THE PUBLIC PITCH: REIMAGINING THE STADIUM PRECINCT AS A COMMUNITY ANCHOR

Abstract

The Cincinnati riverfront area circulating West of Paycor stadium is underdeveloped and lacks community inclusion. Additionally, the current sports program is privatized and gated off, resulting in a divide between public and private. As time has progressed this area has seen various development proposals, illustrating the need to reinvigorate the area and turn unappealing parking lots into community green spaces. One such project even proposes enlarging the privatized area by expanding the gated practice field area, further reducing the community’s access to the riverfront. Consequently, these projects do not provide a substantial solution that reinvigorates the area and blends the public and private. Thus, it fails to strengthen social belonging and expand upon Cincinnati’s longstanding sporting culture, ultimately losing the focus on community. Community-centered sports infrastructure, accompanied by new community spaces, offers that solution. This design direction intends to provide the community with the opportunity to get involved and immerse themselves in the rich sporting atmosphere that Cincinnati exudes, while enjoying the green space development that follows on from the Banks Development, and creates a beautiful environment that flows across the entirety of the riverfront.