Leaders from Hamilton County, The City of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC), and other project partners and key stakeholders gathered this morning for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of Elm Street Plaza and the impending opening of the new UC Health Ice Rink, presented by Fifth Third Bank – a beloved winter tradition that relocated this year from Fountain Square.
The speaking portion of the program took place inside the new rink’s WGU Warming Tent, where project partners and civic leaders — including Hamilton County Board of Commissioners President Denise Driehaus, City Administrator Jeff Aluotto, Mayor Aftab Pureval, and City Manager Sheryl Long — spoke about the collaboration and strategic planning that made the transformative project possible, as well as the positive impact the new space will have on downtown residents and visitors. The event concluded with a ceremonial ribbon cutting in front of the new ice rink, featuring skaters from the Northern Kentucky Skating Club.
“Elm Street Plaza is the first piece of an $828 million, once-in-a-generation makeover of our Convention District. It’s big, it’s bold, and it’s Cincinnati’s future taking shape right in front of us,” Katie Westbrook, Senior Vice President of Development for 3CDC, said. “We believe this plaza—and all the projects underway—will spark new development and expand revitalization across the region. This is more than a project. It’s a promise to keep Cincinnati vibrant and thriving.”…