Great Parks of Hamilton County is finally shifting the long-talked-about Werk Road park from blueprint to dirt work. Crews are now on site at the 22-acre former Gamble Estate in Westwood, with fencing going up around the property. The agency plans to remove several outbuildings after inspections found them structurally unsound, while the historic barn and carriage house are slated to be preserved and opened up for public use. Neighbors are being told to expect a series of phased closures and trail work over the coming year as the project gains steam.
Timeline and early work
According to Great Parks, early site preparation quietly began in March 2026, with full-scale construction expected to kick off this fall. Phase 1 is scheduled to run from November 2026 through summer 2027. The project page lays out a phased schedule that includes brief closures in the spring for initial prep work, followed by a longer shutdown once construction ramps up. Planners say the master plan focuses on accessible trails, stronger connections to surrounding streets and neighborhoods, and restoration of natural habitat.
What will change on the ground
Crews are getting the Werk Road property ready for fencing and more intensive construction activity, and some familiar structures will not make the cut. WKRC reports that the caretaker’s house and an adjacent greenhouse are set to be demolished later this month after being deemed unsafe, while the barn and carriage house are being held back for conservation and future public programming, according to WKRC. Station photos show salvage crews pulling reusable materials and setting them aside for a second life elsewhere in the park or beyond.
History and community input
The site came into public hands in August 2021, when it was acquired from the Greenacres Foundation, and it carries plenty of neighborhood baggage. The main Gamble house was demolished in 2013 after years of heated debate, a backstory that helped shape expectations for what would come next on the land, as reported by WCPO. WCPO reports that the final master plan drew input from more than 2,000 public participants and an advisory group that included WestCURC and the Westwood Historical Society.
Funding, access and next steps
Great Parks estimates that design and construction will cost more than $12 million, with state grants and support from local foundations helping to cover the bill. The agency says salvaged materials from the site may be curated for reuse in the project or potentially auctioned. As work moves ahead, Great Parks plans to open up finished portions of the property to the public as they are completed, rather than waiting for the entire park to be done.
