(Dublin, Ohio) – Dublin City Council has unanimously approved adoption of the Scioto Riverside Park Master Plan, establishing a coherent planning and financial framework for the final design of phase 1 components of the park.

After over two years of extensive planning, outreach, and public input and involvement, adoption of the plan enables the advancement of phase 1 plans including the design for plazas at either end of the pedestrian bridge. Adoption of the plan also helps inform capital planning decisions for possible future phases of the park.

Located on both sides of the Scioto River, the park serves as a signature recreational space for the entire community, offering the following distinctive features:

• Pedestrian Bridge: Iconic pedestrian and bicycle crossing that serves both as a critical transportation link and a regional destination, featuring the scenic Scioto River corridor.
• Bridge Landings & Plazas: Centers of park activity and events at the interface between neighborhoods, park and river. These plazas provide the opportunity for active park programming (e.g. lunchtime concerts) and seasonal activities (e.g. ice skating).
• The Green: Flexible lawn space for festivals, events, passive recreation and leisure. The Green is the central feature of the park on the east side of the Scioto River and creates the setting for a wide range of passive and active recreational activities.
• Pathways & Trails: Recreation and immersion in nature within the park as well as connections to the community and river system.
• Indian Run Falls: Creative and sensitive access to one of the most dramatic natural features in the region.
• River Access & Overlooks: Providing views and direct access to water’s edge for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, exploring and education.

“City Council’s approval of this master plan provides staff with the direction needed to more clearly define the probable phasing timeline and determine more accurate costs of development,” said Matt Earman, Director of Parks & Recreation. “With the pedestrian bridge already in its design phase, our next steps will be to secure the funding necessary to construct the connecting plazas on each side of the river. This next phase, along with the balance of future phases will be presented to City Council at the upcoming 5-year capital budget workshop.”

The Scioto Riverside Park Master Plan outlines a transformational vision for one of Dublin’s most important civic and natural spaces, which will connect Historic Dublin and the heart of the Bridge Street District. To view the plan visit http://bridgestreet.dublinohiousa.gov/riverside-park.

About the Park

The new park will be an important part of a broader system of regional parks and local recreational systems, linking to these assets through extensive bicycle/pedestrian facilities, canoe/kayak access points, and scenic natural connections. 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. The east side of the park is elevated outside of the floodplain and will feature areas for public gatherings and cultural events, pavilion building, outdoor ice skating, rock climbing, planting beds and scenic river overlooks.

The two sides of the park will be linked by an iconic pedestrian-bicycle bridge, with public plazas providing access to restaurants, shops, a new library, and the broader mix of destinations east and west.

Vehicular access, steep riverside slopes, and the consideration of existing structures are key drivers of park design and programming, as well as is the goal of maintaining flexibility for future programming for residents of both the Bridge Street District and the entire City of Dublin.

The Riverside Park Master Plan is a long term vision for the park, being developed in phases based on available public and private funding.

The vision for the park has been instrumental in catalyzing the multi-million-dollar private investments in new developments planned for both sides of the Scioto River, adding to the vibrancy and vitality of Dublin’s civic center and benefitting all residents and businesses of Dublin.

Media Contact:
Sarah McQuaide, Public Information Officer
614.410.4523 – Desk
614.593.9438 – Cell
smcquaide@dublin.oh.us
Newsroom: http://dublinohiousa.gov/newsroom/