as well, particularly with the waterworks area, rock climbing walls, and giant slides. read more
This is a work in progress, but so far it is absolutely beautiful. Situated between Cincinnati's premier sports stadiums for football and baseball, Smale Park overlooks the Ohio River. One of the highlights is the row of "porch swings" looking out to the river and Kentucky on the other side. The fountains and lawns are beautifully maintained and a great place to bring the family to stroll and play. It's surrounded by downtown eateries so it's close to great food and drink. What a wonderful place to have at Cincinnati's gateway!! read more
I have no doubt this park is named in honor of someone important, but it really does sound like a villain from Lord of the Rings or something. I suppose not every name can sound eloquent. I'm genuinely impressed by the job they did on the river. It's wonderful. The zen garden, flower gardens, creative water toys, fun swings, riverwalk, giant checkers/chess, fountains, and paths make for an interesting and enjoyable walk. Highly recommended. read more
I love Smale so much! It's so nice to be able to take a walk down by the river on the walkway. The playground is amazing for kids, and the swings are pretty fun for adults too. I love to run down here whenever I can. Seriously such a great add for the city! read more
Very impressed with Smale Riverfront Park! Cincinnatians have been waiting for at least 10 years for The Banks and all related projects to get completed, and finally we have some of it coming online. Tonight, some friends and I went to the Asian Food Festival and had to check out Smale Park and watch the fireworks. Highly impressed with the park on it's second official night! All of the different water features are illuminated with ever-changing colored lights that just simply attract people. People of all walks of life, kids, older people, all races. At the risk of sounding cheesy, it was was inspiring to see how everyone was drawn to it in the same way, no matter their background. Someone in a suit or formal dress would run through the water jet fountains, and the crowd would laugh if they got wet or cheer if they made it through unscathed. Kids did the same to the same applause. There were lots of people. And these people didn't just come to see the park. They ate dinner downtown. They got dessert downtown. They had drinks or were on their way to. This is something new and exciting for our city, and I think it's great. Besides having a ferris wheel or something for people to come see, this is a great space for the evolving Banks project. We had a great time exploring the park, and I'll definitely go back to check out the park on the opposite side of Mehring Way to check out the history lesson it teaches (it was just too late and dark to appreciate). Get down there and check it out! read more
5 years ago
8 years ago
6 years ago
Loved this place!! Great for people of all ages. Fun, unique playground. Great swings that overlook the river. Flowers everywhere. None of the water features were on, which was a big bummer. But if they were on...oh my! I could only imagine how awesome. My only real complaint is the lack of care taken of the restrooms. Went to this park 2 days in a row and no toilet paper in the ladies room either day. read more
This park is beautiful! It's great for families. My son loved it here, especially all the splash pads! The bridge is beautiful to stare at, the amazing 3 seated swings, the floor piano, chess, a playground, the flying pig and the view is simply amazing! Great place for photos and just to relax. read more
11 years ago
We played around in Smale Riverfront Park today and what a wondrous place it is! Hubby and I walked throughout the park, but next time we'd like to take our bikes. They even have a bike rental there. It was cool to see some groups on rented quadcycles (a simple four-wheeled vehicle that operates by pedaling with your legs). There were two different sizes that I saw and I cannot wait to bring our whole family to give it a try. Because the park is also pet friendly and has pet poop bag dispensers, we might bring our lab out there, too. It is a great place for family and friends of all ages to enjoy. To say that the landscaping is spectacular is an understatement. See some of my photos. There is a labyrinth meant for meditating on a single winding path which leads to the center. Yet, I found that one of the most relaxing features are the two sets of family-sized porch swings looking out on the river. Even though they were metal, you would assume that they would get hot under the sun, but we were there at noon and didn't have as problem at all. Also, you get a close-up view of the Roebling Bridge and the park sits between the Great American Ballpark and Paul Brown Stadium. You might try the twin racing slides for the kids and lots of splash/play fountains. If that's not enough to cool you down, there is a cool mist area to walk thru. Since the flying pig is our city's symbol, you won't be surprised to see a giant one with climbing ropes to get inside. Once inside, you can wriggle around to make the wings flap! Walk past tree groves to get to one of it's most popular features - a carousel! Each of the 44 characters were hand carved and lovingly painted, plus it takes only $2 to ride. Your child only needs to be 42" to be able to ride alone. I wanted to ride it even though I don't have a young child as an excuse. Because it is indoors, it is open year-round yet be aware that children must be in dry clothes to ride. So, you may want to ride on it first before letting your little ones play in the water features. One feature I thought was cool is that there are picnic benches on wheels!. You can unlock the wheels if you have a large group so you can push two tables together! Before you leave, you need to enjoy the largest and only outdoor electronic foot piano! With 32 keys!!! It's for kids of all ages - even me! As evening rolls around, some of the water cascades are lit by rainbow lights! It would be a perfect ending to a perfect day spent out there! read more
11 years ago
Cincinnati hit a huge home run with Washington Park in Over the Rhine, so I guess the logical thing to do was throw it's resources in another urban park and try to repeat their success. The result is Smale Park and it's another home run! Nestled on the bank of the Ohio River between Great American Ball Park (Reds) and Paul Brown Stadium (Bengals), Smale offers walking paths, flower gardens, an epic playground, exercise equipment (I kid you not), and more. For the kiddos, a highlight is the piano-style keyboard that you can jump on to trigger bells that ring out high above your head - think "F.A.O. Schwarz scene in 'Big'". For my wife and I, the best part of Smale is the bench swings that line a path overlooking the river and our favorite Cincinnati landmark, the Roebling Bridge. If you haven't experienced Cincinnati through Smale, Park, put it high on your list of priorities. read more
9 years ago
If you grew up in Cincinnati, forget the old riverfront. Smale is an urban park at its finest. Well thought-out design, great mix of family areas, green space, interactive gardens, meeting areas, and panoramic views of downtown Cincinnati, and Northern Kentucky. easily accessible from both stadiums, downtown attractions and locals and visitors alike on both sides of the river. read more
11 years ago
5 years ago
More info about Smale Riverfront Park
W Mehring Way
Cincinnati, OH 45202
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(513) 241-1774
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Where is the best place to park?
I park under Moerlein Lager House. The entrance is on Mehring way directly across from Smale Park. After you enter, try to turn to the right and work your way to the front corner. There is an exit there that will takes you to the corner where you…
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