Cincinnati Parks: We Are Naming Two Parks In Honor Of Park Champions

Press release from Cincinnati Parks:

Sarah Moskovitz

December 16, 2021

At the December 16th Board of Park Commissioner’s meeting, the Board voted to re-name Classen Park as “Gallagher Park” in recognition of the extraordinary public service and commitment to the natural environment and enhancement of Cincinnati’s tree canopy by Mr. Paul Gallagher for more than half a century.

They also named Hoyes Field as the “Walnut Woods of Evanston” in recognition of the tremendous community driven collaboration to reclaim this previously inaccessible space as a public park. Both namings were requested and supported by the communities and Community Councils where the parks are located.

Classen Park, a small sitting park located in Clifton Heights, has officially been renamed Gallagher Park, after longtime Cincinnati Parks volunteer Paul Gallagher. Mr. Gallagher, a retired Cincinnati firefighter has been an active member of the CUF neighborhood for over 50 years and has served on the Urban Forestry Board since 1999.

Over the years, Paul took on the responsibility of greening his neighborhood by planting thousands of trees in yards, public right of ways, sidewalks, empty lots and parks, including Classen, Fairview, Bellevue and Coy Park. Paul is especially fond of Classen Park and stops there every day to see ‘if anything needs attention”.

At 94 years old, Paul continues to support and advocate for Parks. The Park Board is grateful for his many years of service and is proud to honor his legacy with this name change.

Over the last several years, the Walnut Hills High School community has been working together with Cincinnati Parks, the Civic Garden Center and the Evanston Community Council to transform the 10-acre parcel of unused land located between Victory Parkway and Sulsar Avenue into a habitat restoration area and community park.

Volunteers at Walnut Woods of Evanston

Paul Gallagher

This press release was produced by Cincinnati Parks. The views expressed here are the author’s own.