Cincinnati Scales Back Plans for Downtown's Lytle Park

The current plan for a renovated Lytle Park lacks $6 million in funding it could have had if voters had approved a parks levy in November 2015.

1 minute read

September 9, 2016, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Cincinnati

Cincinnati Parks / Lytle Park

"A diet version of the Cincinnati Board of Park Commissioners' plan for Lytle Park got some praise and some criticism at a forum on Wednesday night in the Guilford Building," reports Chris Wetterich, "with the most-contentious issue whether or not to put a quarter-mile walking and running path within it."

"At most, the department will have about $2.5 million to overhaul the park after it had hoped to spend $6.5 million on it, a figure tied to the passage of the failed Cincinnati parks levy in 2015," explains Wetterich. What money is available will come from the Ohio Department of Transportation and, possibly, Western & Southern Financial Group.

Now that the park won't have the benefit of the park levy funding, the plan for the park eliminates "water walls, plantings, interpretive plaques, stone walls, fencing, a mini-stage and shelter and a play area…"  Some of the sidewalks will be also be narrower.

Carrie Blackmore Smith provides additional background on the project in a separate article.

Thursday, September 8, 2016 in Cincinnati Business Courier

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 14, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

Cars driving under automatic congestion pricing toll machines on Broadway next to the Trump International Hotel in Manhattan, New York City.

Data reveals that NYC’s bet on congestion pricing has paid off

After almost two years of the program, reports show positive impacts on traffic and air quality and no disruptions to parking.

October 13, 2026 - Marcelo Remond

A crane lifts a manufactured house, with is rectangular and does not yet have a roof.

HUD modernizes 50-year-old manufactured housing framework

The Next Generation Manufactured Housing Action Plan establishes new energy-efficiency standards for manufactured homes, and new guidelines for anchoring them.

October 8, 2026 - Boston Real Estate Times

People in Chicago cross the street. There are two CTA buses in the background.

Chicago city vehicles are on the hunt for illegally-parked cars

Cameras on the vehicles can automatically issue tickets to drivers who park their cars in bus or bike lanes.

October 17 - Block Club Chicago

A large brown house in Massachusetts.

Small single-family homes are illegal in most of MA. Voters can change that

Most land zoned for single-family housing in Massachusetts requires at least 40,000 square feet of land per house.

October 16 - NPR

A group of people gather around Metra's battery-powered bus.

Public steps inside U.S.’s first battery-powered train

Metra’s groundbreaking train feature modern seats and a futuristic battery car.

October 16 - Chicago Sun Times