AWARDS: Ohio Chapter of ASLA Award of Excellence
PHOTO CREDIT: Josh Beeman, Human Nature
Human Nature collaborated with a multi-disciplinary design team comprised of Glaserworks and BCI to develop and implement the Ziegler Park Master Plan. Bridging two dynamic urban neighborhoods – Over-the-Rhine and Pendleton – Ziegler Park is the “backyard” of the community. Thematically, it continues the cascading landscape from the surrounding hills into the urban street grid. Functionally, Ziegler Park is a series of outdoor rooms that provide passive and active spaces for a variety of activity types and sizes. Developed with input from multiple public workshops and stakeholder engagement meetings, the aquatics environment is comprised of a family-oriented pool - including zero-depth entry, lap lanes, and a diving well - and a spray area, which features custom play features as engaging off as when the water is on. It is intended to reflect the aesthetics of the Park and surrounding neighborhood, and to respond to the cultural influences of art and music so prevalent in the community. 3CDC reenlisted Human Nature to expand their design of Ziegler Park, a green space which filled the Over-the-Rhine community's need for an outdoor gathering space and neighborhood watering hole.

Plans to continue the park's pedestrian corridor follows Yukon and Woodward with the addition of reclaimed brick paver walking paths, murals and interactive gallery panels, shaded seating, playful elements, and a gateway feature. Extension of tenant spaces, movable furnishings, overhead string lights create an inviting space which promotes alley circulation and lingering in a space once reserved for parked vehicles and throughway traffic.

Placemaking efforts and flexible programming invokes positive uses of the space and adds value to users, bystanders, and tenants. An ongoing public community engagement process directs the design and ensures that the community's voice is heard and that design reflects those most impacted. 3CDC reenlisted Human Nature to expand their design of Ziegler Park, a green space which filled the Over-the-Rhine community's need for an outdoor gathering space and neighborhood watering hole.