Ault Park, Cincinnati

Perched atop the scenic Mount Lookout neighborhood on Cincinnati’s east side, Ault Park stretches across an impressive 223.949 acres, making it the fourth-largest park in the Cincinnati Park system. The park is beloved for its panoramic views over the Little Miami River Valley, a dramatic landscape that draws locals and visitors alike.

Named after Ida May Ault and her husband Levi Addison Ault—a former Park Commissioner and key figure in the development of Cincinnati's park system—Ault Park has a rich legacy of generosity and civic pride. The Aults donated the initial 142-acre tract in 1911, with further expansions bringing the park to its current size. A bronze plaque of Levi Ault by Cincinnati sculptor Clement Barnhorn, mounted on a glacial rose granite boulder, commemorates his dedication to public green space.

At the heart of the park lies the grand Italian Renaissance-style Pavilion, built in 1930 and designed by A. Lincoln Fechheimer and Benjamin L. Ihorst. Featuring a double flight of stone steps and a cascading water feature, the Pavilion hosts weddings, dances, and community events, including an annual Dance Night. On October 9, 2008, it also became a political landmark when Barack Obama delivered a campaign speech there to a crowd of 15,000.

The park is also known for its extensive flower gardens, originally crafted by renowned landscape architect George Kessler and later refined by A.D. Taylor. In 1980, a volunteer-led Adopt-A-Plot program launched in partnership with Krohn Conservatory, inviting residents to care for garden sections—a model so successful it won the 1983 Daniel Flaherty Park Excellence Award and has since inspired programs across the country.

Ault Park offers playgrounds, soccer fields, picnic spots, and scenic hiking trails. It hosts the Ault Park Concours d’Elegance—America’s second-oldest exotic car show—and Cincinnati’s popular 4th of July fireworks. Once tended by sheep, it remains a beloved blend of history, community, and nature.