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State of the County Report: Culture and Recreation COMMUNITY COMPASS REPORT NO. 16-3 Hamilton County, Ohio November 2004 Abstract Context Title: COMMUNITY COMPASS COMPONENTS State of the County Report: Culture and Recreation 1 Vision Community COMPASS (What do we want?) Report No. 16-3 2 Initiatives (What strategies Subject: should we consider?) Current conditions and trends The Planning Partnership Community COMPASS 3 Indicators regarding culture and recre- (What should we measure?) is a collaborative initiative (Hamilton County’s Com- ation in Hamilton County of the Hamilton County Re- prehensive Master Plan and 4 Trends gional Planning Commission. Strategies) is a long-range (Where have we been?) Date: The Partnership – open to all plan that seeks to address mu- November 2004 5 Projections political jurisdictions in the tual goals related to physical, (Where are we headed?) county and to affi liate mem- economic, and social issues Synopsis: 6 Research bers in the public, private and among the 49 communities (What's the story civic sectors – is an advisory within Hamilton County. This report presents exist- behind the trend?) board that works to harness Through a collective shared ing conditions and trends the collective energy and vi- vision for the future based in Hamilton County related 7 Partners (Who can help?) sion of its members to effec- on the wishes and dreams of to the variety and quality tively plan for the future of our thousands of citizens, Hamil- of recreational, cultural and 8 Strategic Plans county. Rather than engaging ton County now has direction entertainment facilities and (What can we do that works?) in the Planning Commission’s to chart its course into the 21 opportunities available to 9 Action Plans short-range functions such as century. Hamilton County residents (How do we make it happen?) zoning reviews, the Plan- and visitors. The report iden- ning Partnership takes a In developing a broad vi- 10 Performance Measures tifi es three important fi ndings (Are actions making a long-range, comprehensive sion with broad support, as well as the importance of difference?) approach to planning, work- Community COMPASS trends associated with each ing to build a community that will help ensure that trends fi nding, and provides key indi- This Report works for families, for busi- are anticipated, challenges cators for measuring progress nesses and for the region. The are addressed, priorities are toward the Vision for Hamil- OTHER STATE OF THE Partnership firmly believes focused, and our collective ton County's Future. COUNTY REPORTS that collaboration is the key future is planned and achieved • Civic Engagement and to a positive, competitive and strategically over the next 20 Source of Copies: Social Capital successful future for Hamilton to 30 years. Through an in- Hamilton County County. depth analysis of all aspects • Community Services Regional Planning of the County, the multi-year Commission • Culture and Recreation process will result in a com- Visit planningpartnership.org • Economy and prehensive plan. 138 East Court Street and communitycompass.org Labor Market for more information. Room 807 The State of the County re- Cincinnati, OH 45202 • Education port series outlines conditions, 513-946-4500 • Environment trends, opportunities, and key www.hamilton-co.org/hcrpc • Environmental and measures related to improving Social Justice and sustaining quality of life Download this report at in twelve major systems in our communitycompass.org • Governance community. The individual re- • Health and ports lay the groundwork for Human Services an overall State of the County • Housing analysis or report card, and • Land Use and provide support for refi ning Development Framework action strategies. • Mobility STATE OF THE COUNTY REPORT: CULTURE AND RECREATION Table of Contents Acknowledgements.......................................................................................................................iii Executive Summary....................................................................................................................... v Introduction.................................................................................................................................... 1 Finding 1: Arts, culture, and entertainment are a prime economic generator for the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County................................................... 2 Finding 2: Arts, culture, and entertainment are stimulating urban revitalization for the central city area of Cincinnati that benefi ts the whole region.................. 11 Finding 3: Recreational opportunities and facilities are on the rise for all age groups in Hamilton County........................................................................... 17 Appendix A: Endnotes .............................................................................................................. 21 Appendix B: Community COMPASS Publications.................................................................. 23 COMMUNITY COMPASS i ii HAMILTON COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION / PLANNING PARTNERSHIP STATE OF THE COUNTY REPORT: CULTURE AND RECREATION Acknowledgements 2004 Project Staff Reviewers Board of County Commissioners Principal Research: • Pat Timm, • Dean E. Niemeyer, AICP, President/CEO Ohio • John S. Dowlin, Senior Planner River Way, Inc. President • Steve Schuckman, Graphics & Layout: • Phil Heimlich Superintendent, • Paul Smiley, Cincinnati Park Board • Todd Portune Senior Planner • Tamara Harkavy, • Jay Springer, Executive Director, Planning Communication/ Artworks 2004 Graphics Specialist Regional Planning • Sally Bauer, Commission • Karen Ambrosius, Hamilton County Administrative Park District Coordinator • Robert F. Alsfelder, Jr., • James R. Garges, Chairman • Kevin Sewell, Director of Recreation, UC Planning Student • Hal Franke Cincinnati Recreation Editing: Commission • Darrell Leibson • Caroline Statkus, AICP, • Melvin D. Martin Planning Services Administrator • M. Larry Sprague • Ron Miller, FAICP, • James R. Tarbell, Executive Director Vice-Chairman • Jerry J. Thomas 2004 Planning Partnership Offi cers • Steve Galster, Chair • Gwen McFarlin, Chair-Elect • Elizabeth A. Blume, AICP, Vice-Chair COMMUNITY COMPASS iii iv HAMILTON COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION / PLANNING PARTNERSHIP STATE OF THE COUNTY REPORT: CULTURE AND RECREATION Executive Summary FINDING 1 Arts, culture, and entertainment are a prime economic generator for the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. • Regional cultural planning and economic analysis have led ▪ Development of the Center City Plan, with emphasis to greater understanding of arts, culture, and entertainment on revitalization of Fountain Square, Over-the-Rhine, as prime economic generators. and development of The Banks. • New life abounds for area museums with renovations, new FINDING 3 buildings and taxpayer support. Annual festivals continue Recreational opportunities and facilities to fl ourish, creating signifi cant economic impacts. are on the rise for all age groups in • Public art projects such as the Big Pig Gig, Flower Power, Hamilton County. and Bats Incredible have generated economic benefi ts while providing an appreciation of the arts for all downtown • The Hamilton County park system evolved from a parks, residents and visitors. parkways, and boulevards plan contained in the Initial Re- port of the Regional Planning Commission in 1931. Today, • The Hamilton County Public Library celebrated its 150th the Park District has 19 parks comprising 15,441 acres. anniversary in 2003 and is recognized as one of the best library systems nationally. • The City of Cincinnati was recently recognized as one of only four city park systems nationally judged to be FINDING 2 "excellent" by The Trust for Public Land. Arts, culture, and entertainment are • In May 2003, the 22 acre Theodore M. Berry International stimulating urban revitalization for Friendship Park opened on the riverfront with sculptures, the central city area of Cincinnati that international gardens, walking paths, and a hike/bike path. benefi ts the whole region. The latter is a piece in the planned 150 mile trail stretching from Madison, Indiana to Maysville, Kentucky. • It is anticipated that arts, culture, and entertainment, while focused in downtown Cincinnati, will benefi t the region as • Extreme sports have also arrived with the Mobile Skate Park the central core becomes a highly desirable destination and Series at Sawyer Point and the opening of new skate parks place to live. in the City of Wyoming and Anderson Township. • Since the mid-1990s, numerous capital investment projects • New indoor private recreation facilities for soccer, basketball, for arts, culture, and entertainment venues have developed or and volleyball are opening. are underway (including the Reds and Bengals stadiums, the Rosenthal Center for Contemporary Arts, and the Conven- tion Center expansion). This "Renaissance on the River" will include $2.9 billion in investments and is projected to generate $5.4 billion in overall economic impact along with 60,000 jobs over a ten-year period. • The City of Cincinnati has implemented needed changes to leverage these major investments with the following: ▪ Creation of a One-Stop Development Center to expedite the development process. ▪ Creation of the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC). COMMUNITY COMPASS v vi HAMILTON COUNTY REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION / PLANNING PARTNERSHIP STATE OF THE COUNTY REPORT: Culture and