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

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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

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This is one of our top parks that we like to visit. The flowers are always gorgeous and the kids love the water as well as the playground. Plus it is only a short walk to grab something to eat or drink! read more

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

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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

Smale Riverfront Park - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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

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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

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Last week the newest features of the Smale Riverfront Park were dedicated and opened to the public. The Duke Energy Garden and Women's Committee Garden combine to more than double the amount of park space available. My favorite features of the Duke Energy Garden are a dozen family size swings that overlook the river. I sat on one of these swings for a few minutes and watched boats float by. I can already tell that these are going to be very popular. The Duke Energy Garden is the eastern most section of the park, just south of Great American Ball Park and to the east of the already popular Main Street Fountains. The pathways through the park are very close to connecting with the Ohio River Trail, which will soon link Smale with Yeatmans Cove, Sawyer Point, and Friendship Park, offering a mile and a half of continuous paved trail. Even though the new swings are my favorite part of the park, my son continues to love running through the interactive Main Street Fountains. But since the swings are just around the corner from the fountains, everyone wins! Construction continues on the west end of the park. The PNC Grow Up Great Adventure Playground, being built next to the Roebling Suspension Bridge, will open in May 2014. And it looks like funding is in place to have the Vine Street Fountain & Stairs, carousel, and carousel building open in time for the 2015 Major League Baseball All-Star Game. read more

I will admit, up until the All Star Game festivities, I had not spent a lot of time in Smale. But since I went there, I have been back every weekend because this is my new favorite spot in Cincinnati! I don't have any kids, but even if you don't have children with you, you can still enjoy this park! The renovations to the park have made it by far the nicest park in town. I love the swings overlooking the river, and the flower gardens to stroll around with my dog. We also had fun playing on the exercise equipment near the Roebling Bridge, and pretending like we were Tom Hanks in "Big" and running up and down the extra large keyboard in the ground. The water installations and lights at night are beautiful, and the newly opened carousel is a wonderful addition to the park as well. The location is obviously fantastic...Walking distance to GABP and Paul Brown Stadium, right on the river, next door to restaurants and bars on The Banks, and you can walk across the Roebling to Covington. If you are in The Banks area, you definitely need to check out Smale! It's not just for kids! 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

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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

Smale Riverfront Park - Colorado girl in Ohio. - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

What a wonderful addition to the Cincinnati riverfront - finally a beautiful park on the Banks between Great American Ballbark and Paul Brown Stadium. The lawn next to the Christian Moerlein Lager house, I can't wait so enjoy the future programming in store. Plus the fountains with the rocks/stonework, lighting and waterfalls is a sight to see on an evening night. My only complaint is the restrooms being locked. My first visit they were open, but my past few visits they were locked during the day or early evening when a variety of people were out enjoying the park, why? Interested to see the second phase closer to the river. 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

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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

Smale Riverfront Park - Great fountains - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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

Smale Riverfront Park - Perfect day for the park. A cool, low humid 80 degrees in June in Cincy. What a treat! - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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

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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

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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

Smale Riverfront Park - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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

Smale Riverfront Park - You could say we love Smale and Cincinnati just a little bit ;) - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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

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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

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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

Smale Riverfront Park - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

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

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Smale Park is the crown jewel on Cincinnati parks. From the beautiful wide open design to the spectacular views this park is bar none the best around. There is plenty of wide open spaces and activities for kids to enjoy themselves while the parents can sitting comfortably in eyeshot of the little ones. Parking in the garages is close and safe. There are several restaurants within walking distance of the park to fill your bellies after enjoying some outdoor activities. What are you doing!?!? Get in the car and head down here!!!!! read more

Whether you are looking for a pre-ballgame adventure seeking to spend a splendid Sunday afternoon in the sun, Smale Riverfront Park is one of the best, dare I say THE best, parks to do so - in Cincinnati, at least. The park spans a giant area of riverfront property and features water works, gardens, a playground (with some elements adults can enjoy, too!), and my favorite...BUG SWINGS! Yes, the water works are great for hot afternoons when the kiddies need to get out and get wet. Yeah, the gardens are beautiful. Of course, we all need to play a game of giant chess, play a game of giant checkers, or perform on a giant piano once in a while; However, in my eyes the swings take the cake. Nothing is more relaxing than sitting on a giant two (or three) seater swing, watching the river, and feeling the cool breeze on your face during a hot summer afternoon. I seriously love these swings and could fall asleep on one. Truly the only issue I have ever had with Smale Park is....parking! You either need to pay to park on the street or in a nearby lot/garage and walk to the park. Walking is not an issue when you're likely going to the park to do that anyway; but, definitely expect to pay $5+ if you want to park in a safe area (garage, lot) nearby. Otherwise, if you can find street parking (sometimes free) expect to pay roughly $2-8 depending on how much time you spend at the park. It's also worth mentioning that there is an indoor carouse across from the park - in case you get too hot and want to sit in some AC for a bit (be warned - no wet shoes in the carousel area). Overall, one of my favorite parks in Cincinnati. I love going to Smale! read more

Such a great place to visit! If you like taking pics like my family and I, there are many things you can take pics of. During the day we suggest that you see the queen city sign (make sure to go up the stairs that has the water fountain--you will see the queen city sign or if anything you can gps it), the park with the swings by the river, and just walk around. It is very peaceful! At night, the water fountains/ stairs have rainbow lights which looks awesome and the bridge is so pretty with the lights on it! There is a parking lot and parking garage by there (i believe the lot was five bucks and the garage was $3 for an hr--- beats chicago prices for sure!) it was really fun! We also went to taste of Belgium across from the queen city sign, which has great chicken and waffles- check it out!. read more

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

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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

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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

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Smale Riverfront Park is not the kind of place one commonly thinks of when thinking of a Downtown area. Broken up over several areas, Smale offers a place to unwind admits the hustle and bustle of Downtown. Smale has a very sleek and modern design, but doesn't feel uptight. There are multiple fountain areas for children and children alike to cool off in. Large metal bench swings overlook the Ohio River. Adults seem to enjoy the swings just as much as children. On our last visit there was a businessman reading a book, a couple cuddling, and children, all enjoying the bench swings. The latest addition is the Carol Ann carousel. Various animals and stationary seats are on the carousel. Animals are painted with murals that depict the history of Ohio. We were too early to enjoy the carousel, but what I could see was beautiful. There are lots of green areas too. read more

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

Smale Riverfront Park - Love this park, love this sign, and love the Roebling. If you're looking for some great photo ops, add Smale Riverfront Park to your list! - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

This park is by far my favorite park in the entire world (of the 20 countries and at least 20 US states I've visited), next to Millennium in Chicago. Whoever designed this place is just GENIUS. It's never crowded, despite being across the street from the stadium; almost like stumbling across your own private secret gem. There is so much to do here and see. As an city-going adult, it's more difficult to feel sensory stimulation from novelty in nature, so I rarely visit parks. But this park really bridges that gap for me. Love being outside and seeing not only the city on one side, the water on the other, and greenery throughout the park mixed with man-made structures. So chic and best of both worlds! read more

Smale has really captured my heart after the next phase additions. It is urban paradise. I love that on a nice weekend day you will see all types of people out and about here. Gorgeous landscaping and great views of the city skyline, a lot of open green space, two sets of giant swings, playgrounds, long riverside walking paths, the carousel, rose garden, play fountains.. the list goes on. The new playground is really neat (looks like a deconstructed modern ship) on one side of the Roebling, and on the other side of the bridge, there is another play area with a giant walk-on piano, flying pig that kids can climb up into, waterplay area, and more! It's amazing. You can spend a day just checking out the different areas. There are several well maintained bathrooms. I can't wait for the farmer's market and the final additions. read more

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

Smale Riverfront Park - Smale from above. - Parks Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Love this park. Beautifully arranged riverfront space, still expanding. Love the big swings for adults and the fountains and water curtains at the Banks, which are lit at night. Beautiful view on Roebling bridge and lots of restaurants and bars around. There is an Underground Railroad Museum and piece of original Berlin Wall near. Also, great for biking, with 2 Red Bike stations and two private rentals in the close proximity. Cannot wait for the tram connecting the riverfront with Findlay Market and for the Carousel coming soon! read more

Great place to run or walk. I ran there in the morning and the early evening. It has some descriptions of the past along the River walk.

I moved back to California a few months ago, but recently visited my boyfriend in Cincinnati. We had walked along the riverfront for a date in the past, and he brought me back for my visit. He had told me about the finished park during our conversations, and I was so excited to finally see it! It definitely did not disappoint! There are so many things for kids to play with (and adults to be honest. I enjoyed the slide and flying pig contraption just as much as the next kid, and I'm in my 20's) My personal favorite were the swings overlooking the river and Roebling bridge. It's beautiful and romantic, and the walk is gorgeous. I couldn't stop smiling! I mean, the company definitely plays a huge role, but Smale Riverfront Park helped build the moment, you know? :P It was winter so a lot of the water displays were turned off, the chess pieces for the GIANT board were put away, and the "piano" (which I hear is very fun) was out of commission. It looked so awesome that I'm probably going to plan a trip back here when I visit during warmer weather. I loved the architecture of this park. One of the cool innovative things I noticed were the tables that were out. They are your typical park bench tables, but they ROLL. They're on a track so you can push tables together or apart if you have larger parties. Cincinnati, if it weren't for life getting in the way, I'd love to move back because it's such a beautiful community! Now there's one more thing to miss every time I leave. read more

Ideal model for what a metropolitan park should be like. It's family friendly, it's fitness friendly, it's relaxation friendly. Ok...so the Ohio River isn't exactly picturesque...but the breeze off the river lets you pretend for a moment. The nice, new pavement all along the riverfront makes for a very easy walk/run path. And the giant swings that are up in the more elevated pathway give you the perfect people watching view. The splash spots are ideal for young kids. No worries about the typical pool/swimming dangers, but all the same fun for the kiddos. 2 very enthusiastic thumbs up!! read more

Beautiful riverside park in downtown Cincinnati. Trees, gardens, exercise equipment, benches, giant chessboard and on and on. Start at one end and work your way around the park. It seems there's a surprise around every corner. read more

What a wonderful park! There's something for everyone. The splash fountains and playgrounds are perfect for children. The river-facing bench swings are built for adults (but kids can enjoy them too). There's a labyrinth/maze to walk through, lots of things to climb on, and even a gorgeous carousel (and very affordable, at $2 a ride). When I was there last night, there was even live music. It's pet-friendly and kid-friendly, but it's also a great place to just relax by the river with a book. And it's beautiful, with modern architecture paired with lovely gardens and water features. read more

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