General Offices |
Special Features |
Park Services |
Organizational Chart
The Cincinnati Park Board maintains and operates the City of Cincinnati's system of parklands. Cincinnati's City Charter provides the Board of Park Commissioners control and management of parks.
The mission of the Park Board is:
"To conserve, manage, sustain, and enhance parks' natural and cultural resources and public green space for the enjoyment, enlightenment and enrichment of the Cincinnati community."
General Offices:
950 Eden Park Drive, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Phone: (513) 352-4080
The Cincinnati Board of Park Commissioners is a five member Board appointed by the Mayor of Cincinnati, and confirmed by City Council, for six-year terms:
Marian J. Lindberg, President
Roscoe A. Fultz, Vice-President
Otto M. Budig, Jr.
Merri Gaither Smith
Robert D.H. Anning
Willie F. Carden Jr., Director
The Park Board's budget includes funding from the City's General, Capital Improvement and Infrastructure Funds, program and facility fees/charges, a Citywide street tree assessment, investments a from private endowments, and Federal, State and private grants.
Park Holdings: constitute over 5,000 acres, which amounts to approximately 10% of Cincinnati's total land area. These holdings consist of 5 regional parks, 70 neighborhood parks, 34 natural areas, 30 sites managed by the Cincinnati Recreation Commission, 5 parkways, 9 scenic overlooks, 50 miles of hiking and bridle trails and such specialized sites as the Cincinnati Zoo and Pioneer Cemetery. Of the 130 Buildings in the park system, 60% are over 50 years old. Park Board responsibilities also extend to the management of the City's natural resources, urban forestry and highway green spaces and gateways.
Special Features:
- Krohn Conservatory has over 1,000 species of rare and exotic plants; seasonal floral shows
- park lodges, picnic areas, historic pavilions, playgrounds
The Cincinnati Park Board Organization
DIRECTOR'S OFFICE (WILLIE F. CARDEN JR., DIRECTOR OF PARKS) (513)352-4079
The Director's Office works with the Board of Park Commissioners to set and implement policies and work programs of Cincinnati Parks and management of approximately 125 employees.
DIVISION OF OPERATIONS-LAND MANAGEMENT AND URBAN FORESTRY (GERALD CHECCO, SUPERINTENDENT)
(513)861-8970
The Division of Operations provides for the maintenance and beautification of parklands, manages parks' natural resources including meadowlands and management of Park's vehicles and equipment. The Division is also responsible for the planting and maintenance of approximately 1,000 miles of City street trees and management of Interstate highway green space within the City in partnership with the Ohio Department of Transportation.
DIVISION OF PLANNING AND DESIGN/PROGRAM SERVICES (STEVE SCHUCKMAN, SUPERINTENDENT)
(513)475-9600
The Division of Planning and Design/Program Services provides design, planning, engineering, landscape architecture, and graphic design services. The division maintains 130 park structures, plans and designs new and enhanced parks, plans infrastructure and landscape projects, and provides support for special projects. The Division also supervises the operation of the Krohn Conservatory and Warder Nursery, five nature centers, and provides nature education programming.
DIVISION OF BUSINESS SERVICES (JULIE HORNE, MANAGER)
(513)357-2606
The Division of Business Services coordinates human resources including training, evaluation, and volunteer programs. Manages Park's public relations initiatives, produces Park's special events and concerts, customer services and reservations of Park facilities.
DIVISION OF FINANCIAL SERVICES (MARIJANE KLUG, MANAGER)
(513)357-2608
The Division of Financial Services manages Park's budget, state and federal grant programs, restricted fund endowments, procurement, telecommunications, and automated systems.
CINCINNATI PARKS FOUNDATION
(513)357-2619
The Cincinnati Parks Foundation is a non-profit corporation whose mission is, "to build broad-based private/public partnerships supporting the conservation and enhancement of our City's parks and greenspaces." The Parks Foundation is working to augment the Parks' heritage of private giving of parklands and endowed funds. The Board of Park Commissioners created the Cincinnati Parks Foundation in order to increase private, and philanthropic support of Cincinnati Parks.
Cincinnati Parks Services
- General Information and Park Reservations (513)352-4080
- Division of Operations and Lands Management: (513)861-8970
- Natural Resources and Land Management/Urban Forestry: (513)861-9070
- Division of Planning and Design: (513)475-9600
- Nature Education: (513)321-6070
- Krohn Conservatory: (513)352-4080
- Cincinnati Parks Foundation: (513)357-2619
- Volunteer Services: (513)352-4080
