Raise the Rutherford!

Part III: Location Option A – Plum Street Park

A six-part, slightly humorous series to erect a statue of Rutherford B. Hayes in Cincinnati.

While there are a few parks and locations downtown (or close by) that could be considered as possible locations for the Rutherford B. Hayes Statue, I am going to focus on three new parks identified in the Cincinnati Parks Master Plan. I like Piatt Park as a setting for both the Garfield and the William Henry Harrison statues. (The Harrison was designed by Louis T. Rebisso in 1896.) But space there is limited and I would not want to change anything. However Piatt Park is identified in the Master Plan as the model for new parks in the West 4th Street area and the St. Xavier Church area. These two locations are the focus of Option A & B.

Plum Street Park

This option locates Hayes at the south end of a promenade, very similar in nature to Piatt Park. Plum Street would be changed to two-way traffic to not only improve vehicular traffic in the area but to also take advantage of new and existing architectural vistas, including the Albee Arch. This linear, median pocket park would compliment the nearby, and larger, Central Riverfront Park and not detract from uses there. The park would contrast with Piatt Park however with a "softscaped" lawn for the residents (and their pets) in the neighborhood. As a former resident of this neighborhood, this amenity is needed. In addition, no Central Business District park currently includes a lawn and I think this is important for any new park. Plum Street Park can then becomes a catalyst for enhanced development at the edge of the West Fourth Street National Register Historic District. This includes infill of the blocks directly to the east of the new park, currently a parking lot.

Wednesday: Part IV - Location Option B