Smale Riverfront Park receives monetary gift from PNC - WFXG FOX54 Augusta - Your News One Hour Earlier

Cincinnati Parks, with help from Cookie Monster, announced Thursday that it has received a $450,000 grant from the PNC Foundation to Smale Riverfront Park for creation of the PNC Grow Up Great Adventure Playground.

The playground and its unique features will be built on a mound adjacent to the east side of the Roebling Suspension Bridge. It is expected that the playground will open in Spring, 2014.

This fully accessible play area will welcome children of all ages, inviting them to play alongside one another and experience the unusual features of the playground in their own ways. From a rock canyon for climbing and a swinging rope bridge to play nooks for smaller children, giant side-by-side slides contoured to the land, a large sand box, climbing logs and stepping stones, the playground will enable children to work their way up to more challenging play experiences while learning from others.

Ample seating areas will enable parents to comfortably supervise their children as they play within the various spaces. The playground features will afford river views as it takes advantage of the scenic and varied setting.

The design includes opportunities for motor skill development, decision making, learning, fantasy play and social development. "The Play Experience" will include a sand pit, a nearby water source, low grass mounds for play and nature discovery, canopy tree plantings, and groupings of boulders for climbing and play.