Werk Road Property

The park is open dawn to dusk, and guests are welcome to walk or hike the property along a mowed path. Bikes are not permitted yet. Dogs are welcome, but must remain on a 6-foot leash at all times. 

There are no bathrooms or parking available on-site at this time.

Planning has begun for the newest Great Park!

Building on master plans recently completed for every park in the district, Great Parks is also developing a master plan for the Werk Road property. The plan will align neighborhood and community interests with the facility and programmatic goals of Great Parks to design a new park that is a true community asset. The public will receive many opportunities to engage with Great Parks during the process to help guide future development, programming, and conservation activities.

Tentative Project Timeline

Great Parks is excited to include park neighbors, the Westwood community and Hamilton County residents and stakeholders in the planning process for this future park. An Advisory Group made up of leaders and representatives from local community organizations, such as WestCURC, Westwood Works and the Westwood Historical Society, is assisting Great Parks with the design.

Everyone is encouraged to share initial thoughts and ideas through an online survey, which is open now through December 1.

Take the Survey

It will take 5-7 minutes to complete the survey. There is also a section for educators and youth development professionals to provide feedback, which may take an additional 6-8 minutes to complete.

Public engagement activities are funded in part by a grant from the Greater Cincinnati Foundation.

In August 2021, Great Parks purchased the former Gamble Estate in Westwood. We were able to preserve the site by securing a Clean Ohio Conservation grant for 75% of the appraised value, and secure the 25% match through a partial donation of the value from the previous owner, Greenacres Foundation. 

Great Parks intends to protect the urban greenspace as well as open up the potential for an urban ecology center to serve residents of Westwood and nearby communities and schools. The terms of a grant being used to fund the purchase require the area be used for "passive recreation," meaning the park will be largely preserved in its natural state, utilizing existing structures on the site. 

The site provides significant ecological value in connecting a patchwork of habitats from the City of Cincinnati’s Mt. Airy Forest, to greenspace along the Mill Creek, south to Great Parks’ Embshoff Woods near the Ohio River. The property has multiple points of access and excellent walkability, being a short distance from Gamble-Nippert YMCA, Westwood Library and five schools such as Westwood Elementary and Dater Montessori, where Great Parks currently presents nature education programming. It is also conveniently located on several Metro bus routes, providing a public transportation option for residents.

April 20, 2021 – Great Parks Awarded Funding to Acquire and Preserve Westwood Site