Sayler Park is known for its beautiful parks and is home to both the park with the longest riverfront access, Fernbank Park, on Route 50, and the smallest park in Cincinnati, Thornton Park, on the corner of Thornton Avenue and Gracely Drive.

Nelson Sayler Memorial Park

Otherwise known as the Square, Nelson Sayler Memorial Park, at Gracely and Monitor Avenues, perpetuates the name of Nelson Sayler, an early settler who gave much of his time and means to the welfare of his community. The 2.068-acre park became city property when the Village of Sayler Park was annexed to Cincinnati in 1911

Fernbank Park   Park Video

Located on Route 50 along the Ohio River, Fernbank Park offers a 1.2-mile paved trail, the 1.0-mile Sycamore nature trail, a large playground, and access to bank fishing on the Ohio River. Two shelters and Fernbank Lodge (the remaining lock tender’s house) can be reserved.

Fernbank Park, now 63 acres, was formed by merging 3 parks: Lee, River and the historic Fern Bank, which was once a former Army Corps of Engineers site for barge repair and maintenance of the wicket lock & dam #37. For more information on the history of Fernbank Park and the surrounding area, click here.

Fernbank Park is a regional park made possible through a partnership between the Cincinnati Park Board and Great Parks of Hamilton County.

Thornton Park

Located at the corner of Thornton and Gracely, Thornton Park is the smallest park in Cincinnati at 1/10th of an acre and features the famous Native American statue.

It is home to the J. Fitzhugh Thornton Memorial: This sculpture of an eastern Woodlands Native American was created in 1912 by the J.L. Mott Iron Works of New York. The statue acquired the name Tecumseh, after the Shawnee intertribal leader who led resistance against white expansion into our region. Its zinc composition and cast-iron pedestal make this work a unique piece in the city. Only eight others like it have survived in the United States. A gift from Eliza Thornton in memory of her husband, this quaint statue in Thornton Triangle (Cincinnati’s smallest park), has seen much misfortune over the years. It was partially submerged in the great flood of 1937. Three years later, after being struck by a car, the city sold the sculpture for $10 to an antique dealer in Indiana. Outraged Sayler Park residents vowed to find and return the Indian to its pedestal. After several months, the sculpture was located and returned to Thornton Triangle.

Stuart Park

Recently renovated Stuart Park features a play area for children under 5 and plenty of seating. The 0.57-acre park located at the corner Gracely Drive and Laura Lane. 

Stuart Park was originally located at River Road and Topinabee, around the old Fernbank Train Station. It was created in 1912 when Fernbank was annexed into the city, and named for Archibald Stuart, Fernbank’s last mayor. Milton Sayler owned the land and donated it to the city. It was a small park where families could go for a picnic lunch. When River Road was constructed in the 1950s, it cut the park off.  In July 1970, Judge and Sandra Crush owned the adjoining land. They purchased the old abandoned service station at Gracely and Laura Lane. Then they traded that land for the park land adjoining their property. The grass was cut and trees planted, but it stayed undeveloped until 1991 when the park was developed by the City of Cincinnati.

McQueety Park

McQueety Park is the island park in the middle of Twain Avenue between Parkland Avenue just north of the historic Parkland Theater and Hillside Avenue.  This park with its beautiful mature trees is flanked on both sides by many of Sayler Park’s historic homes.

Chestnut Ridge Park

Chestnut Ridge Park is the island park in the middle of Fernbank Avenue.  A drive along this park includes views of more historic homes as well as the Fernbank Golf Course.