EARTHKEEPING NEWS
A NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH AMERICAN COALITION FOR CHRISTIANITY AND ECOLOGY

Volume Three, Number Six
July/August 1994

CHURCHES HELP CREATE AN ECOLOGICAL NEIGHBORHOOD

Four congregations, out of 21 churches contacted, in the old Price Hill neighborhood of Cincinnati — St. William's Catholic, Holy Family Catholic, Price Hill United Methodist, and Nativity Episcopal — are the eco-church committee of a larger group working with IMAGO, a neighborhood ecological education organization, to transform the Price Hill neighborhood into the model ecological community in Cincinnati. The churches are also relating ecology to their church life, starting with comprehensive energy audits in their own facilities.

Price Hill is one of Cincinnati's older areas overlooking the Ohio River. It is considered by the city to be a transitional, deteriorating neighborhood, with extensive environmental problems and a significant increase in low income housing. 30% of its population of 4,000 households is Appalachian; 5%, African-American.

On the other hand, Price Hill was identified as the neighborhood with the second highest recycling rate of the 50+ neighborhoods in Cincinnati. One quarter of the land is green space, with spectacular views of the Ohio River and downtown Cincinnati. Its Mt. Echo Park has been revitalized by the East Price Hill Improvement Association. Two new parks are being created by the Whittier Gardens Association. The Price Hill Tree Council in conjunction with Cincinnati Urban forestry has almost completed the planting of thousands of trees throughout the neighborhood.

IMAGO and its Ecological Community planning group over the last several years have been working to change the public perception of Price Hill. IMAGO initiated the Western Wildlife Corridor to protect the western wooded hillsides with their animals and plants. Working with residents of Enright Avenue, it purchased 7.5 acres of land to preserve as a wildlife area.

With a $20,000 loan and a grant from the city, IMAGO purchased from the school board 8 acres of land for an Outdoor Earth Lab for children in the 10 schools located within a mile of the property, to help students see how their lifestyles affect the Earth, to see themselves as part of the Earth, and to see the Earth as a sacred place.

In April 1994 approximately 20 volunteers, using a survey instrument developed by a sociologist and an engineer , did a walking survey of every house in Price Hill. They looked at the man-made structures, the tree cover, green space and plant diversity. The survey will be used to measure change five years hence and as a teaching tool.

In June the neighborhood held a Festival for the Earth.

Future plans include:

  • more involvement with the business community and the Price Hill Improvement Association;
  • rehabbing old houses into energy efficient homes;
  • building bike trails that connect the green areas;
  • reducing auto travel and increasing mass transit through the neighborhood;
  • involving more people in making Price Hill a beautiful, ecologically committed neighborhood.

For more information write Jim Schenk, IMAGO, 553 Enright Ave., Cincinnati OH 45205, (513) 921-5124.

Home     Table of Contents