300′ geothermal wells being drilled at new Cincinnati Riverfront Park

 

Several components of the first phase of the 45-acre Cincinnati Riverfront Park are nearing completion, or are reaching significant milestones.  The foundation for the Moerlein Lager House and Jacob G. Schmidlapp Stage & Event Lawn  are complete, the foundations to the Roebling Suspension Bridge are being reset to accommodate a realigned Mehring Way, and the first section of the Hamilton County-controlled parking garage is now open.

 

Also underway is the drilling of 300-foot geothermal wells that will provide the air conditioning for the Bike, Mobility & Visitors’ Center.  The geothermal wells will provide a natural cooling mechanism that leverages the 56-degree temperatures found in the ground year-round.

 

See more at:http://www.urbancincy.com/2010/08/300-geothermal-wells-being-drilled-at-new-cincinnati-riverfront-park/

Google just updated their aerial photographs, and they're very recent, like within the last month or so.  It shows the repaved Spring Grove Avenue near the cemetery, and also it shows the construction of the relocated Mehring Way along the riverfront.  http://maps.google.com/maps?t=k&gl=us&om=0&ie=UTF8&ll=39.095363,-84.510773&spn=0.006103,0.009763&z=17

Also underway is the drilling of 300-foot geothermal wells that will provide the air conditioning for the Bike, Mobility & Visitors Center. The geothermal wells will provide a natural cooling mechanism that leverages the 56-degree temperatures found in the ground year-round.

 

Those geothermal wells aren't 300 feet straight down are they?  I'm under the impression that its just 300 feet wrapped around under the ground.

Google just updated their aerial photographs, and they're very recent, like within the last month or so. It shows the repaved Spring Grove Avenue near the cemetery, and also it shows the construction of the relocated Mehring Way along the riverfront. http://maps.google.com/maps?t=k&gl=us&om=0&ie=UTF8&ll=39.095363,-84.510773&spn=0.006103,0.009763&z=17

Interesting. Hopefully, they'll update streetview sometime soon.

Also underway is the drilling of 300-foot geothermal wells that will provide the air conditioning for the Bike, Mobility & Visitors’ Center.  The geothermal wells will provide a natural cooling mechanism that leverages the 56-degree temperatures found in the ground year-round.

 

Those geothermal wells aren't 300 feet straight down are they?  I'm under the impression that its just 300 feet wrapped around under the ground.

 

They can be either.  150' and 300' are the two main standards around here.  If you make the wells twice as deep you only need half as many.  That's a concern if you have limited space, since wells need to be at least 15 feet apart.  However, it costs more to drill deeper wells, so it's a trade off. 

 

Google just updated their aerial photographs, and they're very recent, like within the last month or so.  It shows the repaved Spring Grove Avenue near the cemetery, and also it shows the construction of the relocated Mehring Way along the riverfront.  http://maps.google.com/maps?t=k&gl=us&om=0&ie=UTF8&ll=39.095363,-84.510773&spn=0.006103,0.009763&z=17

Interesting. Hopefully, they'll update streetview sometime soon.

 

That seems to be done much more piecemeal.  Their newer street view images are much higher resolution though, and many streets around here were shot more recently than their initial pass a number of years ago. 

From today, pic of area in question:

 

I finally parked in the new Riverfront parking section under the banks.  It really is massive and it was already packed with cars-

 

While I entered from Nuxhall way and drove in under the new Banks structure, I exited out the back towards Mehring way-

The intersection of Elm/New Mehring/Old Mehring way is completely under construction (much more so than just a couple weeks ago)- Down to one lane with all kinds of cones, delineator poles and construction crews as they merge the intersections to prepare for the November opening of New Mehring Way.

 

Pretty exciting! 

The new construction update video is up:

 

GOT PROGRESS? AT CINCINNATI RIVERFRONT PARK, WE DO!!

Awesome! I can't wait for verdant fields to replace the asphalt of old Mehring Way! I can't wait until 2013, when Central Riverfront Park, the Banks, and the streetcar have all been completed!

^add in washington park and possibly the Square @ the Loop

Square @ the loop???

Also notice the freedom center lawn doesn't have any buildings in this rendering.

Square @ the loop???

 

Lol, it's actually U Square @ the Loop, and that's the terrible name they've given to the new development at between McMillan and Calhoun at the top of Vine St.

The new construction update video is up:

 

GOT PROGRESS? AT CINCINNATI RIVERFRONT PARK, WE DO!!

 

The steps/fountains can be seen at 6:45 in that video.

Wow, that is a terrible name.  Don't these companies have marketing departments?

Wow, that is a terrible name. Don't these companies have marketing departments?

 

Yeah but they aren't young people.  They're still stuck on hokey names.

Submarine 'sail' may come to Cincy

By Sharon Coolidge • [email protected] • November 10, 2010

 

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20101110/NEWS01/11110313/

Really wish we could have landed the entire sub and built an area for it in the Riverfront Park...

 

From 2003: http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2003/06/23/daily37.html

There is a nice write-up on CRP in the November issue of Planning Magazine.  It mainly focuses on the park, but they do a good job referencing the other pieces that make it work (i.e. The Banks and FWW).

Winter 2010 Video update now available!

 

http://www.youtube.com/user/CincinnatiParks

Best part starts at 9:00 imo

Im hoping that the bike trail will be upgraded at some point, and that the black top is temporary until the other phases come to life.

Im hoping that the bike trail will be upgraded at some point, and that the black top is temporary until the other phases come to life.

 

Upgraded to what though?  Asphalt really is the best material for a bike path. 

^ I'm sure they will put some landscaping around it, possibly paint lanes, etc.

Permeable pavement with some color (red, green, blue, whatever) would be nice.

Im hoping that the bike trail will be upgraded at some point, and that the black top is temporary until the other phases come to life.

 

Upgraded to what though?  Asphalt really is the best material for a bike path. 

 

It just seems a little haphazard, and not well integrated, that's all.  They placed it 1' away from the road, leaving a gap where they will try forever to get grass to grow, and will fail.  I suppose i don't really have a issue with it being asphalt (though i cant imagine its a material that will be used anywhere else in the park), its execution just seems lackadaisical in what presume will be a well detailed park.  I would hope for nicely integrated curbing or something to better define its edge, and placed far enough away from the road that you could actually get something to grow there.

 

To me these are no brainers, and should be pretty obvious to someone trying to create a world class park.  That's why my presumption is its not the final solution.   

They placed it 1' away from the road, leaving a gap where they will try forever to get grass to grow, and will fail.

 

It's actually a strip of grass between the path and the concrete sidewalk.  I thought it was next to the road too, but it isn't. 

It does look a bit silly now, since it goes:  Road, sidewalk, 1 ft of dirt/hay, ~6 feet of asphalt, dirt/construction... Eventually I'm sure it will look better.  I'm an irregular biker, but I've done my fair share of long rides, and asphalt is better than cement. I'm sure they'll paint bike symbols etc.

 

It's actually a strip of grass between the path and the concrete sidewalk.  I thought it was next to the road too, but it isn't. 

 

I wasnt sure if it was next to the road, or if there was a sidewalk.  I didnt have a chance to look at the video again.  But ill make the same argument being so close to the sidewalk.  Seems a little redundant to have two different pathways so close to one another anyway.  I understand the need to have a dedicated route for bikes, but couldnt it have simply been a wider concrete sidewalk, separating the two uses by a row of trees, or an inlaid granite line, or something.  I also dont see any provisions for street trees.... maybe thats an idication that none of the paving south of mehring is permanent.

 

This image makes a little more sense...

 

http://www.mycincinnatiriverfrontpark.com/images/tour5-large.jpg

 

... but thats not what i see, at least not in the video.  Well see i guess.  Just seems goofy.

Didn't he say something in the video about trees going in that strip?  (Can't check now, no headphones)

 

Also, making a wide sidewalk with different materials was tried on the Cultural Trail in Indianapolis.  While that trail is wildly successful according to many, it's nearly impossible to ride full speed on it because pedestrians won't read signs when they're wandering along a path.  They walk all over the place.

I also dont see any provisions for street trees.... maybe thats an idication that none of the paving south of mehring is permanent.

 

You won't be able to see from video/pictures, but if you walk either side of Mehring Way you'll see (what I believe is called) hardboard creating squares in the concrete. These can be jackhammered out and replaced with tress, all the while not damaging the rest of the sidewalk.

People, you're going to give yourselves a heart attack with all this worrying.  Calm down.  They just started the thing.  Let them build:)

^ I know im not going to have a heart attack, you must be talking about everybody but me!  If this isnt the place... or time to discuss potential shortfalls in whats supposed to be our city's front yard, i dont know where is. 

Ya- the more I think about it, the less likely that's very permanent. We'll see.

One of the few Letters to the Enquirer's Editor that is worth reading.

 

Riverfront Park expected to pay its own way

Marian J. Lindberg

President

Cincinnati Park Board

There's a lot of "could" language in that editorial

COAST commented on the letter, supporting spending on the park.

Pardon my not knowing, but what exactly is COAST? All I've ever heard about them is negativity.  Ha I don't think I've ever heard one good thing about that organization.

Pardon my not knowing, but what exactly is COAST? All I've ever heard about them is negativity.  Ha I don't think I've ever heard one good thing about that organization.

 

google is a magic tool.  use it!  :-)

Pardon my not knowing, but what exactly is COAST? All I've ever heard about them is negativity. Ha I don't think I've ever heard one good thing about that organization.

 

http://www.gocoast.org/

^Oh wow you guys weren't kidding^ 

^ wow-  Ya they are pretty crazy. I'm not always a fan of Jeff Berding, but I sent him a thank you email because you know he's taking a lot of heat. 

Some shots from lunch today. Looks like they will be completing Mehring Way in the next week.

A lot of stone was delivered today for the event lawn and the Walnut Street facilities are moving right along.

^ This shot reminded me something-- I'm amazed that the pedestrian sidewalk on both sides has no tree lining.  Especially the side that is against the cement parking lot.  I'm sure there's more to it that will make it look better, but the original images of New Mehring way were tree lined, now not so much.

^

 

I also dont see any provisions for street trees.... maybe thats an idication that none of the paving south of mehring is permanent.

 

You won't be able to see from video/pictures, but if you walk either side of Mehring Way you'll see (what I believe is called) hardboard creating squares in the concrete. These can be jackhammered out and replaced with tress, all the while not damaging the rest of the sidewalk.

Something they did along the reconstructed area of Eastern Avenue [Riverside Drive] is to pour concrete in the tree planter areas but isolated with an expansion joint around all four sides.  They can come back later and pull that slab out when it's time to do the planting.  It seems kind of odd I know, but maybe there's some sort of liability reason that doesn't let them just fill the space with gravel or a metal plate or whatever in the meantime, but I bet if you look at the sidewalks along Mehring way that you'll be able to see where the trees will go. 

Bah, Cygnus beat me to it. 

Thanks guys-- I guess I missed that week in class... haha

Latest progress.