During these tough economic times, many people are exploring "stay-cations" – sticking close to home and enjoying the amenities their own city has to offer. Cincinnatians are certainly no exception.

Outside Magazine recently named Cincinnati as one of America's 10 Best Cities, highlighting a "well-balanced blend of industries," a "completely walkable downtown," and tons of "green spaces, parks and lush hillsides" as part of its appeal. In a city that has great food, rich cultural offerings and a festival for every occasion, we work hard to keep our park system one of the main attractions for our great city. While some see us as a great feature of this city, we know that our greatest feature is the community - the neighborhoods that surround our parks and the people who use them.

We are blessed with strong local commitment to our parks. Our park advisory councils work closely with the Park Board to develop family events that celebrate the individual community and offer neighbors a chance to get to know each other. These groups enhance the beauty of the parks through their dedication - all of these people volunteer their time generously for our benefit. Just a few of the great events we have going on this fall: Burnet Woods is hosting a Concert at the Lake on September 19th at the Trailside Nature Center. Bring the whole family out to the Mt. Airy Forest Festival at Oak Ridge Lodge on Saturday, October 10th. It'll be a full day of crafts, games live entertainment and food. And Balluminaria will be a sight to behold up at Eden Park on November 21st as hot air balloons are lit up against the backdrop of the fall night sky.

One of my personal favorites is just around the corner - the Holiday Floral Show at the Krohn Conservatory, which runs from November 21st-January 3rd.  The Krohn recently underwent extensive renovations this summer which will improve the experience for all our guests. The holiday show is yet another way we offer families and the community chance to encounter nature in a unique way. If you've never been to the Krohn, now is the time to explore!

Whether you're cutting back on your travel budget or you're just looking for some fun, free events for the whole family, there is still plenty to do in Cincinnati Parks. We want our parks to be places not only of relaxation, but also of enrichment. Visit our website  for complete schedules or call (513) 357-2604 to find out more!

Are you living a green life?

It's a question we're all bombarded with every day through the media, our coworkers and even our family -  how can we as responsible citizens lessen our environmental impact and leave our City a greener place for our kids? I'm proud to say that the Cincinnati Park Board stepped up to the challenge by implementing exciting new projects to promote renewable energy and green technology in our City parks. Green projects in Cincinnati Parks generate environmental awareness and conservation benefits for the community, while helping the City generate economic benefits for taxpayers.

Some of our 2009 updates include:

• A new geothermal system was installed at Alms Park, through a partnership with the Hillside Trust, to allow renewable heating and cooling at the location

• Deteriorated pavement at Seasongood Pavilion in Eden Park was replaced with porous concrete that reduces the amount and velocity of storm water runoff at the site (it's healthier for the trees up there too!)

• New energy-efficient lighting was installed at Krohn Conservatory, and the lights at Parks' Operations Division were placed on timers.

• The renovation of Owls' Nest Park continues with plans for new walkways, lighting, park furnishings, and two rain gardens which will filter storm water and reduce the flow into the sewer system

• Renovations are almost complete on two comfort stations in Eden Park. Upgrades include low-flow toilets that will reduce our use of water.

All of these efforts will reduce energy costs and allow Parks to better manage our utility resources. Through Mayor Mallory's Green Cincinnati Initiative to support greening our region, the Cincinnati Park Board will be exploring many other initiatives during the coming months to make Cincinnati a more livable city for all its residents.

And if you need some good green tips, we can help! Sign up for one of our "Living Our Green Life" lectures at the Krohn Conservatory, where our experts address common questions on how to be more green and offer practical ways to make green changes to your lifestyle. For more info, call us at (513) 357-2604. Or visit our website and click on the "Living Our Green Life" section. 

Can you imagine a life without parks?  It's a simple pleasure we sometimes take for granted in our daily lives.  But in my time as the Director of Parks, I have encountered many citizens who have not experienced the beauty of green space in their neighborhood.

The City of Cincinnati has one of the finest park systems in the country, thanks in no small part to citizen advocates and volunteers, dedicated Park Staff, and visionary leadership from the Board of Park Commissioners. With over a 100 locations - 5 regional parks, 70 neighborhood parks, and 34 preserves - it's hard to imagine why anyone would not spend an afternoon watching the world go by from a park bench, take a morning walk in the gardens or toss a Frisbee with friends.  Our parks are democratic spaces where everyone is welcome and there are no dividers.  Parks inspire a sense of community and belonging, calm and inspiration. To educate the community on the importance of green space, I believe one must teach an appreciation for nature early in life –That's where our Nature Education and Nature Next Door programs enter the picture.

Cincinnati Parks' Nature Education section started in 1927 with a simple mission: educate people of all ages on the natural and historical resources in Cincinnati Parks, and assist in their protection and management.  Today, our programs serve a full spectrum of city neighborhoods, focusing on school-age children and activities that are either free or very affordable. But even with 5 fully-equipped nature centers that offer year-round programming, there are still kids we would like to reach.

With that in mind, twelve years ago Parks developed the Nature Next Door program, where we take the programs "next door" to inner city parks. For nine weeks every summer, Nature Education staff bring lessons on fossils, wildlife, insects and so much more to over 3,600 kids. We have many generous partners who help us make this happen year after year. In addition to the Cincinnati Police Department and the Ladislas and Vilma Segoe Family Foundation, Saks Fifth Avenue and Cincinnati Profile Magazine step up every year to co-sponsor a benefit for the program, the Gentlemen of Style & Substance Awards. For more information on ticket availability for this year's event on September 16th, visit us here.  We're so grateful for the community's support of this program, as we truly believe it is critical to the health and well-being of our parks, to educate and hopefully inspire the next generation of citizen advocates who will preserve and maintain our parks.

If you have any questions about Nature Education programming, please contact us at 321-6070.