BRINGING ON CINCINNATI PARK BOARD FISCAL YEAR 2015 ANNUAL REPORT THE GREEN Below: The exterior of Krohn Conservatory looks festive as it celebrates the 20th anniversary with this year’s “Butterflies of the Phillipines” show TABLE OF CONTENTS Our Mission Message from the President 4 Waterfront Events 14 Business Services 24-25 Conserving, managing, Awards & Accomplishments 6 Smale Riverfront Park 15-17 Parks Foundation 26 sustaining, and enhancing Parks’ natural and Organization Chart/Contact Info 7 Explore Nature! 18-19 Financial Services 26 cultural resources and public greenspaces — for Greenspace Program 8 Carol Ann’s Carousel 20 Maintenance Cost Centers 28-29 the enjoyment, enlightenment, and enrichment Volunteers 10-11 Parks Advisory Council 21 Our Sponsors & Partners 30 of the Cincinnati community. Photography by: Gary Kessler Planning & Design 12-13 Krohn Conservatory 22-23 Meet Our Parks Staff 31 Photography by: Gary Kessler Clockwise From Upper Left: Children enjoying an evening playing in the fountains at Washington Park; child admires butterfly at Krohn Conervatory’s Butterfly Show; the P&G go Vibrantscape is a fun and new musical way to play at Smale Riverfront Park; the water fountains at Pichler Plaza provide visitors with a night time light show that delights; recent graduates of Explore Nature! Camp Canine at Ault Park; visitors go Ordovician Fishin’ with Explore Nature! fossil searches at French Park. Page 2 | 3 Photography by: Robert Flischel Bringing on the Green Photography by: Gary Kessler A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT The Park Board is eternally grateful for the generous gift to Smale Riverfront Park by corporate“ and community sponsors. We hardly “know the words to say to let you know just how much we appreci- ate all you have done to make Smale Riverfront Park the envy of Cincinnati Parks...Bringing on the Green every American city! We are proud of the achievements made in Fiscal Year 2015. to face challenges such as the Emerald Ash Borer and the Cincinnati Parks completed Phase 5 construction of Smale impact to Cincinnati’s tree canopy. Cincinnati Parks success The Park Board is proud of the many accomplishments of Fiscal Year 2015. The first Park Riverfront Park, which opened eleven new elements for visitors relies on our strong “parknerships,” many volunteers, and Board sponsored River Grill before the Big Chill was a resounding success with over to enjoy. Your Cincinnati Parks continues to be recognized for community support. With your help, Cincinnati Parks contin- 12,650 patrons, 52 professional teams, and 28 backyard teams. Plans are already under- excellence, and was humbled to receive the 2015 Alice and ues to focus on new innovative ways to provide clean, safe, way for the second annual River Grill event to be held October 9 and 10, 2015. Harris Weston Apple Award that honored Cincinnati Parks reliable, green, beautiful, and enriching parks for all visitors Our ninth annual Mayor’s Corporate Challenge was record breaking – 1,309 volunteers contributions to Cincinnati’s build environment. We continue to experience and enjoy. from 21 participating companies completed 39 projects throughout Cincinnati Parks. One of those many projects included the Major League Baseball All-Star Game Floral carpet in Smale Riverfront Park, which was completed with the support of General Electric volunteers. Our thriving parks and appealing green spaces have received many accolades throughout Fiscal Year 2015. Our Urban Forestry program received the 2015 Gold Leaf Award, which recognized Cincinnati Parks’ programs to manage invasive species and the 2015 Heritage Award, which recognized the reforestation of Mr. Airy Forest, urban tree canopy assessment, and fall Re-Leaf program with Duke Energy. Please continue to read the enclosed pages which detail the many awards and accomplishments Cincinnati Parks achieved during the year. On behalf of the Board of Park Commissioners, I want to thank the Honorable Mayor John Cranley and the members of City Council, our Parks Foundation Trustees, all Park employees, community partners, and volunteers for their dedication and commitment to “Brining on the Green” in our spectacular park system, and thus our great city. Cincinnati Parks is a renowned treasure for all to enjoy! Otto M. Budig, Jr. Cincinnati Board of Park Commissioners PRESIDENT Clockwise From Upper Left: Snow dusted trees at Fountain Square; Explore Nature!’s staff are ready for the annual magic forest halloween hikes; Sawyer Point hosts the Bunbury Music Festival; Nature Next Door campers discover that worms can be fun; beautiful spring flowers bloom during the Krohn Merri Gaither Smith Robert D. H. Anning Susan F. Castellini Dianne Rosenberg Conservatory’s Early Spring Show “Falling Water Gardens; a Modern VICE PRESIDENT work of Nature”. Page 4 | 5 Bringing on the Green AW ARDS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS ContaCT US The Park Board Visitor Center is located inside Krohn Conservatory in Eden Park and is open to the public Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 513-352-4080. Cincinnatus Association S PIRIT of AMERICA AWARD Park Director East District Parks Park Advisory Councils Willie F. Carden, Jr. 513-352-4079 Lou Sands 513-321-8439 Jackie Binford 513-352-4079 Award given for exhibiting conspicuous and enduring contributions to creating greater inclusion and promoting diversity in our community. Operations and Land Management West District Parks Volunteer Coordinator Jim Burkhardt 513-861-8970 Larry Parker 513-368-0992 Cheryl Lackey 513-357-2614 TripAdvisor 2015 CertifiCATE of EXCELLENCE Planning & Design Waterfront Parks Park Facility Rentals, Park Special The 2015 Certificate of Excellence is a prestigious award that can only be earned Steve Schuckman 513-475-9600 Jennifer Mobley 513-352-6182 Events, and Special Use Permits through consistently great reviews, which are published on the TripAdvisor 513-357-2604 travel site. Business Services Natural Resources Management Dawn Geoppinger 513-352-2621 Dave Gamstetter 513-861-9070 Premier Park Events 513-221-2610 Event Rentals for: Krohn Conservatory, 2015 CommunitY BUILDER AWARD Hyde Park Financial Services Urban Forestry French House, Gibson House, Ault Neighborhood Council Award given to individuals that display dedication and attention to Marijane Klug 513-357-2608 CincinnatiRobin Hunt 513-861-9070Parks Park Pavilion, Alms Park Pavilion, Berry community concerns. Pavilion, Mt. Echo Pavilion, Maple Ridge Krohn Conservatory Carol Ann’s Carousel Lodge, The Anderson Pavilion, and Oak Andrea Schepmann 513-352-4080 Ruthann Spears 513-381-3756 Ridge Lodge City Beat 2015 BEST OF CinCINNATI Organization Tree Explore Nature! and Nature Camps Greenspaces and Gateways Cincinnati Parks Foundation Cincinnati Parks Honored in Nine Categories. Jennifer Harten 513-321-6070 Ann Uhlman 513 - 861- 9070 Jennifer Spieser 513-861-0023 Central District Parks Land Management and Trails Rent.com CINCINNATI TOP-10 CitY for GRADS Dave Boutelle 513-478-6433 Jim Godby 513-861-9070 In a recent study by Rent.com, Cincinnati was identified as a great choice for graduates, specifically mentioning Cincinnati Parks as a key reason. Youth Employment West Smale District Arbor Day Foundation 2015 TREE CitY USA RECOGNITION Marketing To qualify as a Tree City USA community, a town or city must meet four standards & Public Fuel/Fleet Relations Green Management established by the Arbor Day Foundation and the National Association of State For- Technology esters. The Cincinnati Park Board has received Tree City USA recognition Planning/ Greenleaf for 32 years! Design East Graphic District Property Design Management Central Take Root Campaign 2015 HERITAGE AWARD District Reservations Carol Ann’s The award recognizes the reforestation of Mt. Airy Forest and innovative projects Facility Carousel such as the urban tree canopy assessment and the fall Re-Leaf program with Management Budget Natural Duke Energy. Human Explore Nature! Administration Resource Resources Information Management Technology 2015 GOLD Leaf AWARD International Society International Special Affairs of Arboriculture Capital Project Green Award recognizes our urban forestry programs to manage invasive species, such as Events & Management Auditing Procurement the Asian Longhorn Beetle, Emerald Ash Borer, and Asian Bush Honeysuckle. Permits Volunteers Planning & Design Business Financial Services Services Architectural Foundation 2015 ALICE and HARRIS Weston APPLE AWARD Operations Waterfront of Cincinnati The award honors Cincinnati Parks’ contributions to Cincinnati’s built environment through the development of and innovation in the Cincinnati Parks system. Director of Parks Parks Foundation Board of Park Commissioners Urban Forestry Board Park Advisory Councils Mayor of Cincinnati Citizens of Cincinnati Page 6 | 7 Bringing on the Green GreenspaCE PROGRAM Fall ReLeaf was able to provide 527 trees to 140 different participants in 29 communities. The ReLeaf program’s original mission in 1988 was to provide beautifying the community, this also helps to offset the loss of trees for homeowners who either have street tree lawns that are trees in the area due to the I-75 widening project. too narrow to be planted by Urban Forestry or have overhead utility lines in them. The program has blossomed to include Staff selected 13 different species of trees this year. Building on community and school involvement, property owners and the popularity of the small native seedlings from last year’s diverse tree species selection. program, we offered Witchazel, Blackhaw Viburnum, Hop Hornbeam, Black Cherry, Pecan, and Chinquapin Oak. Having The trees are planted in the front yard and provide the beauty a mix of small, medium, and large maturing trees available for and energy-saving shade of a street tree without the costly the program allows participants and staff to select the right tree conflicts with overhead utilities. Funding from Duke Energy for the right place. All planting sites are inspected by staff to and the Cincinnati Parks Foundation allows us to provide the ensure there will not be conflicts with utilities. Urban Forestry staff members loading a free tree for a citizen Dead Ash Trees due to Emerald Ash Borer in Cincinnati Park.