COLUMBUS – A project that will eventually transform the area of downtown Dublin on either side of the Scioto River took a big step forward Monday night when the City Council approved the Scioto Riverside Park Master Plan, clearing the way for the final design of the first phase of the massive project.
Two years of planning and public comment have gone into putting together the plan for a major facelift, which will anchor a multi-million private investment and will feature areas for public gatherings and cultural events, outdoor activities, like ice skating, kayaking and rock climbing; and scenic river overlooks, Sarah McQuaide, the city’s public information officer
The first phase includes the design of a pedestrian and bicycle bridge (above)and for plazas at either end of the bridge, she said.
Formal adoption of the plan will guide decisions about the remaining phases, which will be undertaken over several years, based on available funding. Plans for funding the future phases will be presented at an upcoming five-year capital budget workshop, said Matt Earman, Director of Parks and Recreation.
Earman says the bridge will serve as a transportation link for pedestrians and cyclists and the park, occupying space on both banks of the river.
The east side of the park will feature areas for public gatherings, cultural events, outdoor ice skating, rock climbing, planting beds and scenic river overlooks.
The west side of the park is envisioned as a more naturalized area with connections to the Indian Run greenway, water access and trail systems.
Notable features of the Scioto Riverside Park:
Bridge Landings and Plazas: Centers of park activity and events at the junction of neighborhoods, the park and the river, which will host lunchtime concerts in the summer and host the ice rink in the winter.
The Green: The central feature of the park, on the east side of the river, provides a flexible “lawn space” for festivals, event and recreational activities.
Pathways and Trails: Recreation and immersion in nature within the park as well as connections to the community and river system, which includes “creative and sensitive access to Indian Run Falls, one of the most dramatic natural features in the region; overlooks and river access for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, exploring and education.
Public plazas will provide access to restaurants, shops and a new library in the Bridge Street District, McQaide.