Cincinnati’s urban facelift: hanging out in Washington Park

The Musical Fountains at Washington Park sit in front of Cincinnati's Music Hall.

The park's bandstand.

Ever so slowly, surprisingly, Cincinnati is transforming itself into a cool city. Even Lonely Planet thinks so and voted my hometown as one of the top 10 US travel destinations for 2012.

In Over-the-Rhine, Washington Park is the latest area to be revitalized. The park was first created  in 1855, but for the last 18 months it was shut down and completely renovated. It just reopened at the beginning of July. Some of the old park structures such as the bandstand are still there, but now there are also water fountains to play in and a dog park. The location is in the heart of one of Cincinnati’s oldest neighborhoods and looks out over  Music Hall, the home of Cincinnati’s symphony orchestra and opera.

With my nieces, nephews, brother and Dad, I checked out the new Washington Park yesterday. I gotta say it’s well worth hanging out in for an afternoon or evening.

Katie, Sam and Sophie cool off at the waterfall.

Katie and Sophie in the fountain.

Katie, Sam and Sophie waiting for the fountain to come back on.

Scott tries his hand at playing "pigcussion."

Tagged as: Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine, Cincinnati's parks, Musical fountains, Over-the-Rhine, Washington Park, water parks, what to see in Cincinnati