Cincinnati Parks will open the newest section of Smale Riverfront Park this Saturday. Eight more features will open by July. Parks director Willie Carden says normally all the extra upkeep would strain his department's budget, but the department is trying to make the park self-sustaining.
“When you look at parks, they’re not cheap. Trash removal, cutting the grass, flowers, fertilization, that all costs money,” Carden says.
“I’m a taxpayer. If I can figure out a way to reduce that tax burden, that’s what we’re trying to do. And with the goal of let’s make this park totally self-sufficient. Now, we have a way to go, but at least it’s being drawn up that way.
“If it’s $1.1 million to $1.2 million to manage that park, and we come up with $800, $900, a million dollars, as a taxpayer, I’m giddy.”
Carden says the parks department already gets rent payments from Moerlein Lager House worth $225,000 a year.
There’s also a common area maintenance charge on other Banks tenants. Residential tenants pay 8 cents per square foot. Commercial tenants pay 35 cents per square foot. Carden says that generates about $500,000 a year.
The Parks Board also gets money from renting out the Schmidlapp Event Lawn.
Carden says when the new carousel is open, that will bring in some money, as will renting out the Anderson Pavilion below. Carden says next year, the board plans to begin work on a marina that will also be revenue positive.
Carden, city officials and fundraisers will cut the ribbon on the Heekin Family/PNC Grow up Great Adventure Playground on May 9. Three other features, the Pilcher Fountains, Anderson Pavilion, and Carol Ann’s Carousel are scheduled to open over the next week.
