I don't think the powerboat races are going to be back.

Scioto River Construction - October 2014 - Riverfront Columbus Ohio

 

It looks like we are starting to see the new permanent river banks take shape.

 

One more of the ongoing work along the river.

 

 

Lookin' good.

It's hard to tell if this is a blow or an opportunity, but it's probably somewhere in between depending on what the community makes of it.

 

On another note, I didn't see this posted anywhere else, but I think that this could make a substantial difference in community branding and appearance. I don't have a lot of faith when I hear a "public arts masterplan" being underway anywhere in Columbus, but I think that doing LED in the steps behind COSI is a huge opportunity. Daniel Burnham drew inspiration around the idea of creating a classical "mall" around the Scioto River's bend, and I do like the way vistas line up between the State buildings and the former high school / now COSI.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/gallery/170551?r=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bizjournals.com%2Fcolumbus%2Fnews%2F2015%2F03%2F26%2Ffirst-look-led-light-display-coming-to-scioto.html%3Fana%3Dfbk

 

 

Also starting to like the flag-branding theme that ColumbUS is establishing, now that the effort to pander for a political convention is over. Also really love to see flag bunting in late Victorian neighborhoods, which Cbus certainly has aplenty.

 

Great idea.  If anything, they should bring back the 2012 Bicentennial lighting project for COSI / Old Central High and combine it with this:

 

I think this is a pretty dope idea! Something different and outside the "norm" for us

Today's update along the riverfront:

 

May update at the riverfront.

 

May update at the riverfront.

 

 

I see from the video the trees have been there for a while. I just noticed them Sunday night.

 

Some recent pictures

 

I have a feeling that once the landscaping/hardscaping is in and established, most everyone is going to wonder how in the heck did we put up with the bloated sewage sedimentation pond that used to be our river downtown?

 

They need to get rid of more of these damn dams-two more dead on the Olentangy due to one of these lowhead dams(although part of the blame has to go to the 18 and 20 year old Darwin award winners who thought it would be a good idea to go rafting in a fast moving rain swollen river right above a dam).

Somebody I know mentioned something about them running out of money to finish removing dams on the Olentangy, are these the ones you refer to? How far upriver are they located?

^ A lot of the other dams on the Olentangy and Scioto have utilities running though them, which both the 5th Ave and Main St ones did not (I believe), and that makes it a lot more expensive to remove them. It'd certainly be nice to get rid of them all, but it just doesn't sound feasible right now.

 

This Dispatch article from April has a good run-down of the current situation, and a map of where the remaining dams are located, http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/04/23/columbus-deems-removing-dangerous-olentangy-river-dams-too-costly.html

We're getting pretty close to the completing the Scioto Greenways project later this year.  So I thought I'd post a recap of this project that started in 2013 and will add 33 acres of new parkland along the Scioto River in downtown.

 

Here are before-and-after renderings and before-and-after overhead views of the Scioto Greenways project from http://www.sciotogreenways.com/project-overview.php

 

BEFORE (FALL 2013)

 

AFTER (FALL 2015)

Below are overhead views of the Scioto River transformation from http://www.sciotogreenways.com/project-overview.php

 

NOV. 2013 through APRIL 2014

 

MAY 2014 through OCT. 2014

 

NOV. 2014 through APRIL 2015

 

MAY 2015 through FALL 2015

And as for the current progress, here's an aerial photo posted on June 29, 2015 at https://www.facebook.com/sciotogreenways

 

Columbus riverfront construction update for July 2015.

 

https://youtu.be/0-YNDc8tBQM

^ Great video.  Can't wait to see the new riverbanks after they go green.  Thank you for the update.

Walker Evans posted a bunch of riverfront photos from last weekend over at CU:

 

http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/downtown-2010-plan-idea-12-river-greenway/page/16/#post-1087789

September update on riverfront construction in downtown Columbus Ohio. 

 

https://youtu.be/sC7nkPgFSWo

 

 

One day away from the formal opening of the Scioto Greenways riverfront park project.  Below is a sneak peak video tour from the group leading the project:

 

Downtown park along Scioto set to open

 

The $36 million project was funded by 11 sources, including the City of Columbus, which contributed the most ($18.3 million).  Within the 33 acres of downtown parkland reclaimed from the Scioto River after the Main Street low-head dam was removed in 2013:

 

- 800 trees (including maples, oaks, American elms and plane trees)

- 75,000 plants (sumacs, switch grass, black chokeberries, red twig dogwoods and seven other species)

- 1.5 miles of bike trails and pedestrian paths

- 700 foot retaining wall that also forms the central plaza in the project

 

More about it at http://www.sciotogreenways.com/

Columbus Underground's interview with Guy Worley, President and CEO of the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation - the group that headed up and coordinated the massive new 33-acre Scioto Greenways project in Downtown Columbus:

 

CU Interview: Guy Worley on the Grand Opening of the Scioto Greenways

 

Columbus Underground took a photo-tour of the Scioto Greenways project a few days before its official opening (and during more sunny conditions than yesterday's grand opening ceremony).  Here are a few of the photos - with more photos at the CU link below:

 

Photos: Scioto Greenways Project Transforms Downtown Riverfront

 

This is the downtown side of the project along the eastern bank of the newly narrowed Scioto River.  To give you an idea just how much new parkland has been reclaimed from the river - the stone colonnade in the middle of this photo was previously at the water's edge!  To the right is the work that was done in a previous Scioto Mile project next to Civic Center Drive.  To the left is all the work that was done in this Scioto Greenways project:

 

This is the COSI/Scioto Peninsula/Franklinton side of the project along the western bank of the newly narrowed river.  The concrete path is where the water's edge previously was located:

 

Both sides of the narrowed Scioto River get new bike/pedestrian paths that connect with existing multi-use trails to the north and south.  This is a view looking north toward the Broad Street Bridge:

 

This is a view looking south toward the recently built Rich Street Bridge and Main Street Bridge (in the background).  The new riverfront trails pass under all of these bridges and connect with the other existing trails that run along the river:

 

And here is a closer view of the Main Street Bridge with previous built condo towers and office towers in the background.  The Main Street Bridge has a unique canted arch design that carries a separate bike/pedestrian path shown on this side of the bridge:

 

One of the features of this separate bike/pedestrian path is special rail level lighting for better illumination at the pedestrian level.  An odd side effect of this lighting is unusually high nocturnal spider activity.  According to an OSU Entomologist, this lighting attracts insects along the river, which then attracts the spiders at night.  The Dispatch produced a recent video highlighting this below:

Business First also had an article and photo slideshow of yesterday's grand opening for the Scioto Greenways project.  Below is the link to the article and the slideshow which featured yesterday's grayer overcast weather:

 

Scioto Greenways transforms downtown riverfront – Photos

That whole park is wonderful.

Just wanted to add this aerial overview of the finished Scioto Greenways project from its facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sciotogreenways:

 

The unusually mild late fall/early winter weather has allowed people to use the new Scioto Greenways portion of the downtown Scioto Mile riverfront park since its November opening.  Below is a photo from http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/downtown-2010-plan-idea-12-river-greenway/page/18/#post-1102051 showing some weekend activity at the central plaza on the downtown side:

 

Here is a night-time jogging shot from the project's facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sciotogreenways:

 

And another shot showing a beautiful night-time view with the Rich Street Bridge in the foreground:

 

The downtown buildings light up the east side of the Scioto River:

 

But the western bank of the Scioto River is now illuminated by lights set into the amphitheater steps in front of COSI:

 

In addition to new riverfront amenities for people, the reformed riverfront is welcoming to nature as well.  Maybe a little too welcoming, as beavers gnawed down one of newly planted trees within a week of the grand opening.  Below is a photo from http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2015/11/20/a2-beaver-damage-photo-art-gb714d14r-1.html showing the felled tree.  Because of this, protective cages have been installed around some of the most vulnerable trees:

 

Some wildlife that won't be damaging the trees are a fun trio of bronze deer sculptures installed around the riverfront:

 

Called "Scioto Lounge", the deer appear in a number of human-like poses.  One is lounging on a riverbank slope:

 

Another is sitting on the COSI steps looking toward downtown:

 

And a third deer is leaning against the railing on the Rich Street Bridge:

 

The whimsical deer have been a big hit with the public.  CU readers just named them the best public art in Columbus at http://www.columbusunderground.com/the-best-public-art-in-columbus.  Plus, the deer are frequently adorned by riverfront visitors:

 

And featured in the personal photos of riverfront visitors:

 

 

Here's a brief video of the artist talking about the Scioto Lounge deer sculptures:

 

And here's one more Scioto Greenways overview via aerial drone:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TNl3X245SM

Wow, this park looks really great. It seems to have been very well designed and executed, and it has drastically cleaned up the Columbus riverfront. Kudos Cbus!

Looks great. I need to get down there.

The American Planning Association is recognizing the Scioto Mile riverfront improvement efforts, capped last year with completion of the Scioto Greenways river narrowing project, with a National Planning Excellence Award:

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2016/04/01/scioto-river-revival-brings-national-award-to.html

 

https://www.planning.org/awards/2016/columbusriverfront.htm

Pic from

 

After the monsoon rains last night the downtown Scioto River is back to its old width!

 

^Whoa!

Pic from

 

After the monsoon rains last night the downtown Scioto River is back to its old width!

 

 

Awesome pic. I would love to have seen a drone view of this...if a drone could have survived the winds today.

The Dispatch did a story about urban kayaking and had one of its photographers kayak on the Scioto and Olentangy Rivers thru downtown and the OSU campus.  Some really great pics - like the one below on the Scioto next to the Arena District looking toward the downtown skyline.  Lots of other striking pics at the link below - such as floating on the Olentangy under the bridges of I-670 and SR 315:

 

https://www.thisweeknews.com/lifestyle/20200707/urban-kayaking-through-columbus-shows-hidden-nexus-of-nature-city

 

 

Another article from today's Dispatch - https://www.dispatch.com/news/20200707/coronavirus-compounds-columbus-area-heat-wave - had this photo of a line of kayakers on the banks of the Scioto Mile in downtown.  Another neat photo, plus I was struck by how lush the landscaping looks now on the Scioto Mile:

Nice!

 

 

“Columbus Downtown Development Corp. will pay half of the cost to renovate the fountain and the city will pay the other half, said CDD President Amy Taylor.

 

Upgrades will include work on the five miles of pipe under the fountain, adding lights that can be programmed with music, changing the crescent-shaped fountain head to sphere-shaped and creating separate areas for small children and children old enough to play independently. There will also be shade areas, additional seating and a space for food trucks and vendors to pull up closer to the fountain.
 

The fountain design will go before Columbus City Council on Oct. 3 and, if it's approved, construction should start in the spring of 2023. Taylor said they hope the fountain will be finished at the end of 2023. 
 

The redesign will change the way people interact with the fountain, with the water spraying a bigger surface area and the fountain being able to be used in the colder months and host non-water activities, Taylor said.”

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/09/29/scioto-mile-fountain.html

Looks pretty cool!

 

 

Now if only we could get that surface lot in the top right corner developed...

2 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

Looks pretty cool!

 

 

Now if only we could get that surface lot in the top right corner developed...

Some day…hopefully…😅

42 minutes ago, cbussoccer said:

Looks pretty cool!

 

 

Now if only we could get that surface lot in the top right corner developed...

Side note, but one of the most enjoyable patios to eat on in the city right there at Milestone 229.

3 hours ago, amped91 said:

Nice!

 

 

“Columbus Downtown Development Corp. will pay half of the cost to renovate the fountain and the city will pay the other half, said CDD President Amy Taylor.

 

Upgrades will include work on the five miles of pipe under the fountain, adding lights that can be programmed with music, changing the crescent-shaped fountain head to sphere-shaped and creating separate areas for small children and children old enough to play independently. There will also be shade areas, additional seating and a space for food trucks and vendors to pull up closer to the fountain.
 

The fountain design will go before Columbus City Council on Oct. 3 and, if it's approved, construction should start in the spring of 2023. Taylor said they hope the fountain will be finished at the end of 2023. 
 

The redesign will change the way people interact with the fountain, with the water spraying a bigger surface area and the fountain being able to be used in the colder months and host non-water activities, Taylor said.”

 

https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2022/09/29/scioto-mile-fountain.html

I'm so glad they're changing the design a bit too.  Years ago, shortly after it first opened, I noticed one of the "outer" fountains was always turned off.  I asked one of the people working at the fountain why it was always off...  She said when they built it, they didn't extend the concrete out far enough on the one side, so the water from the far fountain would splash onto the grass, killing the grass, making it muddy.  Their solution was to just keep that part of the fountain off.

 

It was a bit maddening because the fountain was so expensive and so popular yet their solution was to just keep some of it off.

 

Looking at the new renderings from the article, it looks like that issue will be taken care of with the updated design!  

In a surprise to no one, the Dispatch is about five months late in reporting on the new fountain. At least they have an updated timeline. 
 

Downtown Scioto Mile Fountain to be replaced with $15M upgrade, add year-round amenities

 

 

“Besides replacing the existing fountain, the plans call for upgrades to the surrounding grounds that include new food options with food truck and picnic areas and computerized LED lighting that will make the area an attraction year-round by lighting the fountain waters at night and illuminating dozens of additional globe-like sculptures during the winter months.
 

City taxpayers will contribute $7.5 million to the project, an amount that the city will transfer to the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, which will act under contract as project administrator. Construction is expected to begin this spring, closing the fountain area to the public for a year, with a planned reopening on Memorial Day 2024.”

 

This section was a bit concerning, however. I’m all for replacing the fountain, considering the issues they’ve had with the old one. And extensive maintenance is also a given after a decade. But to suggest we might need a complete replacement every decade is more than a little troubling. 
 

“Amy Taylor, president of the CDDC, said Thursday the proposed repair plan became so intensive, requiring ripping up most of the 15,000-square-foot plaza, that it was scrapped in favor of installing a new, state-of-the-art fountain.

 

"It was always anticipated that the fountain had a life cycle of about a decade," Taylor said. The new fountain should have a similar decade-long life before needing any major maintenance or replacement, she said.“

https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/local/2023/02/12/downtowns-scioto-mile-fountain-to-get-15m-year-round-upgrade/69885073007/

The Eastland Mall fountains only lasted about 10 years. It opened with the drips-on-lit-wires fountain (which I am too young to have seen) in 1969 then that was gone and they moved onto the big monsters from maybe 1978 to 1989. River Valley Mall's made it from 1987 to maybe around 2006 when they had to shut them off.

10 minutes ago, GCrites80s said:

The Eastland Mall fountains only lasted about 10 years. It opened with the drips-on-lit-wires fountain (which I am too young to have seen) in 1969 then that was gone and they moved onto the big monsters from maybe 1978 to 1989. River Valley Mall's made it from 1987 to maybe around 2006 when they had to shut them off.

Idk $15 million every decade sounds expensive to me, but the Dispatch only wants to compare the cost to vacant office buildings lol 

Eh I feel like the existing one (and this new one) are both pretty ugly. So I actually don't mind a shelf life of about 10 years before we change it up again

 

Agree with the odd comparisons in the Dispatch not adding anything of value. Yes the city could buy an empty 1970s office building in need of hundreds of millions of dollars in renovations ... but what does that tell us about whether or not this cost is unusual for comparable fountains/attractions 

I like the look, but I’m easily entertained by neon lights lol and as long as the food truck area actually gets regularly used I’ll be a happy camper. 

I feel like they could design something that could be much more easily maintained. I mean how long do community pools and water parks last? Feels like those manage to make it much more than 10 years before having to be ripped out and redone.