2025: Q4 in Review - The Banks Public Partnership

Quarterly Review | October–December 2025

Letter from The Banks Project Executive, Phil Beck

The Fourth Quarter 2025 closed out a very active and engaging year for The Banks. The Freedom Center educated us with a new exhibit, “In This Place,” answering the pivotal questions about why the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center is located in Cincinnati and why it sits on the banks of the Ohio. Cincinnati Parks and Moerlien Lager House engaged us with a Schmidlapp Lawn display of photographs of the Ohio River from 1775 to the present day, celebrating America’s River Roots and 250th year celebration. Historic river craft lined the Public Landing and visitors toured the paddle wheel boats and enjoyed river cruises and entertainment throughout Cincinnati’s Riverfront Parks system including Smale Park. The Banks Community Authority entertained us along Freedom Way and in the DORA, celebrating with block parties, sports-related events and rallies, and community events in cooperation with Smale Riverfront Park and sponsors who support the vision of a vibrant, mixed-use development defining a thriving riverfront district for the City of Cincinnati, Hamilton County, and The Banks stakeholders.

On that last point—defining and delivering a thriving riverfront district—the Public Parties selected the consultant team of Perkins & Will, MKSK, and HR&A, which began the process of updating the Riverfront Plan in May. You can read more about the process and the progress of the Riverfront Update work in this Report.

In 2026, we look forward to even more opportunities to educate, engage, and entertain you at The Banks. See you soon!

Phil Beck, AIA, LEED AP
The Banks Public Partnership Project Executive

Engage

The Banks Riverfront Plan Update

Riverfront Plan Update process charts course for completing development at The Banks

Why Update the Master Plan?

The Banks is one of the most significant redevelopment initiatives in Cincinnati’s history, transforming underutilized riverfront land between Paycor Stadium and Great American Ball Park into a vibrant, mixed-use district. Since the 1990s, the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County have collaborated on the vision for a lively downtown riverfront that welcomes residents, visitors, and businesses alike.

The current plan update continues this legacy by exploring how to enhance public spaces, improve connections to Downtown and the riverfront, and guide future development on remaining sites. The Banks is no longer a blank slate—there is potential that remains unrealized.

Since its inception, The Banks has delivered major public space, infrastructure, and development successes following both the original 2000 Master Plan and 2006 Amendments. Much has changed since the most recent Zoning Amendment (2019) which paved the way for the Andrew J Brady Music Center and Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame.

Today, there are five developable parcels remaining. By considering the future of these parcels together to frame a more impactful and coherent development strategy, this Plan Update will provide The Banks Public Parties (City and County) a framework as they engage private development interests in future infill projects.

Who makes the development decisions at The Banks?

The ultimate goal of the planning process is to encourage private development of the remaining five sites in The Banks. Control over the future of the remaining lots at The Banks is shared equally between the Cincinnati City Council (nine members) and the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners (three members), with each body holding 50% decision-making authority. In addition, longstanding contracts signed over the past 25 years grant the Bengals and Reds ownership groups a role in shaping what gets built on these sites

Strategic Development Vision

View the presentation of strategic vision for The Banks Plan Update—made to the Hamilton County Board of Commissioners and to Cincinnati City Council on November 18, 2025 for a glimpse at the strategic vision emerging from the first phase of the Plan Update.

Click here to get the full Strategic Development Vision presentation

Public engagement opportunities

Throughout Phase 1: The Banks Plan Update website www.RiverfrontUpdate.com provided periodic planning updates and engagement opportunities. Since June 2025, the planning team posted two polls periodic polls designed to include the community of residents and users of The Banks in the planning process. Over 500 total responses were received for the two polls combined.

Phase 2: Formal approval will be initiated by the County and managed by the City as a familiar process to Amend a Planned Development (PD) in the City of Cincinnati. The public can anticipate opportunities to review, provide input, and make public comments at each of the review phases with Planning Commission and City Council, respectively.

Click here to share your opinion and help guide future development at The Banks

Click here to read more about The Banks Riverfront Plan Update

What Do You Envision for The Banks?

If you ask Phil Beck, project executive for The Banks, what he envisions for the future of The Banks, he might echo what several hundred responses to two separate community engagement polls expressed: a safe, mixed-use development with increased cultural and recreational activities, improved accessibility and inclusivity, and support for vibrant community spaces. “Based on the verbatim comments offered by poll participants (online, through website link www.RiverfrontUpdate.com), there is a call for historical components; first-rate facilities, green space, restaurants; connection to the riverfront, and a combined entertainment/tourism district with events unique to the area so The Banks is a place that is always safe and active with things to do,” Phil offered.

When prompted to mention the new attractions they’d like to see at The Banks of the future, respondent comments ranged from offering condominiums for sale to stabilize the district; more public art, improved signage and maps to guide visitors; to more variety in restaurants (including menu and price points), and more festivals and civic events to generate visitor traffic while enhancing Smale Riverfront Park.

Potential New Attractions

Poll participants answered they would visit The Banks monthly if the below attractions were added:

The Banks in 2035

Poll participants answered how a visit to The Banks in 2035 should make them feel:

Exhilarated by the entertainment options but also a place where you can find refuge in a coffee shop, bookstore, or a yoga studio.
An incredibly lively destination with retails shops and bars/restaurants.
Safe and fun atmosphere for all ages with variety of experience options for all.
Feel surrounded by a connected community not separate from downtown.
It should feel like visiting a big city. With many dense, mixed use building and plenty of food, entertainment, and living options.

The Banks in 2035

Enhance Safety and Security
Promote Mixed-Use Development
Increase Cultural and Recreational Activities
Improve Accessibility and Inclusivity
Support Vibrant Community Spaces

Entertain

Before The Banks

Discover the History of Cincinnati’s Riverfront

Fifteen years ago, development of The Banks began the astonishing transformation of our riverfront. Today, this jewel of the Queen City is one of the most flourishing in the country. Yet prior to this undertaking, centuries of successes as well as strife paved the way for the amenities we enjoy today. This series of historical reflections takes a look back at the intriguing stories of some of the people, places, and events that came…Before The Banks.

Episode 7 — The Marian Spencer Statue

In the Women’s Garden of Smale Riverfront Park stands a statue of a woman whose grit and gumption advanced civil rights in Cincinnati and beyond. In this seventh episode of Before The Banks, you’ll learn about the person, her philosophy, and her persistence in taking on systems that needed to change if opportunities (such as education and entertainment) were to be accessible and available to all. Our thanks to Cincinnati Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, a friend of Marian Spencer and her family, for narrating this episode. Watch

The “Before The Banks” video series was designed to provide a glimpse into the past, literally before The Banks was envisioned in the 20th century, to investigate how the land now designated as The Banks, was once used. Take six more steps back in time to review the six previously published videos.

Episode 6–The River’s Roar Watch

Episode 5–The Suspension Bridge Watch

Episode 4–The Foundation Walls Watch

Episode 3–The Reds & The River Watch

Episode 2–The Archaeological Dig Watch

Episode 1–The Black Brigade Watch

Click here to experience all the episodes!

Educate

Winterizing Smale Riverfront Park

Crews prepare for the cold months ahead

As temperatures drop, crews have been out working hard to winterize Smale Riverfront Park. They’ve cleared leaves and branches from walkways, lawns, and gathering spaces to keep the park clean and safe for visitors to use throughout the season. The lawns have been given their final cut of the year and aerated—to allow air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots more easily. And teams have carefully drained and turned off the fountains and spraygrounds to prevent damage from freezing temperatures.

While much of this work takes place in the background, it plays a critical role in keeping Smale Riverfront Park healthy and resilient. This seasonal care helps preserve the park’s landscapes and ensures it will be ready to enjoy when spring rolls around!

Awards & Recognition

Freedom Center voted #2 history museum in the country

Since its opening in 2004, the Freedom Center has shared stories of freedom’s heroes from the era of the Underground Railroad to modern day. It is symbolically located on the banks of the Ohio River, where many enslaved people took their first steps on free soil after self-liberating through the Underground Railroad in the mid-1800s. The Freedom Center honors that legacy through immersive, thought-provoking exhibits, programming, and films to be a convener of dialogue around issues of freedom, the denial of freedom, systemic racism, implicit bias and modern-day enslavement. During a visit, guests are introduced to freedom conductors including Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, John Rankin, Abraham Lincoln, Henry Box Brown, Margaret Garner, and the millions whose names have long been forgotten.

Fifth Third Foundation provides free admission to the Freedom Center on the fifth and third Sunday each month, plus MLK Day and Juneteenth, through 2026.

Visit freedomcenter.org

Get the USA Today 10Best History Museums List

Smale Riverfront Park takes 4th place in riverwalks across the US

John G. and Phyllis W. Smale Riverfront Park serves as a vibrant link between downtown Cincinnati and the Ohio River, seamlessly connecting to the city’s other riverfront parks. It’s a lively spot where visitors can enjoy views of the bustling Ohio River Trail, watch boats pass by, or simply gather with family and friends for a day outdoors. The park is packed with attractions for all ages, including multiple water play features, giant swings, an interactive foot piano, and a creative play area designed for children’s imagination to run wild. Expansive pollinator gardens add color and life, while Carol Ann’s Carousel offers timeless fun for families. History is also woven throughout the park, with important landmarks like the Black Brigade Monument honoring African American soldiers, and the recently dedicated Marian Spencer Statue celebrating the civil rights leader and trailblazer. Whether you’re exploring, playing, or reflecting, Smale Riverfront Park offers a space to connect with nature, history, and community all in one beautiful riverside setting.

Get the USA Today 10Best Riverwalk List

Current Events

In 2025, a total of 142,227 visitors walked through the Cincinnati Black Music Walk of Fame. This free, interactive music history experience has won national acclaim for its design, development, and delivery of the history of Black music in greater Cincinnati and the region.