Took a ton of photos at The Mile last night. Won't post them all, but here's a few and links to more:

 

http://www.columbusunderground.com/photos-from-the-grand-opening-of-the-scioto-mile

 

http://www.columbusunderground.com/more-photos-from-the-opening-of-the-scioto-mile

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/scioto-mile-01.jpg">

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/scioto-mile-008.jpg">

 

<img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/scioto-mile-015.jpg">

Where is any evidence that that money was spent on crumbling, decrepit Downtown Linden, Downtown Franklinton, Downtown Olde Towne East, Downtown Merion Village, etc?

 

None of those places exist. That might be the problem.

Thanks for all the photos Walker!  Looks great!

Those photos do look great. 

MSI Design, the firm that designed The Scioto Mile, posted some amazing photos of the newly opened phase in their design blog.  Here is a sample of some of those photos.  Many more are posted at http://msidesign.com/blog/index.php/celebrating-the-scioto-mile:

 

 

 

 

 

And yes - that last photo shows Columbus' Mayor Coleman frolicking in the fountain!

 

MORE PHOTOS: http://msidesign.com/blog/index.php/celebrating-the-scioto-mile

That last photo is great!

thought that last picture was colday for a minute.  the mannerisms certainly match. 

Where is any evidence that that money was spent on crumbling, decrepit Downtown Linden, Downtown Franklinton, Downtown Olde Towne East, Downtown Merion Village, etc?

 

None of those places exist. That might be the problem.

 

OK, let's be redundantly tongue-in-cheek just because most of our neighborhood business districts don't have official names, although there is in fact Downtown OTE; it's called Olde Towne Quarter in case you didn't notice the banners. But let's just post lots of boosterism and instead of critiquing where city dollars are going let's just draft up a bunch of wish lists for what we wish the city would do and hope that someday they might. We should just always be happy with whatever the city government gives us in their infinite wisdom. In that vein, judging form the great success of all of the new businesses that were eagerly awaiting the opening of the SM and CC we can clearly see that all that we need to do is spend $20-44 million (the costs of CC and SM respectively) on a nice park in any of our many struggling business districts and they're guaranteed to get at least one new business per multi-million dollar park. Or we can just leave the rest of the city in forgotten corner of our minds and go back to HighStreetUnderground.

 

Anyway, I need more caffeine and the new MoJoe Lounge can always use more money to justify staying open a little later in the evenings. They could use more bike parking since the two racks are already full and I'm watching a cyclist look for bike parking elsewhere because there are no parking signs to lock up to since there's still no parking allowed on High. But I'm going off on a CC tangent, so Milestone 229: a coworker tried out the vegetable pasta dish and the asparagus wasn't cooked properly which is too bad when it's a $14 dish and I wasn't too keen on the $12 sandwiches in the first place. Oh well, at least they serve beer til 11 on weekends .

thought that last picture was colday for a minute.  the mannerisms certainly match. 

 

*insert clever MTS photo here*

City OKs $50,000 to study removing Main Street dam

By Doug Caruso, The Columbus Dispatch

Tuesday, September 20, 2011 - 4:08 AM

 

The Columbus City Council approved $50,000 last night to study removing a low-head dam in the Scioto River, a move touted as a way to improve the river Downtown. 

 

The dam study, to be undertaken with the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation, will examine whether it’s feasible to remove the Main Street dam.  The city’s latest Downtown plan says that removing the dam would make the Scioto’s flow more natural there, creating new parkland in the city’s center.

 

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/09/20/city-oks-50000-to-study-removing-main-street-dam.html

Like any other American city, Columbus has its share of public art. 

 

From the "great" category: CCAD "ART" sculpture

 

To the "some-think-its-fun-others-think-its-dumb" category: Field of Corn (ok, technically this is Dublin)

 

To the "what-is-that-doing-here" category: Franklin University's Graduation Cap suspended over Rich Street

 

To the "interesting-idea-but-unfeasible" category: the unbuilt blue snake over the Broad Street Bridge

 

To the "bad-idea-but-unfeasible" category: the unbuilt giant Christopher Columbus statue at the Whittier Peninsula

 

So it is with that context that the newest big public art piece has been unveiled: A six-story, mirrored-glass cooling tower proposed for the Town Street prow section of the new Scioto Mile.

 

 

Here's the article from today's Dispatch:  Let debate begin over proposed riverfront sculpture - A New York artist’s concept for a six-story, mirrored-glass structure along the Scioto is meant to be a signature piece of public art for Columbus. The mayor likes the idea, but he wants it to be paid for with private funds.

 

Here's a slideshow of the "cooling tower" sculpture from the Dispatch: SCIOTO MILE SCULPTURE SLIDESHOW

 

And here's the reaction from our fellow urbanites over at Columbus Underground: Scioto Mile - News & Updates

i think its an outstanding concept..i hope it goes up without interference from a downtown commission..commissions should stick to basic things like street level appearance of buildiings...ie no loading docks facing the street etc..and no new surface parking etc..but when they get involved  with design  the outcome is always bad imo..

 

Columbus needs things to differentiate itself from the rest of the `midwest.`  In the past it has let large public art concepts pass by because of worries about how the art fits in with downtown et al... I think that's a mistake.  The only way columbus differentiates is by stuff like this.  There are no mountains, great rivers, interesting geography, beaches, good weather or much of anything that really draws people in.  To pass on anything that helps make the city more interesting, to me, is a mistake if Columbus wants to continue to draw people.

Eh, what does a cooling tower have to do with anything?

How interesting could that be? Will it get people Downtown to spend money? The weather isn't bad either. If you insist on wearing shorts and carrying no umbrella on a cold windy day you only have yourself to blame. If you dress properly most the year is actually comfortable. It's gonna get down to -6 tonight where I am and it's nothing that good socks, thermals, a scarf, thick gloves, and a wool hat can't handle. There is interesting geography here and there, mostly in the form of ravines in Clintonville. Columbus won't be nationally known for a cooling tower, the city should already know it's all about top-notch urban neighborhoods like German Village and the Short North, that's what they need to invest in more. Riversouth is still waiting for S High to fill in so that Downtown can have a cool area, mostly uninterrupted, to bridge the boring gap between the Brewery District and Gay Street. Getting a dense concentration of destinations on S High will do more to encourage downtown investment than a tower, which will not fill up sidewalks after 5 in any case.

Eh, what does a cooling tower have to do with anything?

 

Exactly!  The idea of installing a public art piece at this location in the Scioto Mile is great.  Even having that art be modern and eye-catching is great.  But that doesn't mean we (both the general public and urban advocates like those on this website) have to accept anything that comes along.  The cooling tower image is just so literal and weighed down with negative meaning.  That would obliterate any other meaning, positive or subtle, that the artist or the city would hope for with the piece.

 

That is why the cooling tower design is getting mocked at Columbus Underground.  And that is why the Dispatch's own humor columnist (and pretty good urban advocate too) Joe Blundo wrote this:  Scioto Mile sculpture shouldn’t evoke image of Three Mile Island

I don't care for the shape, but it would bother me a lot less if it was interactive in some way.  I don't like public art that just sits and does nothing, even as a conversational piece.  The best public art, imo, is that which the public can touch, walk through, around, and generally interact with.  That's what made the bean in Chicago so successful.  The size is great, and I don't mind the materials, but make it accessible to the public. 

The "cooling tower" sculpture proposed for the Scioto Mile has been redesigned.  Gone is the mirrored glass.  The hyperboloid shape from the earlier design remains.  But now its an open steel frame with vegetation (that's the green stuff in the new rendering). 

 

In my opinion it's an improvement.  The cooling tower look is pretty much gone.  Although some have pointed out that it now resembles an electric line transmission tower.  Possibly appropriate considering that AEP donated $10 million to Scioto Mile's construction. 

 

I wouldn't object to this one.  But I still like the idea of reviving the "Blue Snake" that got axed from the Broad Street Bridge in the late 80's.  Below are reports from the Dispatch and WOSU - and a rendering of the new sculpture design.

 

WOSU - 12/14/11: Proposed Scioto Mile ‘Cooling Tower’ Sculpture Gets Redesign

 

Dispatch - 12/14/11: Artist shows off new design for Scioto Mile sculpture

 

Dispatch - 12/15/11: Artist adjusts look of Scioto sculpture

 

 

I'm surprised at the people who think it doesn't fit or don't get why it's so literal etc... That's the attitude that keeps the city from actually implementing all the projects throughout the years.  Why does it need to be interactive or awe inspiring or whatever? Why can't it just be a piece of art in an area that probably won't get anything else put in?? What's with the nitpicking?  It's not supposed to appeal to everyone and nobody has the notion that it's a game changer... It's just one more thing to add a little something downtown...  I suppose we'll need a 2/3 vote to get anything done. 

 

What else is going to go there? Why wouldn't you want something else there??

More debate and discussion about the hyperboloid sculpture proposed for the Scioto Mile - via YouTube postings. 

 

The first is from "Columbus On The Record" - an excellent weekly political policy and public affairs program produced by WOSU.  They normally don't delve into the subjects of art and architecture.  But the sculpture was such a big issue that they gave it a shot - and did okay for a three minute review.  I did appreciate how the difference between the previous and current sculpture designs was very clearly presented by the show.

 

 

The second one is a much longer 51 minute video from the Columbus Metropolitan Club.  The Metro Club invited Brian Tolle, the New York artist commissioned to produce a sculpture design for the Scioto Mile, to speak before their group last month.  Brian Tolle spoke about the nature of public art, talked about his approach to public art and gave a slide show presentation of his previous public art projects.  Finally, he presented his revised design for the proposed sculpture at the Scioto Mile.  He starts speaking at the 13 minute mark. 

 

Prior to Brian Tolle speaking, was the presentation of the 2011 Harrison Smith Legacy awards by the city's Downtown Commission.  By coincidence or not, one of the awards was given to the people responsible for the Scioto Mile.

 

 

 

 

The Scioto Mile received a 2011 Harrison Smith Legacy award from the city's Downtown Commission in the above Columbus Metro Club video.  In addition to that, the Scioto Mile has also been voted by the users of Columbus Underground as the Best Urban Development of 2011.  Below is the link to CU which shows the Scioto Mile and the other top 10 developments as voted by CU. 

 

Also below is a visual gallery of the Scioto Mile at their updated website which has been incorporated with the Columbus Recreation and Parks Department.

 

Best Urban Development of 2011: The Scioto Mile

 

Scioto Mile Visual Gallery

It's definitely a plus for the long-forgotten southern end of Downtown, though I think the implications of what's going on in Franklinton are of much greater impact and they did manage to get two spots on the list. Downtown already had varying degrees of visible momentum depending on which part you're talking about, while Franklinton's momentum was mostly quiet infill and demos here and there on side streets with the occasional big local event to get people used to visiting the area and familiarizing themselves with it. Also nice to see Weinland Park on there twice also, although that was pretty much a given since the Short North has nowhere else to expand and the Gateway District totally changed the character of the northern end of the neighborhood which also faces more obstacles than southern Downtown.

Crossed the new Town Rich Bridge on foot today - it's getting pretty close to showtime and there were some pretty impressive views. Never realized how well the two new bridges compliment one another.

 

 

Awesome!  Thanks!

^ May I "second" the above sentiments, jaymillah?  The only problem with this set of photos is that there simply weren't enough of them--but you'll manage to correct that in future posts, won't you?  (nice job!)

Make it a "third", jaymillah.  Keep em coming.

Cross posted in Columbus: Arts News & Discussion

 

Three finalists to offer proposals for sculpture at North Bank Park

By Jeffrey Sheban, The Columbus Dispatch

Monday, March 26, 2012 - 7:33 AM

 

A signature sculpture is being planned for a second site along the Scioto riverfront Downtown.  The Columbus Art Commission has enlisted three out-of-state artists to compete to design a $250,000 public installation for North Bank Park, the northernmost tip of the Scioto Mile park complex.

 

The latest plan is not to be confused with the privately funded and controversial drive to erect a 75-foot stainless-steel structure — derisively likened to the cooling tower of a nuclear reactor — on the Town Street promenade.

 

MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/life_and_entertainment/2012/03/26/three-finalists-to-offer-proposals-for-sculpture-at-north-bank-park.html

 

More about this project at the City's North Bank Park Public Art Project website - http://development.columbus.gov/planning/northbankpark.aspx

 

More information was released last week about one of the 12 long-range planning ideas contained with the 2010 Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan.  The Scioto-Olentangy Greenway Corridor idea called for the removal of a number of low-head dams currently in the Scioto and Olentangy Rivers.  Removal of the dams would allow these rivers to return to a more natural and free-flowing state.

 

The dam removal that would likely have the greatest interest and impact was the removal of the Main Street Dam, located just south of the new Main Street Bridge and next to the Miranova residential and office towers.  A study funded by the City and the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation was released that estimated the steps necessary to implement the Greenway Corridor idea and estimated costs.  Below is the link to the Dispatch article about this:

 

Dispatch: Dam could give way to parkland - Project would speed up river’s flow, cost $35 million

 

Below is the impact of the dam removal on the Scioto River within the Scioto Mile located Downtown:

 

 

There was a good amount of discussion here about this plan in the thread "Columbus: 2010 Downtown Plan".  That link goes to a reply I made back in 2010 which attempted to show the before and after impact on the Scioto River using an existing aerial photo and the rendering of the idea from the 2010 Plan.  Below is the current link to the 2010 Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan page at the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation website - www.downtowncolumbus.com.

 

CDDC: 2010 Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan

 

More information was released last week about one of the 12 long-range planning ideas contained with the 2010 Downtown Columbus Strategic Plan.  The Scioto-Olentangy Greenway Corridor idea called for the removal of a number of low-head dams currently in the Scioto and Olentangy Rivers.  Removal of the dams would allow these rivers to return to a more natural and free-flowing state.

 

The dam removal that would likely have the greatest interest and impact was the removal of the Main Street Dam, located just south of the new Main Street Bridge and next to the Miranova residential and office towers.  A study funded by the City and the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation was released that estimated the steps necessary to implement the Greenway Corridor idea and estimated costs.  Below is the link to the Dispatch article about this:

 

Dispatch: Dam could give way to parkland - Project would speed up river’s flow, cost $35 million

 

Below is the impact of the dam removal on the Scioto River within the Scioto Mile located Downtown:

 

 

 

This is positive. I couldn't help myself from reading the comments....I wonder how many of them know what a natural river is supposed to look like.

Yesterday was a big day for the Scioto River Downtown.  After information on the study for the removal of the Main Street Dam was reported on last week, an announcement was made by the City of Columbus yesterday.  Mayor Coleman pledged $18 million in city money toward removing the Main Street Dam and developing 33 acres of new parkland along the Scioto River Downtown. 

 

However, the total project would cost $35.5 million.  Less than $400,000 was estimated for the removal of the Main Street Dam itself.  The remaining expenses would involve restoring the river channel and the river edge along 1.2 miles of the river in the downtown.  Removal of the dam would narrow the river by half its existing width and create room for natural habitat, bike paths and parkland.

 

Mayor Coleman put the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation in charge of raising the remaining money for the $35.5 million project and getting the project done by the end of 2015.  An arrangement similar to the recently completed Scioto Mile project that remade Bicentennial Park and Civic Center Drive.

 

Below are links to articles and reports on yesterday's big announcement and some new renderings of what the narrowed Scioto River and new parkland along its banks might look like.  Also below is a link from the Columbus Dispatch to the complete Main Street Dam Removal study:

 

Dispatch: Plans announced for redesigned Scioto River

 

Business First: Scioto River getting park space in $35M project removing Main Street dam

 

Columbus Underground: Scioto River Greenway Plan Moving Forward

 

Dispatch: Full text of the Main Street Dam Removal study

 

 

 

I just read the comments in the Dispatch and have to wonder...is Ohio the world capital of negativism and whining?

 

The river plan is exactly the kind of win-win investment that will prove to be a tremendous benefit to the city and the environment. Major props to Coleman and everyone involved with making this plan a reality. This is great news. It's a fantastic idea whose time has come.

I just read the comments in the Dispatch and have to wonder...is Ohio the world capital of negativism and whining?

 

The river plan is exactly the kind of win-win investment that will prove to be a tremendous benefit to the city and the environment. Major props to Coleman and everyone involved with making this plan a reality. This is great news. It's a fantastic idea whose time has come.

I agree. Yet another reason why I force myself not to the read the comments otherwise I just get pissed off. Luckily, I feel that usually the comments are not necessarily indicative of the general publics feelings. There's one guy on the dispatch comments section for example who is either a transplant from cincy or still lives in cincy who goes out of his way to take potshots at columbus no matter what.

^you guys should not fret.  The negativity of the comment section of a newspaper internet sites is universal (especially, it seems, regarding urban issues or spending anybody's $$$).  Don't know what drives these people, especially since they are generally ill informed and extreme in their opinions.  I guess it just makes for a colorful world.

surfohio: Anytime there's an article involving government spending, you can be sure the anti-government trolls will spam the comments section.  Just ignore those losers.

 

Buckeye54:  And speaking of losers - you must be talking about "Roddy Marciano".  That guy tried to pass himself off as a self-critical Columbus resident until he was exposed as a resident of Cincinnati.  Roddy still occasionally posts his transparent name-calling rants - mostly in sports articles.  But now that he's been exposed for the troll that he is, it only serves to amuse Dispatch readers.

 

Htsguy: You nailed it.

surfohio: Anytime there's an article involving government spending, you can be sure the anti-government trolls will spam the comments section.  Just ignore those losers.

 

Buckeye54:  And speaking of losers - you must be talking about "Roddy Marciano".  That guy tried to pass himself off as a self-critical Columbus resident until he was exposed as a resident of Cincinnati.  Roddy still occasionally posts his transparent name-calling rants - mostly in sports articles.  But now that he's been exposed for the troll that he is, it only serves to amuse Dispatch readers.

 

Htsguy: You nailed it.

Thats exactly who I was thinking of but I couldn't recall his name. Thanks for the help! This is really exciting news especially joined with the plans for redevelopment of the scioto peninsula.

The Scioto River plan was not the only big project announced for the area yesterday.  The Scioto Peninsula, which contains Vets Memorial and COSI is now in the planning stages for redevelopment.  Other than the two buildings mentioned, east of the railroad tracks there is almost nothing else on the 56 acre but a sea of surface parking lots.  The redevelopment plan would be mixed use with lots of residential, retail and office space.  Hopefully, it will be built as an extension of Downtown and there will be at least a few skyscrapers thrown in the mix. 

 

BTW, Roddy Marciano is not the worst troll on the Dispatch story responses.  "Bob Long" is.  I have never seen that poster say a single positive thing, and it's always very extreme. 

The Scioto River plan was not the only big project announced for the area yesterday.  The Scioto Peninsula, which contains Vets Memorial and COSI is now in the planning stages for redevelopment.  Other than the two buildings mentioned, east of the railroad tracks there is almost nothing else on the 56 acre but a sea of surface parking lots.  The redevelopment plan would be mixed use with lots of residential, retail and office space.  Hopefully, it will be built as an extension of Downtown and there will be at least a few skyscrapers thrown in the mix.

Agreed.  The Scioto Peninsula could turn out to one of downtown's most interesting development spots over the next decade.  One of the biggest hurdles - land acquision - has already been done.  The City of Columbus and Franklin County are the only two property owners within the Scioto Peninsula planning area.

 

Personally, I'd love to see a new Crew Stadium get built somewhere over there.  My choice would be to remove Vets Memorial and replace it with Crew Stadium 2.0 and include a pedestrian bridge crossing the river to the Arena District (which was another 2010 Downtown Plan idea).  Then the COSI parking lots could get some mixed-use development with parking garages.  And then throw in a tower or two on that triangular parcel between the new Main Street and Town-Rich Street Bridges that might mirror Miranova across the river.

 

By the way, if this Scioto Peninsula planning leads to some actual development we'll likely split this into its own separate development thread.  But for now, we may as well keep it within this Scioto Mile thread.  Walker Evans had a great recap of the Scioto Peninsula planning area over at Columbus Underground.  Below is a link to the Columbus Underground recap and a map from it showing the current property ownership in the Scioto Peninsula.

 

Columbus Underground: Planning Begins for Redevelopment of Scioto Peninsula

 

 

The Scioto River plan was not the only big project announced for the area yesterday.  The Scioto Peninsula, which contains Vets Memorial and COSI is now in the planning stages for redevelopment.  Other than the two buildings mentioned, east of the railroad tracks there is almost nothing else on the 56 acre but a sea of surface parking lots.  The redevelopment plan would be mixed use with lots of residential, retail and office space.  Hopefully, it will be built as an extension of Downtown and there will be at least a few skyscrapers thrown in the mix.

Agreed.  The Scioto Peninsula could turn out to one of downtown's most interesting development spots over the next decade.  One of the biggest hurdles - land acquision - has already been done.  The City of Columbus and Franklin County are the only two property owners within the Scioto Peninsula planning area.

 

Personally, I'd love to see a new Crew Stadium get built somewhere over there.  My choice would be to remove Vets Memorial and replace it with Crew Stadium 2.0 and include a pedestrian bridge crossing the river to the Arena District (which was another 2010 Downtown Plan idea).  Then the COSI parking lots could get some mixed-use development with parking garages.  And then throw in a tower or two on that triangular parcel between the new Main Street and Town-Rich Street Bridges that might mirror Miranova across the river.

 

By the way, if this Scioto Peninsula planning leads to some actual development we'll likely split this into its own separate development thread.  But for now, we may as well keep it within this Scioto Mile thread.  Walker Evans had a great recap of the Scioto Peninsula planning area over at Columbus Underground.  Below is a link to the Columbus Underground recap and a map from it showing the current property ownership in the Scioto Peninsula.

 

Columbus Underground: Planning Begins for Redevelopment of Scioto Peninsula

 

 

A new Crew Stadium there would certainly be interesting and would be an entirely new dynamic to Franklinton, but it's also very unlikely, imo.  First, you'd have to get the people on board with it because you would need some type of tax to fund construction.  With what happened with Nationwide Arena, I doubt many would be willing to support it.  Not unless you could get massive private support, anyway.  I do agree overall, though, that the current Crew Stadium, while not all that old, is functionally obsolete and in a pretty crappy location.

 

A pedestrian bridge from Scioto Peninsula and North Bank Park is already on the list of future projects, and I think it'd be something that'd be tackled after the actual river project is complete in 2016.

 

 

 

Hmmm, I don't know about tearing down Vets without replacing it with another smaller convention center/theater. Vets is a good place for small conventions and concerts that don't get rowdy and is still popular with those groups. It's age and paid-off status is useful for those on a budget. But it looks like there's room for another stadium anyway on the City of Columbus parcel.

Vets is an unfortunate eyesore; it is too bad that Franklin County recently dumped a couple more million into it.

You can't expect much from '50s architecture, that's for sure.

Hmmm, I don't know about tearing down Vets without replacing it with another smaller convention center/theater. Vets is a good place for small conventions and concerts that don't get rowdy and is still popular with those groups. It's age and paid-off status is useful for those on a budget. But it looks like there's room for another stadium anyway on the City of Columbus parcel.

Good points.  If a new Crew Stadium were to go on the Vets site, this might be a chance to also replace Vets with a newer facility.  The biggest event at the State Fairgrounds (aka Ohio Expo Center) is the month-long All American Quarter Horse Congress.  The Quarter Horse Congress has maxed out the existing Fairgrounds facilities.  They've talked about building extra space for vendors and a 5,000 seat arena (similar to the Fairgrounds Coliseum).  Maybe the County and State could work out some deal for a "New Vets" on the State Fairgrounds?

 

And you are right about there being room for a new Crew Stadium on the City of Columbus parcels.  But the most desireable location for a new Crew Stadium would be on the existing Vets site.  It would maximize development of the remaining Scioto Peninsula land with no disruption of the existing street grid and infrastructure.  Plus the views from the Vets site are much better than being behind the big concrete wall of COSI.  Not saying a new Crew Stadium at the Vets site would happen or is most likely to happen.  Just saying it might be the most ideal location on the Scioto Peninsula for it.

 

Besides, the Franklin County Commissioners are always complaining about Vets not turning a profit and having to spend money on it.  This might be their chance to do something about that.

That would be a great place for a Crew stadium and I bet we could find some space for a couple practice fields as well.

The Rich Street Bridge is now open for business.  The bridge's first use will be as part of the Columbus Arts Festival - which is returning to the downtown riverfront for the first time since the Scioto Mile began construction in 2008. 

 

Here are some photos of the (almost) completed Rich Street Bridge from the Columbus Underground April 29, 2012 Construction Update:

 

 

 

And below are some photos of the Rich Street Bridge from yesterday.  Vendor tents for the Columbus Arts Festival are being set up on the bridge.  Photos from the Columbus Underground thread: Columbus Arts Festival 2012

 

 

Some more photos of the Scioto Mile being used at last weekend's Columbus Arts Festival.  Particularly the new Rich Street Bridge, the renovated Bicentennial Park and the new fountains installed in the park.  From the Columbus Underground thread: Photos: Columbus Arts Festival 2012

 

 

 

 

 

Many more photos at http://www.columbusunderground.com/photos-columbus-arts-festival-2012

Thanks for the pics!

 

The park looks great.

And one more Scioto Mile item about the new fountains at Bicentennial Park.  The Dispatch recently had a "behind-the-scenes" look at the plumbing, piping and City Parks and Recreation management of those fantastic fountains.  Below is the link to it:

 

Dispatch: Behind the magic of the Bicentennial Park fountain

 

Excellent!!!

And one more Scioto Mile item about the new fountains at Bicentennial Park.  The Dispatch recently had a "behind-the-scenes" look at the plumbing, piping and City Parks and Recreation management of those fantastic fountains.  Below is the link to it:

 

Dispatch: Behind the magic of the Bicentennial Park fountain

 

 

Whoa, what city IS THAT?!!!

This was the first time in a long time I had so much fun in downtown Columbus for the Arts Festival. My in-laws were in town from STL and they were in shock at how much downtown C.O. has changed in the last 5 years. Keep it up Columbus, we are making great progress!