Dedication Ceremony on Sunday for Green Man Park in Walnut Hills

Park serves as a symbol of neighborhood’s revitalization

CINCINNATI – The City of Cincinnati will hold a dedication ceremony Sunday, June 18 to celebrate Green Man Park in Walnut Hills. The event begins at 2 p.m. and will continue until 4 p.m.

Green Man Park is a one-of-a-kind gathering space that acknowledges Walnut Hills’ commitment to a revitalized and green future. Located at the intersections of Stanton Avenue and Chatham Street on East McMillan, the park is a short walk from Peeble’s Corner.

Green Man Park’s centerpiece is a limestone Green Man sculpture, created by German stonecutter David Hummel in 1890. The Green Man adorned a building on the site of the park for over 100 years. It acted as an advertisement for his business, Hummel Industries, which specialized in masonry and sculpture. Hummel Industries was also the mason for City Hall.

During the Green Man’s tenure on the structure, he saw and experienced many changes throughout the neighborhood. At one point the sculpture itself was covered in blue latex paint. Recognizing its historical relevance, community members Fred Orth and Gary Dangel saved the sculpture when the building was taken down in 1991, and worked together to remove the paint and restore the Green Man to his original limestone finish.

The symbol of the Green Man dates back thousands of years. It is regarded as a symbol of rebirth and regeneration. Thus, the layout and design details of the park reinforce the “Green Man” themes of sustainability, inclusion, and revitalization.

The community-driven project, spearheaded by Orth and Dangel, was supported by the Department of Transportation and Engineering’s (DOTE) Division of Transportation Planning and Urban Design. Residents were invited to collaborate with DOTE in charrette sessions to establish the vision for the park. DOTE then provided architectural design services, materials like granite curb to be repurposed in the park, and signage, designed by DOTE’s graphic design section to reutilize old cast iron light posts. The park’s concept was later presented to the University of Cincinnati’s Horticulture students at the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, who designed the native landscaping.

Green Man Park is one of many projects the City is conducting along East McMillan, which was converted to two-way traffic in 2012. DOTE is also currently designing and implementing streetscape designs in partnership with the Department of Economic Development to introduce new lighting, sidewalks, and benches, making the street more accessible and walkable.