Brutalism, Recreation, and Resilience on Cincinnati's Riverfront

Docomomo Tour Day 2026
Brutalism, Recreation, and Resilience on Cincinnati's Riverfront

Join us on October 24th for Docomomo Tour Day! This year’s theme is “Recreation and Play” -- focusing on modern architecture, landscapes, and public spaces designed for activity, leisure, and community gatherings. We’ve partnered with Cincinnati Parks for a walking tour of Sawyer Point and Yeatman's Cove, two landmark public spaces that transformed Cincinnati's relationship with the Ohio River. Through architecture, landscape design, public art, and recreational amenities, we'll explore how late twentieth-century planning reshaped the riverfront into a vibrant destination for recreation, community gathering, and civic life. Discover the durability and expressive character of Modernist and Brutalist designs in these spaces; and how they’ve evolved responding to community needs ensuring they remain relevant, functional, and welcoming for generations. We'll also discuss the challenges of designing within a flood-prone environment and the continuing development of this important urban landscape.

Guiding the tour are Chris Magee, Senior Architect and Andrew Campbell, Designer and Preservationist -- both with the Cincinnati Parks Division of Planning and Design. Together, they bring passion and expertise in architecture, preservation, and public space design. They're offering a behind-the-scenes look at how bold planning, civic vision, and riverfront resilience transformed Cincinnati’s waterfront into a recreational destination.

Please plan to park in the International Friendship Park parking lot. Meet near the riverfront walkway by the Montgomery Inn Boathouse. The tour will cover approximately 2 miles of walking, so please dress accordingly. Event will run rain or shine. Free and open to the public.

When: Saturday, October 24th 10:00-12:00

Register at cf3.org

Don’t know Docomomo? Find out more here: https://www.docomomo-us.org