Anyone who has been graced with the opportunity to tour the many sights that Cincinnati, Ohio, has to offer is probably familiar with the basics. A trip to “Cincy” just wouldn’t be complete without a jaunt around its world-famous zoo or an afternoon at a Reds game. While many have spent hours traversing the city by foot, it’s likely that they have overlooked the origins and timelessness of two of the city’s treasured and Porphyry-packed spaces — Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park and Washington Park.
A Background on Cincinnati’s Major Civic Spaces
Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park is a 20-acre, half-mile of Ohio riverfront property that was erected to celebrate Cincinnati’s sister cities worldwide. It was built in 2003 and was named after Cincinnati’s first African-American mayor.
Washington Park, known as the epicenter of Cincinnati’s Over-the-Rhine District, is a renovation of one of the city’s oldest urban parks. It lies adjacent to Cincinnati’s Music Hall and Memorial Hall.
The Best Solution for the Jobs: Porphyry
Christopher Manning, FASLA and Principal at HUMAN NATURE INC., recruited Milestone Imports to help with these two major civic spaces in Cincinnati. His goal was to showcase Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park and Washington Park as projects that incorporated a long-lasting and elegant palette of materials. Milestone Imports’ solution? The durable and aesthetically-pleasing Porphyry material.
Keeping the desired look and feel of Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park and Washington Park in mind, Manning and Milestone Imports knew that incorporating Porphyry was a no-brainer. The durability and strength of this material proven by hardscape projects produced centuries ago are exactly why Porphyry is considered long-lasting like granite. But what makes this material unparalleled is its richness and ability to be molded into unique and exquisite patterns. For two public spaces constructed with the intention of displaying the cultural and environmental beauty of Cincinnati, these qualities were a must-have.
Fast Forward: Porphyry Material Will Last a Lifetime
So how do Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park and Washington Park look today? In the words of Manning, they look “as good or better than the first day.” While he can’t predict exactly what the state of these parks will be in say, twenty years’ time, the reusability of Porphyry means we can assume that these cherished landmarks will be around for a while.
