Mission: Piatt Park

Piatt Park is the oldest park in Cincinnati, established in 1817.  It is located between Elm Street and Vine Street on Garfield Place (also known as 8th Street).  The land was granted to the city in 1817 by a Feberal Circuit Judge and father of a Civil War general.  Benjamin M. Piatt expected the land to be used to a market space, and it's original name was Eighth Street Park in 1868, but in 1940 it was given the name of Piatt Park.  However, it is most commonly known as the Garfield Park.

What Colleen Said:  My first job after college was right across the street from Piatt Park.  I had no idea that the name of it was Piatt Park, nor did I really know that it was considered a park.  I just thought it was a pretty oasis in the middle of downtown.  When Karen and I visited Piatt Park, it was rainy and cold.  I was in no mood to walk around, so I can't really share any experience of the park from that point of view... however, when I worked for an attorney on 8th Street I would often have to run errands, and I do have a different memory of a rainy day right in front of the statue of Garfield (see above).  That particular day, I was wearing high heels and while they were quite cute, they were not so conducive for the walking and running that I often needed to do.  That rainy afternoon I had the unfortunate luck of having the heel of my shoe get stuck in a crack, and the other heel slide on the wet pavement.  My arms were winding as if I were one of those tacky birds people put on their roofs to help them remember that it is windy, but regardless of my attempt at flight, I face planted in the street.  My further luck would have it was a busy day at both the law office and downtown... so many individuals saw my pink clad butt fly gracelessly across 8th and Vine, and then the rest of the day I had to explain to people that I was not skilled at walking when they asked why my skirt was ripped and why my face was bleeding. 


What Karen Said:  Well  - It is quite a small area, in the middle of downtown, and if you didn't know it was considered a park and were unfamiliar with the definition of Park:
(An area of land set aside for public use, as:

1. A piece of land with few or no buildings within or adjoining a town, maintained for recreational and ornamental purposes.
2. A landscaped city square.

you would miss the fact that it is indeed a Park. And the oldest one in Cincinnati. I had been here before, more than once, and of course noticed the area.  But until we went to explore I was unaware of the significance.  We didnt stay long since it was rainy and gross but I imagine the space is full of down-towners on any nice spring, summer or fall day enjoy their lunch for a minute before returning to work.