The Sixth and Plum Skywalk
Lately, I’ve been working on two Cincinnati-specific stories that I’m excited about, but they’re taking some time:
Examples of upcoming stories.
While in the midst of those projects, I came across another subject somewhat aligned with the general theme, but not entirely. It also had a bit more going on compared to the random stuff I compile, so I thought it might make an interesting post on its own.
The Sixth & Plum Skywalk as seen on the western edge of downtown Cincinnati.
A few weeks ago, worried that the dog and I had become beholden to routine, I sat down and looked at a map of my neighborhood. What I found was that we weren’t following the same route every time we went out for a walk, but we pretty much just alternated between three different variations. Granted, we’d been under a siege of Midwestern humidity for weeks by this point, but before that: our excuse was the scourge of Midwestern cold. When we’d first moved to downtown Cincinnati, we were always going on little adventures regardless of the circumstances. Yet, in the last year or so, we’d fallen into this boring pattern. One that was starting to make the other side of our neighborhood feel foreign.
This heat, though.
Truthfully, it’s been pretty damn bad lately. And I say that as someone who unapologetically loves summer and is usually more than happy to die a sweaty death atop that sunscreen-soaked hill.
There’s also the dog.
Egypt loves to be outside, but even with regular, neighborly stops for water—she’s only down to hang for so long. And although she’s my best friend, she’s also the worst photography partner. Absolutely no patience or chill.
All that to say: I’d been wanting to just go out and wander more, but the deck had been stacked, and I kept convincing myself to put it off because it’d have to get at least a little bit cooler soon.
Yet, as I sit here and type this in the comforting relief of my air-conditioned apartment, I also live in fear of my next electric bill.
On a recent, brutal June day, I had this errand to run on foot and I realized there would be no way to avoid suffering beneath the southwestern Ohio sun. With Egypt not invited on this particular quest, I’d be going about it solo and figured I might as well embrace this as an opportunity to get outside with the camera. So, after completing my clerical tasks and popping into what passes here for a bodega to chug a bottle of water chased with a bottle of neon green sugar juice—I was ready to go.
I ended up finding myself over by the city’s convention center, a longstanding civic fixture that’s presently undergoing a massive renovation. Out of all the neighborhood’s corners, this is unequivocally the area I’ve frequented the least as both a downtown worker and resident over the years. The only recent event I could remember attending within the building was when the National Guard came to give out the first round of Covid-19 vaccines in 2021. On this day in 2025, though, the corner where Plum St. meets 6th St. had grabbed my attention.
Surrounded by a windowless office tower, parking garages, and what has historically been a service entrance for the convention center—this block near the interstate exists solely as an area of function and convenience. A space that should seemingly lack any character because it’s simply there to move people, equipment, and vehicles along. It does boast a particularly interesting feature, however: one of the few remaining segments of the “Skywalk.”
Skywalk signage in the 600 Central garage..
Plum St. Skywalk bridge.
Technically, it’s not the last piece remaining in the city, but Cincinnati’s Skywalk doesn’t really function as a wider system anymore and was already on the decline when I covered it in years past. Hell, even if you stumble upon one of the old maps in town, they haven’t been accurate in years.
An aging and out of date Skywalk map along Sixth St. near Fountain Square.
What I’m getting at is this: yeah, you might find that the occasional buildings are still linked via elevated pathway, but no one’s gonna tell you to “take the Skywalk” since the few bits that remain don’t really connect in any meaningful or convenient way for the general public. Rather, the focus of most pedestrian traffic has now shifted primarily to the street level and the few Skywalk links that remain just serve specific buildings and their staff, often behind secured doors.
LEFT: The Skywalk map as depicted in the streetside map.
RIGHT: The Skywalk map altered to show the following:
- Demolished segments (red)
- Indoor segments such as hotel, parking, office, and residential space not normally accessed by the general public (gray)
- Extant segments (white)
Note: The mostly intact segment seen at the top of the map still features its Skywalk markings and is generally open to the public, but primarily serves specific office buildings.
The segment featured in this post is little more than a partially covered, generic bridge that links the convention center with two parking structures. Although it never featured the enclosed, climate-controlled features that the Skywalk was known for, this section has managed to retain its branding and signage despite being open to the elements.
Skywalk logo atop the Plum St. bridge.
Directional markings atop the Plum St. bridge.
The decorative stairway connecting the Sixth & Plum Skywalk with the ground does appear a bit dated, but I find that it’s a unique example of a very specific style.
Couldn’t tell you what exactly that “style” is, so let’s just call it “late 80s mall/airport chic.”
Where the Sixth and Plum Skywalk connects with the street.
Main stairway which connects to the corner of Sixth and Plum.
Benches built into the structure.
LEFT: With the region having recently experienced severe weather and this Skywalk not currently in use due to convention center renovations, the area has occasionally become a means of shelter.
RIGHT: A discarded directional sign features the same stylized “Cincinnati” branding previously seen on the convention center’s iconic sign. That sign is being replaced as part of the renovation.
There’s also a historical item tucked away at the top: a bell from the former Sixth Street Market. Razed in 1960, the public market had previously stood in this general area since 1829.
The Sixth and Plum Skywalk could use some basic maintenance in the sense of updated lighting and wayfinding, but even in its current, neglected state—it’s still far nicer than the dreary, aging parking structures nearby (one built in 1957, the other in 1988, and both owned by a local development authority) .
The ongoing renovation of the convention center and the surrounding redevelopment of what’s now being called “The Convention District” are part of an effort to bolster the western edge of downtown (an area that saw similar efforts in the 1980s). A 700 room, high-rise “headquarters” hotel is slated to be built and one of its features will be a new, elevated and enclosed pathway that will directly link the lodging establishment with the convention center across the street.
Renderings of the planned hotel as showcased by Visit Cincy. The new “Skywalk” is seen on the left side of each image.
On the opposite side of the convention center, however, it’ll be interesting to see what becomes of the Sixth & Plum Skywalk.
• • •
Related Stories:
Christmas at the Carew Tower (once the central nexus of the Skywalk system)
The “sculpture park” often confused for a skatepark that was part of the last round of “convention district” renovations
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