Great Parks of Hamilton County Park and Facility Master Plans Hamilton County, Ohio

Services Provided

Facilities Assessments & Planning
Community Engagement

People Involved

Andrew Overbeck
Andy Knight
Jack McGlasson
Sean Hare

County-wide comprehensive engagement and assessment of individual parks and facilities.

As a next step to the MKSK led Comprehensive Plan for Great Parks of Hamilton County, MKSK led the Park and Facility Master Plans with the multidisciplinary team of Champlin Architecture, Burgess and Niple, PROS Consulting, and Biohabitats. The plan takes guidance from the Comprehensive Plan’s five major goals and on-going community engagement to create a master plan for each of Great Parks’ individual parks and facilities.

The plan included its own robust engagement process that also had to account for the pandemic and its impact on in-person engagement opportunities. The plan engaged approximately 2,800 members of the public through online and in-person meetings, including more than 40 in-person events over 18 months. Efforts were made to create safe engagement activities within the parks.

The input and feedback received from the community and stakeholders can be organized into four main themes that reflect the community’s vision for the future of Great Parks. These overarching themes are expressed in specific improvements and recommendations that will enhance the current park user’s experience and will attract new visitors to the parks. The themes focus on expanding on the successful elements already present in the parks, enhancing and improving destinations and unique experiences, creating new spaces to educate and gather, and furthering Great Parks’ goal to be a leader in conservation and environmental stewardship.

The four themes are:

• Add More Trails and Adventure
  hiking/walking trails, mountain biking, regional trails, blueway trails

• Refresh Harbors and Experiences
  harbors, playgrounds, camping, disc golf

• Build New Nature, Education, and Event Centers
  education and event centers in each region

• Implement Conservation Projects
  mature forest management, stream and wetland restoration, golf course restoration, stormwater management

A 10-year levy was passed, by Hamilton County voters in 2021, in support of the Great Parks of Hamilton County Parks and Facility Master Plans project recommendations.

Great Miami & Whitewater River Blueway trail network

Woodland Mound Nature & Education Center

Shawnee Lookout Nature & Education Center

Glenwood Gardens Event & Education Center

Embshoff Woods - Canopy Walk Trail Overlook

Shawnee Lookout - Miami Fort Trail Lookout