Preservation in the Park
Bellevue Pavilion- Bellevue Hill Park
May -September at 5:30 p.m.
4th Thursday of the month
FREE
No reservation required.
Preservation in the Park is your chance to slow down, enjoy the outdoors, and dive into the stories that shape the Cincinnati region. Each month from May to September, we gather for a relaxed, free, and open-to-all hour where you can grab a drink, take in the skyline, and listen to a good story about the history, character, and future of the places that make our communities unique. It is an easygoing way to learn something new, meet neighbors, and discover why our built environment matters. Come for the sunshine, stay for the story.
Thank you to our 2026 Series Sponsor
Celebrating Hamilton County Stories for America 250
May 28, 2026
Ohio Creates:
History of the Taft Museum of Art
talk by Becky Beaulieu, President & CEO of the Taft
June 25, 2026
Ohio Outdoors:
History of Great Parks of Hamilton County
talk by Amy Roell, Director of
Programming of Great Parks of
Hamilton County
July 23, 2026
Ohio Gathers:
History the Garden and Rural Cemetery
talk by Carrie Rhodus, Director of Operations of Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati
August 27, 2026
Ohio Goes to the Fair:
History of Hamilton County Fair
talk by Beth Johnson, Executive Director of Cincinnati Preservation
September 24, 2026
Ohio Plays:
History of Cincinnati Black Baseball
talk by Paul Debono author of Black
Baseball in Cincinnati
Past Seasons
2025-Sports and Rec
History of Roller Skating in Cincinnati by by Morgan Rigaud of Skate Downtown Cincy
DeHart Hubbard: The First African American to win an Individual Gold Medal by Geoff Sutton of Walnut Hills Historical Society and Vanessa Henderson of the Bush Recreation Center
History of the Cincinnati Tennis Club by John Williams of Cincinnati Tennis Club
History of the Latonia Race Track by Jim Claypool
History and Future of Mecklenburg Gardens- Pop Up Event at Bellevue Pavilion in Bellevue Hill Park in Clifton Heights, Cincinnati
2024- Exploring Civic Architecture
City Beautiful Movement by Beth Johnson, Cincinnati Preservation Executive Director
Southgate Street School by Scott Clark, City of Newport Historic Preservation Officer
Spring Grove Cemetery by Amanda Frietsch, Spring Grove Cemetery Docent
Cincinnati Public School Architecture by Anne Delano Steinhert, Visiting Assistant Professor & Director, Center for the City, Department of History, College of Art and Sciences
Cincinnati Police Stations by Alan March, Historian, Retired Cincinnati Police Officer, and Author of Cincinnati Police Stations, a Brief Illustrated History
Fire Museum – Cincinnati First Fire by Sarah Strickland, Executive Director of the Cincinnati Fire Museum
Organic Architecture
Pop Up Event at Bellevue Pavilion in Bellevue Hill Park in Clifton Heights, Cincinnati
2023- Out of the box Preservation
Mandy Askins and Kelsey Stryffe, Cincinnati Observatory
Dr. Eric Jackson, NKU History Department
A history of African Americans in OTR
Bill Parrish, Eckstein Cultural Arts Center
Eckstein School
Mike Morgan, Potters Field of Price Hill
Christian Huelsman, Spring in Our Steps
Dr. Bonnie Meyer, NKY Pride Center
2022- Over-the-Rhine Icons
2022- Over-the Rhine Icons
“The Little Theater That Saved Memorial Hall”
by William Bauman
“Cincinnati Music Hall: Why Details Matter”
by Thea Tjepkema
“Findlay Market” by Anne Delano Steinert