The 20-acre Theodore M. Berry International Friendship Park located along Cincinnati's downtown eastern riverfront area was opened to the public on May 17, 2003. The park is named in honor of Cincinnati's first African American mayor Theodore M. Berry who served as Cincinnati's mayor from Dec. 1972 - Nov. 1975. PARK FEATURES
-An International Plaza featuring ceremonial flags
-Winding walkways
-An earth sculpture in the form of two interlocking hands
-A pavilion to provide settings for communal gatherings, celebrations and events.
-Commissioned sculptures
-A serpentine-shaped sitting wall
Garden areas representative of the continents
-Bike trail
-Free wireless internet access sponsored by Lilypad in partnership with the Cincinnati Park Board
BACKGROUND AND HISTORY
*1980s: Federal and city money was used to acquire the site for a new park, then known as Eden Park Waterfront, but no funding was available to develop the site.
*1991: A group of design professionals, artists, educators and Sister City representatives - which was formed to promote a "peace park" - asked the Cincinnati Park Board to name the property International Friendship Park, to commemorate international understanding and friendship.
*Mid-1990s: Four million dollars in state funding was acquired for the design and construction of the park.
*1999: City Council matched the state funding grant with a $4 million allocation. Park Commissioners decide to name the new park for Theodore M. Berry, Cincinnati's first African-American mayor."