Lytle Park– Central Business District (CBD)
Overview: Lytle Park is located in a historic district of downtown, just over a mile walk from our home. It’s next to the Taft Museum and just a few blocks from the Purple People Bridge (which leads to Newport, KY) and Sawyer Point. The park is neat, well-maintained, and has a fantastic view of the skyline. It feels like a truly “urban oasis.” The playground itself is a bit small and outdated and doesn’t keep my kids occupied for very long, but there is a large open field to run in and a few trees to climb. The park is used (mostly, it seems) by downtown workers on their lunch break and older, CBD residents walking their dogs. In the half-dozen times we’ve been to Lytle Park, we’ve never seen another child. The hallmark of this park is the historic bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln and the large, landscaped field. Even though it’s a small park, this would be a great side-trip for families exploring downtown or visiting the Taft Museum.
General Cleanliness: Very neat and tidy.
Parking: Street parking, metered.
Bathroom Facilities: Yes, though we didn’t check to see if they were unlocked.
Picnic Area: No tables that I remember, but many benches and lots of open grass.
Playground: Small, with no swings.
Other Amenities: The seasonal flowers are great. There is a large amphitheater-type paved area that we’ve never seen used. We also spotted a bocce pit and there is a small firefighters’ memorial in addition to the awesome Lincoln statue. There is a water fountain, too.
*This is the first in the “Where We Play” series. If you’d like to contribute a park review as a guest blogger, send me a note at ejmcewan@gmail.com.*
the walking green 
I’ve taken the kids to Lytle Park before. Like yours, the play structure didn’t hold their attention for long (especially because it had recently rained and there were huge puddles everywhere), but it’s a great space! Looking forward to seeing the other parks you (and others) frequent.