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Friends of Parks eNews

Greetings! “Hope springs eternal.” I just love this quote by Alexander Pope. It captures the feeling of spring just perfectly - your Cincinnati Parks give a fresh breath of optimism and beauty through every season. May is an exciting month for our team, as we host the 12 th Annual Hats Off Luncheon! On behalf of our Board of Directors, we wish to thank Marty & Jamie Humes for Co-Chairing this beloved event and we tip our hats to all Committee Chairs and 137 volunteers who support every lovely detail of this event. Thank you so much! We also look forward to planting flowers at Twin Lakes in Eden Park and to our partnership with the Clifton Cultural Arts Center as they host free concerts in Burnet Woods, “Wednesdays in the Woods” starting on May 30 th . In your May Friends of Parks eNews you’ll find more information about these events in addition to much more! Thank you for your friendship and support of these beautiful, top-rated urban parks! With gratitude,   Jennifer Hafner Spieser Executive Director

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Cincinnati Parks Foundation, the official philanthropic partner of Cincinnati Parks, is committed to building broad-based private/public partnerships supporting the conservation and enhancement of our city's parks and greenspaces.

Special Thanks

Hats Off to All of YOU!

We are so very thankful for so many people that have done so much to make the 2018 Hats Off Luncheon a huge success! We are thrilled to announce that we have surpassed our $500,000 sponsorship goal for the third year in a row! First off, a BIG THANKS to our Co-Chairs, Jamie & Marty Humes and all of our Committee Members, who have worked tirelessly in planning this event. We're also so happy to thank all of the sponsors, hosts and donors who have supported the event and Cincinnati Parks. Hats Off to all of YOU! Visit the  Cincinnati Parks Foundation website  to view the full list of this year's sponsors. This 12th annual celebration of Cincinnati Parks will take place on Thursday, May 17 at the John G. & Phyllis W. Smale Riverfront Park. It will certainly be a wonderful day as hundreds of members of the Cincinnati community go "Rollin' On The River" in support of the Cincinnati Parks Foundation's  Hats Off Luncheon !

Wednesdays in the Woods

Join us for 10 weeks of free evening performances - every Wednesday at 7pm. All concerts take place at the Burnet Woods Bandstand.

These fun concerts will feature a variety of local performers, hands-on art activities for children, sweet and savory food trucks, and a Community Partner collecting non-monetary donations to aid our neighbors in need. Attendees are encouraged to arrive early to secure parking and to order dinner from the food truck vendors, and to bring product donations to benefit Community Partners: Project Connect (May/June) and Lighthouse Youth Services (July/August.) May 30 - The Comet Bluegrass All-Stars June 6 - Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra presents Summer of Love June 13 - Orquesta Kandela June 20 - Natural Progression June 27 - Krystal Peterson and The Queen City Band July 4 - NO CONCERT July 11 - The Amador Sisters, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra String Quartet presents Star-Spangled Stories July 18 - Chuck Brisbin and The Tuna Project July 25 - Push Play August 1 - Cincinnati Chamger Orchestra Brass Quintet presents Stamp Your Brassports August 8 - Jake Speed and The Freddies Rain location on the first floor of CCAC (3711 Clifton Ave)

Explore Nature - May 2018 Public Programs

sMORE FUN AT PUBLIC PROGRAMS (free s'mores are provided)

National Park Trust’s Kids to the Parks Day Sat., May 19, 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Canoeing and Camping Skill – Burnet Woods Critters and Camp Games – Caldwell Nature Preserve Creeking and Crafts – California Woods Join us in celebrating the 8th annual National Park Trust’s, Kids to Parks Day (KTP Day). Our Explore Nature! staff is hosting a variety of activities for families and kids of all ages to find their own outdoor adventure. If it is close encounters with live animals, exploring a stream or trying out canoeing for the first time, we have these and sMORE FUN outdoor play experiences.

Sunset Stroll Fri., May 25, 7:45 - 9:00 p.m. – Mt. Airy Forest , Sunset Ridge What would be more appropriate than taking a sunset Naturalist led hike on the Sunset Trail? Walk the trail and look for local wildlife as day transitions into night. Don’t forget to wear sturdy shoes and dress for cooler evening temperatures. Meet near the comfort station on Trail Ridge Road in Area 13, also known as the Oval. FREE! (reservations are required) For more information and reservations, call 321-6070 by May 24.

Creek Hike Sun., May 27, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. – French Park Cool off while wandering in this beautiful stream with our Naturalist looking for creatures of the past, fossils, to current day inhabitants that call this aquatic habitat their home. Discover which invertebrates give us a clue to the water quality and health of the stream. Wear sturdy, waterproof boots if possible. Meet at the first parking lot closest to the intersection of Ridge and Section Roads. FREE! (reservations are required) For more information and reservations, call 321-6070 by May 24.

VISIT OUR EXPLORE NATURE! BOOTH AT THESE EVENTS:

Carol Ann’s Carousel Birthday Celebration Sat., May 12 from 11:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. For details visit: http://www.cincinnatiparks.com/carol-anns-carousel/ Family Night: Butterfly Pajama Party at Krohn Conservatory’s Butterfly Show Wed., May 16 from 5:00 - 7:30 p.m. For details visit: http://butterflyshow.com/special-events/ Stanbery Farmer’s Market Sat., May 26 from 9:00 a.m. - Noon For details visit: http://stanberymarket.wixsite.com/market

Smale Family Fun - Right Around the Corner!

Smale Mind and Body

Butterfly Show - There's Still Time!