Scioto Greenways

The Scioto Greenways project involves removing the Main St. low head dam, restoring the Scioto River Downtown, & constructing 33-acres of new green space.

The Scioto Riverfront in Downtown Columbus has been transformed as a result of hundreds of millions of dollars in public and private developments in the RiverSouth area. But while substantial public and private investments along the Scioto River have created world-class amenities, the river remains a slow-moving, overly wide pool of sediment-laden water due to the presence of low head dams.

The Scioto Greenways project is underway and involves three primary components: 1) removing the Main Street Dam, 2) restoring the Scioto River channel, and 3) creating 33 acres of new green space.

The Main Street Dam was removed in late 2013, which has restored the natural flow of the the river and helped improve the ecological systems and river habitat. The new riverbanks and restored river channel, which are under construction now, will provide new recreation options, as well as an opportunity to further leverage existing investments in the area through the creation of a stunning 33-acre greenway through Downtown Columbus.

Across the country, dam removal and river restoration projects have been shown to increase property values, encourage investment, and create vibrant communities. A healthy river that enables recreation and improves connectivity will allow Columbus to thrive and ensure maximum economic, ecological, and social benefits. The additional green space created through the Scioto Greenways project will better connect Downtown to the Scioto Peninsula and East Franklinton, build on the recent park investments, create links to the existing regional bikeway system, and serve as a catalyst for further private investment in Downtown.

The project is estimated to cost $35.5 million and is being funded by a variety of public and private partners, including: City of Columbus, City of Columbus Department of Public Utilities, Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, Ohio Department of Transportation, Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, Franklin County Board of Commissioners, Metro Parks, The Columbus Foundation, and Battelle.

The Origins of the Scioto Greenways Project

The idea of the Scioto Greenways was first presented as part of a comprehensive public process that ultimately resulted in the 2010 Downtown Strategic Plan. During the planning process, four public meetings were attended by over 500 people and more than 1,100 comments were received from the community. Online, the plan received a great deal of attention, with more than 20,000 views to the site. This robust public process created a feeling of inclusion and excitement surrounding all of the concepts, but one stood out from the rest. In the end, the Scioto Greenways project was ranked as the number one priority by the community.

Based on this public mandate, a study was undertaken to determine the feasibility of removing the Main Street Dam and creating a greenway along the Scioto River corridor. This study looked at environmental and economic benefits, as well as the impact of the dam removal on the floodplain.

The study found that the removal of the Main Street Dam and restoration of a more natural river channel was feasible and would create 33 acres of new parkland, meet floodplain requirements, and restore the Scioto River habitat.

For more information on the Scioto Greenways Project, visit www.sciotogreenways.com

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