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Advocating Thoughtful
Use of Our Hillsides

1,388

ACRES OF GREATER CINCINNATI

HILLSIDES PRESERVED

49

YEARS PROTECTING OUR HILLSIDES

Fall in Cincinnati Overlook

The story of our Greater Cincinnati hillsides begins with a beautiful pattern of rivers and greenery formed thousands of years ago by three different glaciers. These hillsides and river systems give the region its unique visual personality and contribute greatly to our quality of life.

Beautiful and fragile, the Greater Cincinnati area is prone to costly landslides. Concern over this problem is increasing as the scarcity of land gives rise to pressures to build. The landslide-prone nature of our hillsides is not the only concern. The forested hillsides form ribbons of green open space, and are a valuable element of environmental quality, providing wildlife habitat and migration corridors.

The hillsides form an integral part of the natural fabric of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. First-time visitors are often struck by the dramatic relief in topography, and the stunning overlooks of picture postcard proportions.

The Hillside Trust’s mission is accomplished through research and education, land conservation, and advocacy of responsible land use serving: Cincinnati and Hamilton County, along with the surrounding counties of Clermont, Campbell, Kenton, and Boone.

Please help the Hillside Trust

reach its goal of $215,000

in 2025

Cincinnati overlook and the beautiful ohio river

68%

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Newsletter

Join Our Newsletter

The Hillside Trust logo – stylized text logo of a land conservation organization

The Hillside Trust, for me, has always represented a thoughtful use of hillsides. It’s in our mission, and it’s alive in every meeting of the Board. In becoming experts on the structure of our hillsides, it is natural that we can serve a critical role in helping individuals, companies, agencies, and local government to both make and keep Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky an amazing place to live.

- Kristin McLane

Past Board Member, Hillside Trust

green quotations mark
Hillside Trust Landslide Documentary

About the Film

Living with Landslides,” the documentary film commissioned by The Hillside Trust, aired on WCPO-TV Channel 9 in prime time, Wednesday, September 7, 2022, at 9 pm.

Director & Producer Laure Quinlivan and her team spent two years filming landslide damage and interviewing homeowners in Milford, Mt. Washington, North Avondale, Bellevue, Clifton, and East End.  The film also documents the two-year $18M fix to Columbia Parkway and showcases remediation efforts.

Eric Russo, Executive Director of The Hillside Trust, is a featured expert.

The Hillside Trust raised private funds to support this film.  We thank the H.B., E.W. and F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank Co-Trustees, for their generous lead donation.  Other funders include The Stephen H. Wilder Foundation, The Maxwell C. Weaver Foundation, The William P. Anderson Foundation, The Louise Taft Semple Foundation, and The Oliver Family Foundation.

In the News:

Watch More Videos on Landslide Zones, Costs & Prevention Here

Hillside Trust 2025 Annual Meeting

The Hillside Trust annual meeting will be Thursday, October 16th, 2025 from 5:30pm-7:30pm at the Junior League Building - Columbia Center 3500 Columbia Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45226.

Dave Gamstetter with Davey Tree Service will present a talk titled "Increasing Climate Resiliency with Green Infrastructure and Adaptable Trees". He will discuss the role that trees play in controlling flooding and storm water runoff. More information will follow in the Hillside Trust Outlook Newsletter.

Junior League Building
Sixth Annual Pope Coleman Awards

The Hillside Trust is proud to host its 6th Annual Pope Coleman Awards on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at the Cincinnati Woman’s Club in Clifton (330 Lafayette Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45220).

Next year’s honorees are Fiona, Sue Friedlander, Marilyn Wall.

Roxanne Qualls will serve as the Master of Ceremony.

Stay tuned for more information.

The Hillside Trust logo featuring the Popecoleman awards
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2025 Pope Coleman Awards Gallery
Our Community Partners
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Cincinnati Great Parks Logo
Western Wildlife Corridor Logo
Boone County Parks
Cardinal Land Conservatory Logo in Red
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Cincinnati Parks Loho

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