Run 52: Kennedy Heights

Our run through Kennedy Heights revealed a neighborhood with tree-lined streets, immaculate houses and two expansive parks. While our previous trips to the neighborhood weren't much more than driving down Montgomery, we finished this trip with a better understanding of what makes Kennedy Heights a popular location.

Of course there are always parts of a neighborhood that a run can't reveal. In Kennedy Heights our run didn't reveal the deep social justice roots that the neighborhood has laid over the last half century or so. To live in Kennedy Heights is to participate in a social experiment that envisions neighbors of all backgrounds living together in a single neighborhood with the collective goal of working together. That experiment began in 1965 when Kennedy Heights formed its neighborhood association in an effort to prevent housing segregation from ripping the neighborhood apart.

Here is a great history of Kennedy Heights development over the years (no, not Kayla's pose below, you have to click on the hyperlink).

With a list of sites to check out along the way, we began in Drake Park which features a sleek pavilion complete with a slanted roof, and--thankfully--public restrooms.  The park is named for Daniel Drake, founder of Cincinnati’s first medical school. Drake was also a nature enthusiast.

There is no way around it, Drake is a great spot for a park.  Our introduction to Kennedy Height took place on a tree lined path that brought to mind the Pacific Northwest.

At one point, Kayla mentioned that she could imagine walking Zola around the park--a definite indicator of livability.

Just before we got started, we made our way to the overlook and snapped some photos.  I was trying to redeem myself from my Hyde Park demeanor, but in the process I eliminated my neck.

Because Kennedy Heights is mostly residential, the majority of our run was spent navigating tree-lined streets that featured a variety of housing styles. Unlike in some of the other neighborhoods we've seen, where a single style can predominate for several streets in a row, the homes in Kennedy Heights often run the gamut from Tudor to Victorian to Spanish stucco on a single block.

This diversity was not limited to housing styles, as we saw a diverse group of residents tending to their lawns, walking their dogs, and driving around.  We also saw several joggers on our way around the neighborhood as well--always a good sign!

Just off of Kennedy Ave. is Kennedy Heights Park which is another natural getaway tucked away within the neighborhood.  We had a good time exploring a little bit

Our next stop was the Kennedy Heights Arts Center, which I know well from my Public Allies days as I participated in many Friday afternoon meetings there.

Just down the street from KHAC we looped around Beechview Circle, which is another wooded lane with some nice looking homes, including two that are for sale.

A little further along the way we came across this great collection of Cadillacs. Somehow this stable of American-made classics fit in quite well with the overall Kennedy Heights vibe.

Our last stop was Davenant Street, a quiet lane on the edge of the neighborhood. This area was originally envisioned as a summer resort locale, but, apart from a few homes on Davenant, that vision was never fully realized. After making my way around most of the neighborhood, I'm glad that the resort never took off; I'm glad because what Kennedy Heights became--an integrated community in a world that is and has been far too segregated--is much more important.

View the full route with mile markers here: http://www.usatf.org/routes/view.asp?rID=519538

--Donnie