Green Central Knoll

Green Central Knoll sits on land that once hummed with the massive operations of the Rheingold Brewery. This site was the birthplace of the famous Rheingold beer, which grew into a national brand after German immigrant Samuel Liebmann founded the brewery here in the mid nineteenth century. The factory became widely known for its annual Miss Rheingold beauty contest, a promotional tradition that saw customers cast thousands of votes to pick the face of the brand each year. The brewery ceased operations in 1976 after the firm struggled to keep up with larger national competitors. When the company failed to pay its taxes, the city seized the property and initially planned to use the space for commercial development. Local residents successfully pushed for a park instead, citing the nearby school and a neighborhood need for open space. The city converted the site in 1997, trading industrial vats and bottling lines for softball fields and public play areas. The name of the park is a clever reference to the three streets that border its edges. Evergreen Avenue takes its name from the route that once led to the Cemetery of the Evergreens, while Central Avenue reflects the area's historical position as a focal point for the community. Noll Street honors a local businessman named Henry Noll who was a prominent figure in the neighborhood during its earlier development. The park features a distinct nautical design theme that contrasts with the surrounding urban landscape. A central mast and yardarm sit at the highest point of the grounds, representing the captain's post of a ship. From this high point, a decorative rocky stream bed winds downward, designed to carry water through the park. Hidden within this stone path are brass casts of freshwater fish like perch, trout, and bass that are meant to mimic a natural waterway as it flows toward a final catch basin.