I have to admit… I don’t visit the riverfront very often. Probably more-so than your average Central-Ohioan given that I live walking distance (albeit a 30 minute walk) but still… I can probably count my annual visits on two hands without raising fingers back up once they’ve gone down. I’m there for maybe five or six of the summer festivals, and Anne and I will eat lunch somewhere around the area on occasion. But other than biking through (once I get my bike fixed), what reason to I have to stop and smell the lack of roses?
Well, the city is attempting to change all that with the revamped version of the Scioto Mile plan that was initially launched to some unimpressive responses. I think what they’re trying to do is better this second time around, but I’m not sure if it will have the draw that other famous parks or riverwalks have in other cities. It’s almost as if they can’t decide if they want it to be a park or a riverwalk. Do we include restaurants and shops? Or do we include nature and activities? The plan seems to do a little bit of both. But I’d rather it do a LOT of both.
Instead of a single cafe at Bicentennial Park, why aren’t we lining the entire Riverfront with retail space? If Civic Center Drive is getting narrowed there should be enough room to build some small-footprint retail that could include shops, cafes, restaurants, bars, and even some boutique hotel space on upper floors. Could you imagine the vibrancy this would bring not only during summer festivals, but year round as well? We could extend the walkway and bikeways with a boardwalk over the river to accommodate for wider walkways.
And while we’re at it, let’s show some love to the other side as well. Franklinton’s riverfront goes to waste with the space unused in front of COSI and Vet’s Memorial. Give it the same retail/restaurant/hotel treatment and watch the development fill in behind it.
As for activities, get rid of the dam and set up boating docks and facilities (canoe rentals?) between OSU and Downtown. The water may not be swimmable, but it’s certainly enjoyable if people are given the option.
Anyway, the Scioto Mile is off to a good start. The question now is how much more can we still do?
Revival of riverfront retooled
Monday, November 19, 2007
BY DEBBIE GEBOLYSThe latest version — the final version, if you talk to the mayor — of a decades-old effort to dress up the east bank of the Scioto River Downtown features a cafe, a band shell and an 18-inch deep “canal.”
City planners want to attract more than the lunchtime crowd and festivalgoers to a spruced-up riverfront that they want ready for the city’s 200th birthday in 2012.
Planners envision a glass-enclosed cafe and patio, an array of fountains and a permanent band shell at Bicentennial Park. Construction would begin by May. Civic Center Drive, as in earlier plans, would be narrowed to three lanes and converted to two-way traffic.
The issue with the dams right now is in the hand of a couple of property owners who seem to believe that opening up the river will somehow cause them all sorts of pollution and unwanted trespassers on their property. My argument is 1) have you looked at all of the pollution in the river and 2) have you noticed the many homeless camps set up here and there along the river? As an avid canoeist I have been saying for a while that it could be really nice if I could put in up north where I live and canoe downtown, hang out for a bit, then catch the bus or ride my stowed bicycle back up north to retrieve my canoe hauler. Heck, the river runs slowly enough that I could even paddle back up north.
I totally agree that the riverfront needs to be exploited more through downtown. I also believe that the more people who use the rivers for recreation the cleaner they will become. I know that when I canoe local water ways I believe in leaving the river a little better than what I found it by picking up litter that I come across. I’m pretty sure I’m not alone on this.
So, as a case for action I would suggest talking to city council and letting them know you support them taking action to remove the dams. They are trying to play nice with these property owners right now but, if necessary, they have the right to push the issue through legal means. I think enough public outcry could make it happen.