Cincinnati is often referred to as the "City of Seven Hills," drawing a comparison between itself and Rome, which was also built on seven hills. Whether the city truly contains itself to only seven hills, or there are more, Cincinnati certainly is a city of hills regardless. The University of Cincinnati is situated at the top of one of these hills, and is within short distance of several overlooks maximizing the views from these lofty heights. This week, UC Sustainability is featuring three of these overlooks as part of our effort to highlight Cincinnati’s many beautiful parks!
Bellevue Park:
Address: 2191 Ohio Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45219
Bellevue Park, at the end of Ohio Avenue near UC, features an overlook with a stunning view of the downtown Cincinnati skyline. Back in the day, the park was the high point of the Cincinnati-Clifton Incline Plane, created in 1876, that led from Elm Street in Over-the-Rhine to Ohio Avenue in Clifton. At the top of the incline resided Bellevue House, an extravagant hilltop resort that was a premier destination for weekend parties, cocktail events, and dancing. By 1904, the resort had been shuddered and burned down.
In 1955, R. Carl Freund, the same architect who designed the Trailside Nature Center in Burnet Woods, designed the mushroom-esque pavilion that still stands there today. The canopy was designed to serve as an outdoor venue for music, concessions, dancing, and more. The park also includes a picnic area, playground, and public restrooms.
Bellevue Park Overlook featuring concrete canopy designed by R. Carl Freund
Photo and park information from https://www.cincinnatiparks.com/central/bellevue-park/
Fairview Park:
Address: 501 West McMillan St. Cincinnati, OH 45219
Fairview Park, like Bellevue, is a park near UC that used to serve as the top of an incline. This incline, known as the Cross-Town connector, was constructed in 1893 and demolished by 1923. Shortly after the Incline’s demolition, Fairview Park was established in its place.
The park features an overlook of a beautiful view of downtown Cincinnati where Union Terminal and the Ohio River can be seen. If you’d rather enjoy the view from the comfort of your car, drive along the mile-long road through the park for a panoramic view of the city. In addition, the park features picnic tables in the wooded area of the park, a shelter, and a playground.
Overlook at Fairview Park
Photo and park information from https://www.cincinnatiparks.com/central/fairview-park/
Mt Storm Park:
Address: 700 LaFayette Ave. Cincinnati, OH 45223
Mt. Storm Park, directly east of Mill Creek, used to be home to the grand estate of baron Robert Bowler before it was demolished in 1917 despite protests by preservationists. The estate was designed in 1850 by Adolph Strauch, the same architect who designed Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati and who supervised the Imperial Gardens in Vienna. When the estate was in use, Bowler would host guests such as the Prince of Wales and Charles Dickens, to name a few.
Despite the demolition of the main part of the estate, visitors to the park can enjoy the still-standing Temple of Love gazebo-pavilion (shown below). The park also boasts a shelter, playground, public restrooms, and a hill that visitors love to sled on in the wintertime with views of the Mill Creek Valley.
Temple of Love gazebo-pavilion
Photo and park information from https://www.cincinnatiparks.com/central/mt-storm-park/
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