Elm Street Plaza and UC Health Ice Rink, Presented by Fifth Third Bank Officially Open to Public

Project Partners and Community Members Celebrate Downtown Cincinnati’s Newest Civic Space with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

CINCINNATI (November 21, 2025) – 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.”

The 14-month project is part of the Cincinnati Convention Center’s $264 million historic reimagining. Opening just weeks ahead of the convention center’s completion, the new space transforms the 500 block of Elm Street — now permanently closed to vehicular traffic — and the long-vacant site of the former Millennium Hotel into a two-and-a-half-acre flexible outdoor park and event venue. The result is a dynamic urban destination for recreation, celebration, and cultural experiences in the heart of downtown Cincinnati. When the convention center reopens in January, Elm Street Plaza’s direct pedestrian connection to the newly renovated first-floor exhibit hall will make it a sought-after amenity for meeting and event professionals, offering attendees a welcoming introduction to the city just steps from the center’s doors. When not programmed for convention use, the plaza will be activated by 3CDC, similar to the organization’s management of other downtown civic spaces, including Fountain Square, Court Street Plaza, and Washington Park.

The modern park features lush greenspace and gardens, a dog park, an outdoor Pavilion Bar, public art, an interactive water feature in warmer months, and the UC Health Ice Rink, presented by Fifth Third Bank during colder months. The new ice rink at Elm Street Plaza offers a bigger and better experience with more skating space than ever before. Additional winter amenities include an upgraded WGU Warming Tent, cozy igloos, and pergolas featuring firepits. The rink and surrounding areas are available for rentals—perfect for birthday parties and corporate events—and will remain open through mid-February with a variety of programming. Both the ice rink and Pavilion Bar are now open seven days a week, adding vibrancy throughout the urban core.

Elm Street Plaza is the first completed milestone in the transformation of the Convention District that includes the renovated convention center, renovation of the Convention Center Garage, and a new Marriott convention headquarters hotel, all of which will be supplemented by multiple mixed-use development projects on key properties in the surrounding area.

Construction on Elm Street Plaza began in September 2024. Messer Construction Co.—in partnership with Triversity Construction and Jostin Construction—are serving as the construction manager on the convention center renovation, including the creation of Elm Street Plaza. Moody Nolan and Hargraves Jones led the design of the project.

The Ice Rink Grand Opening will take place on Saturday, November 22, and the first 100 patrons to check in that day will receive free admission and skate rental. The rink opens at 9 AM. Additional information on the new civic space and ice rink, including hours of operation and rates, can be found at www.elmstreetplazacincy.com.

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