May 25, 2026

Avondale Community Council News

Thrive Avondale Festival Saturday
June 6, 2026, 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM 

The Thrive Avondale Festival is a vibrant community event designed to bring residents together for a day of connection, wellness, and celebration. Attendees will enjoy free food, access to health and wellness resources, live music, and opportunities to engage with local organizations serving the Avondale community. This event is focused on supporting healthy lifestyles, sharing valuable resources, and strengthening community bonds. Bring your family and friends and experience a day dedicated to uplifting and empowering Avondale.

Event Details:
Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
Time: 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Location: South Avondale School, 636 Prospect Place, Cincinnati, OH 45229

Avondale Day Celebrates Community Wellness and Neighborhood Engagement
September 26, 2026

Avondale Day continues to serve as an important community celebration focused on health, wellness, neighborhood pride, and family engagement in the Avondale community. The event brings together residents, community organizations, healthcare partners, and local institutions to promote positive community connections and healthy living.

Activities associated with Avondale Day have included the “Feet in the Street” walk/run, youth sports clinics, wellness programming, fitness activities, games, and community resource outreach. The event highlights the importance of collaboration among neighborhood organizations working to strengthen community health, expand opportunities for youth and families, and support long-term neighborhood revitalization.

Community partners have included organizations such as the Avondale Development Corporation, Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and other civic and nonprofit organizations dedicated to improving quality of life in Avondale. 

Evanston Community Council Annual Memorial Day Parade

It’s time for the annual Evanston Community Council Memorial Day Parade. On Monday, May 25, 2026, we honored and celebrated our veterans and active military service members.

The parade began at the Evanston Recreation Center. Participants arrived by 9:00 AM, and the parade procession began promptly at 10:00 AM.

Following a two-mile route throughout the community, residents and participants returned to the Evanston Recreation Center for a community fair and celebration. This year’s celebration included live entertainment following the parade. Refreshments were available for purchase immediately after the parade, and all parade participants received a complimentary meal ticket.

For more information, please contact:
• Veta Uddin at 513-602-9987 or vetauddin@yahoo.com
• Yvonne Jones at Yvonne.jones@twc.com

Proceeds from this year’s parade supported the Evanston Employment Resource Center, Food Pantry, youth swim pool passes for children ages 5–13, and the Beautification Committee.

Mt. Lookout Community Council News

Mt. Lookout residents continue to enjoy the walking and biking opportunities provided by Wasson Way. Community members frequently compliment the landscaping, overall appearance, and pathway maintenance along the corridor. Safety-related comments are focused on occasional debris that could pose a hazard to pets walking with their owners, as well as concerns regarding some e-bike riders not respecting pedestrians and other trail users.  Wasson Way is addressing these concerns with the city, Cincinnati Police and the proposed Trail Ambassador Program.

At the April Mt. Lookout Community Council meeting, residents were pleased to learn about the planned trail extensions associated with the Eastern Corridor and downtown Cincinnati connections, in partnership with Great Parks. These important regional trail connections are projected to be completed by 2030–2031.

The Mt. Lookout community continues to strongly support the excellent work of the Wasson Way Board and its volunteers and remains committed to supporting this important public pathway. Residents also plan to continue volunteering to help keep the trail safe, clean, and welcoming for all users.

May 25, 2026

May is National Bike Month, and that means one of the best months of the year is underway. We are excited to see the many rides, movie nights, rodeos, commuter stations, and other activities being planned across the country.

Breakfast on the Bridge

17th Annual Breakfast on the Bridge

National Bike Month was celebrated at the 17th Annual Breakfast on the Bridge, Greater Cincinnati’s signature National Bike-to-Work (or Anywhere) Day tradition, hosted by Tri-State Trails and presenting sponsor Cincinnati Metro.

The event took place on Friday, May 15, 2026, from 7:00–9:00 AM on the Newport side of the Purple People Bridge, located at 1 Levee Way, Newport, KY 41071.

Participants enjoyed complimentary coffee courtesy of Trailhead Coffee and pastries generously provided by North South Baking Co. while connecting with organizations that support walking, running, biking, and active transportation throughout the region.

This annual event celebrates movement, community connection, healthy transportation, and the shared joy of starting the day together along one of the region’s iconic riverfront trails.

May 25, 2026

Organized by Tri-State Trails and presented by Great Parks, this community bike ride welcomes participants of all abilities while showcasing both existing and future trails within the expanding CROWN. The CROWN represents Cincinnati’s vision for a connected urban trail loop that links neighborhoods, strengthens communities, and brings people together across the region.

Each year, more riders participate and become advocates for the CROWN — supporting safer routes, stronger connections, and a city where people can move freely between neighborhoods while experiencing a greater sense of community and belonging.

We are grateful to everyone who rides, volunteers, shares information, and helps grow this movement. Whether you have supported the effort from the beginning or are just becoming involved, you are part of something larger that is helping shape the future of regional connectivity and active transportation. Tour de CROWN registration is now open, with early-bird pricing available through June 6.

May 25, 2026

Wasson Way Landscape Committee and Master Gardeners

You may notice that the Wasson Way between the Marburg Trail Head to the East and the Montgomery Trail Head to the West, are planted with a collection of trees and gardens. All the trees have been donated by residents and trail users and planted by volunteers supporting Wasson Way. Many of the trees are named for those who donated them. You too can donate a tree and have a plaque placed with your name or someone you want to honor. You can find more information about how to donate a tree to Wasson Way here. wassonway.org/support/

Along the stretch of Wasson Way from Marburg to Madison Rd., you will also find twenty little gardens with flowers, perennials, and shrubs. The landscape design was developed for the Wasson Way by POD Design Landscape Architects, and the old railroad line was turned into a beautiful green space according to these designs with help from Young Entrepreneurs Landscaping, LLC, and many volunteers. That all happened in 2021.

Five years later, the Wasson Way landscape is now mature and fulfills our vision to be a world-class urban greenway trail that creates a vibrant hub of community activity, connecting and enhancing neighborhoods, schools, and recreation areas across the east side of Cincinnati. Thanks to the efforts of the Wasson Way Master Gardeners, many volunteers from University of Cincinnati, Xavier University, Thomas More University, Clark Montessori High School and the local community, the gardens and trees are a thriving part of the Wasson Way mission to provide a beautiful, accessible and sustainable urban greenway trail for the benefit of the residents of greater Cincinnati. 

The Wasson Way Landscape Committee and Master Gardeners hold regular volunteer gardening events on the trail from early spring until late in the fall. All are welcome. Come and join us for these rewarding outdoor events and help keep the Wasson Way beautiful. The full calendar of events can be found on the website here: wassonway.org/events/. You can just show up, and the Master Gardeners will provide tools and instructions and put you to work. 

Clark Montessori Students

Thank you to Drew Ramsey and the Clark Montessori students for their work completing the clean-up project along Wasson Way on May 20, 2026, from Marburg Avenue to Edwards Road. Their dedicated teamwork, strong work ethic, and willingness to serve the community made a meaningful difference. Because of their efforts, this important trail corridor is now cleaner, safer, and more welcoming for everyone who walks, runs, and bikes along the trail.

Projects like this demonstrate the power of community engagement and environmental stewardship. Their work not only improved the appearance of the trail but also helped support the broader vision of the trail network by promoting sustainability, neighborhood pride, and public enjoyment of green spaces.

UC Serves

We would like to thank the University of Cincinnati Faculty and Staff for their service at the Wasson Way UC Serves event on May 15, 2026. They mulched and weeded from Madison Road to Montgomery Road. Efforts like this add value to the Wasson Way, the Flagship of the Cincinnati Riding or Walking Network (CROWN), which is a vibrant trail corridor for walking, running, and biking that spans twelve neighborhoods on Cincinnati’s east side. As part of the CROWN network, Wasson Way is helping create a 100+ mile active transportation system of multi-use trails and bike lanes that will connect more than 356,000 people to parks, schools, neighborhoods, and employment centers. Relying on community service to provide support was essential to the success of this community initiative. Thanks to Scott Holland, Lou Beckmeyer, and Mike Tombragel for their excellent leadership of this event.

The trail provides numerous community benefits, including improved connectivity, increased sustainability through expanded tree canopy, reduced heat stress, decreased stormwater runoff, and safe spaces for exercise and recreation. It also promotes reduced vehicle use, helping alleviate traffic congestion, parking limitations, and air pollution.

Thomas More University

We would like to express our appreciation to the students and volunteers from Thomas More University for spending their Saints Serves Day of service on April 21, 2026, on the Wasson Way. “Inspired by the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, Thomas More challenges students of all faiths to examine the ultimate meaning of life, their place in the world, and their responsibility to others.” On this day, 20 members of the Track & Field and Cross Country teams at Thomas More and a few more saints from faculty and staff, demonstrated their responsibility to others by putting in 2 hours of labor into weeding and mulching trees on Wasson Way.  That’s a full work week donated to the Wasson Way community by Thomas More.  Wasson Way is grateful for the continuing partnership with Thomas More, now in it’s 4th year.

May 25, 2026

The wheels are in motion to connect Wasson Way from the current eastern terminus in Ault Park, to Armleder Park. This will link Wasson Way to Lunken Airport and the Little Miami Scenic Trail via the Beechmont levy. This important addition to the Cincinnati shared-use trail infrastructure is now designated by the City of Cincinnati as Phase 8. 

The Ohio Dept of Transportation (ODOT) has already developed a feasibility plan, mapping the preferred route for Phase 8. You can see details here.

SORTA (Southwestern Ohio Regional Transit Authority) currently holds the rights to many unused railroad lines in the area, including a few parcels of land needed for Phase 8. Following a resolution by the Wasson Way Board and follow-up conversations with members of Cincinnati City Council, we were pleased to learn that Council Member Mark Jeffreys has submitted a request to the City Manager to purchase these key parcels of land from SORTA. There are still a few steps in the approval process, which will trigger an environmental study before the parcel purchase. 

These are important milestones in connecting Wasson Way eastward to the Little Miami Scenic Trail and advancing the planned extension of the CROWN westward from Lunken Airport, Ohio to Erie Trail, to Sawyer Point. Ohio Department of Transportation is currently projecting completion of Phase 8 in 2031.

May 25, 2026

Wasson Way/CROWN Phase 7 will connect with Phase 6B at Blair Court and extend the trail further west toward University of Cincinnati. Groundbreaking for Phase 7 expected in fall 2026. This segment (see map) will mark a significant connection to the Uptown Innovation District at Martin Luther King Drive and Reading Road. It also represents the first segment of Wasson Way that splits off the former railroad line and will follow the street grid on new physically separated and protected bike lanes. 

Shout-outs to the OKI Regional Council of Governments, Tri-State Trails/CROWN, the City of Cincinnati, and other local partners for their work on bringing the complex section to fruition. 

This section is strategically important because with Phase 6B and 7, Wasson Way, the flagship of the CROWN, connects to both the University of Cincinnati and nearby Cincinnati Children’s Hospital and will allow employees to reach these destinations by bike or foot, from the eastern section of Cincinnati.

Acknowledgement: All renderings are courtesy of S/L/A/M Collaborative.
Photo source – FIRST LOOK: Xavier University unveils renderings for new medical school – Xavier Now | Xavier University

May 25, 2025

Wasson Way Phase 6B is expected to open in late summer of 2026. This short but important segment will complete the trail connection through Xavier University’s campus. This segment of Wasson Way/CROWN will run from the current terminus at Station Way, pass in front of Xavier’s new College of Osteopathic Medicine building, and connect to Dana Avenue near Woodburn Avenue.

The new College of Osteopathic Medicine is meaningfully significant for the region, with plans to educate approximately 1,300 physicians, many of whom are expected to contribute to Ohio’s healthcare workforce.

Phase 6B will complete the connection to Phase 6A, which extends from Woodburn Avenue in Evanston to Blair Court in Avondale. Phase 7 of the project will begin at that point at Blair Court.