The
Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
at Smale Riverfront Park
100 W. Merhing Way
Cincinnati, Ohio
May 2022 |
John G. and Phyllis W. Smale
Riverfront Park connects downtown Cincinnati to the Ohio River and the
existing riverfront parks. The park boasts multiple water play features,
giant swings, an interactive foot piano (which was NOT working on this
date), an imaginative play area for kids, expansive pollinator gardens,
and Carol Ann's Carousel, plus a recently dedicated Marian Spencer Statue. |
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Below: Noted as the World's
Largest Chime Foot Piano, there was once a keyboard under the chimes,
but it was not there on this date. At one time, sensors under the (now
missing) piano keys caused the strikers at the top of the structure
to ring the chimes. The piano was designed to play pre-recorded music
and sound on the hour, or to be played with your feet. But not on this
date. |
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Below: This large flying pig
is known as the Oinkithopter.The fact that this happens to
be a flying pig of all things has a long tradition: In the decades after
the city was founded in 1814, Cincinnati was particularly famous for
the production of salted pork.
With the Oinkithopter play structure, Richter created a winged
pig that can be climbed via a climbing net and whose belly is just as
suitable as a place for relaxation and retreat as for children's role-playing
games. Once inside it is said that the stainless steel pig's wings flap
and it moves up and down as well. |
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Below: Lee Duquette pulling
on the entry rope to make the pig's wings flap. |
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Below: Lee Duquette
played with the water pump which sent water flowing down an open air
pipe. |
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Below: Carol
Ann's Carousel. It does cost to ride it. But it was closed when the
two RV Gypsies were here. |
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Marian Spencer Statue Memorial |
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