Have you ever considered the Moon? Our planet’s lunar partner, Shakespeare’s inconstant circled orb, has fascinated and entranced humanity for generations, from Incan and Mesopotamian moon-worship to contemporary astronomers. The Moon and its cycles also play a pivotal role in many calendar systems, so it seems only appropriate to have a day dedicated to celebrating it.
Moon Day is observed on July 20, the anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission’s successful landing nearly fifty-seven years ago. To celebrate the Selenic holiday, here are the three best parks to catch sight of the lovely nightly visitor.
Despite stealing the “City of Seven Hills” title from Rome, many of Cincinnati’s public parks offer beautiful, hilltop views of the surrounding city and sky. While narrowing down the best moon-viewing spots among the Queen City’s seventy neighborhood parks is quite the challenge, we can discount some that lack celestial prominence due to light pollution or obstructed views.
Using CityBeat’s special lunar-recreation formula, the three best parks are likely to be Bellevue Hill Park in Clifton Heights, Ault Park in Mount Lookout and Mt. Echo Park in East Price Hill.
Bellevue Hill Park
Bellevue Hill, located at 2191 Ohio Avenue, is famous for its sweeping view of Downtown and OTR from atop the titular hill. The park has a special place in Cincinnati’s history as a scenic destination for locals, from the advent of the Bellevue Incline funicular in 1876 to modern-day sightseers.
At one point, the titular hill was dominated by the Bellevue House, an immense resort venue that hosted dances, picnics and even an early theater. The House burned down in 1901, and a plaque and flower garden at the park now serve as a memorial.
The park also features the spectacular Ransohoff Overlook, dedicated to Dr. Daniel J. Ransohoff, a local social worker and professor of community planning at the University of Cincinnati. Ransohoff passed in 1993, but the viewing area that bears his name offers what might just be a perfect location to see the moon.
For more information about Bellevue Hill Park, visit its website.
Ault Park
Ault Park, located at 3600 Observatory Avenue, offers a similarly undisturbed view of the night sky, though it lacks the gorgeous cityscape sights. Instead, Ault Park offers an enviable glimpse of the night sky shrouded in the uninterrupted darkness of the well-to-do neighborhood.
Built in 1930, the pavilion structure, found at the center of the park, is probably a visitor’s best possible moon-viewing location. The terraced steps of the pavilion, which rise almost ziggurat-like from the park’s Great Lawn, have hosted everything from weddings to presidential stump speeches. Every summer, the Great Lawn below is filled with classic cars to celebrate the park’s Concours d’Elegance car show.
Viewers traveling to Ault Park to see the moon should also consider the nearby Cincinnati Observatory, which sits at the top of Mount Lookout at 3489 Observatory Place. The country’s oldest professional observatory offers a unique, nearly historical viewing experience of the moon.
Whether going to Ault Park or the Observatory, visitors should check both websites for information about upcoming events or openings.
Mt. Echo Park
Mt. Echo Park, located at 251 Mt. Echo Park Drive, may offer the best of both worlds for Cincinnati’s lunar fanatics. Featuring the hillside overlooks of Bellevue Hill Park and isolation and infrastructure of Ault Park, the beloved west-side park provides everything a moon-viewer needs to succeed on even the cloudiest night.
Opened in 1908, Mt. Echo Park has a variety of amenities for local visitors, including its own pavilion, which predates Ault Park’s by nearly two years. Visitors can also check out the park’s intentionally rustic picnic shelter, which was built in 1940 in the style of American architect and designer Frank Lloyd Wright.
Those wishing to see the moon, though, should stick to the park’s many trails, especially the curve that looks out over River Road and Delhi Avenue. They should also check the park’s website.
All parks open at 6 a.m. and close to the public at 10 p.m., which should leave summertime visitors about two hours to catch sight of our nearest celestial neighbor. Before the sun sets, though, make sure to also take some time to enjoy the many events offered by the city’s parks.