French Park

Have you been to French Park recently? This 275 acre Cincinnati park in the heart of Amberley Village is one of our most beautiful amenities, if not the most beautiful feature of Amberley. The park is the second largest park run by the Cincinnati Park Board, and we are very fortunate to live within such close proximity to its ever-changing scenery.

The trails in French Park can't be beat. With the addition of the new Amberley Trail built by the Israel Scouts and Mayor Mallory's Teen Summer Greanleaf Program, it's possible to run or walk five miles without every seeing the same scenery. It's impossible to get lost, because all trails lead down to the creek, which leads to the parking lot.

The Amberley Creek, a tributary of the Mill Creek, is a great place for fossil hunters or hikers who just want to escape the summer heat. There are plenty of surprises in the park too. Have you seen Mr. French's pet cemetary? I ran the trails this morning, and I was surprised by a new park improvement -- new stalls in the bathroom!

If it's been a while since you've visited the park, I suggest a visit this week. The wildflowers are in full bloom and are simply stunning!

Mill Creek Watershed

From its headwaters in Liberty Township and running South/Southwest for 28 miles, the Mill Creek and its tributaries provided the lifeblood for development of Cincinnati over two hundred years ago. Within 100 years of being renamed the "Mill Creek" from the Native American name "Macetewa," the Mill Creek was nearly destroyed due to the very industrial development that put Cincinnati on the map. I, like many of our Amberley residents, have lived within Mill Creek watershed our whole lives. Many local communities count on the Mill Creek to provide their local drinking water. The Mill Creek Watershed Council of Communities was established to protect and enhance the value of the Mill Creek.

Amberley Creek, which runs through French Park and provides a natural and attractive water feature to many of our residents, is a tributary of the Mill Creek. Perhaps you have seen these signs and wondered about the water flowing nearby. The tributaries of the Mill Creek expand the reach of the watershed to encompass areas as far east as Deer Park and Silverton within Hamilton County, and as far west as Groesbeck and Mt. Airy. The Mill Creek itself dumps into the Ohio River in Western Cincinnati near 9th and Gest Streets.

There is plenty to do to enjoy the Mill Creek, which is slowly regaining its health and providing a home to wildlife and a place to recreate. Like to paddle? You can explore the Mill Creek by canoe. Five different sections of the creek are open to paddlers. If you are looking for an outdoor activity this Saturday, March 16th, the Mill Creek Watershed Council is looking for volunteers to help remove invasive plant species from Twin Creek Preserve in Sharonville from 9:00-12:00 PM.

Why should we care about the Mill Creek Watershed? Amberley Creek is a valuable asset! Like access to walking trails and bike paths, current statistics show that homeowners will pay a premium to live near daylighted water sources, like open, running creeks. Let's acknowledge, protect, and enhance our natural assets for the future of Amberley.