Recreation and Parks commit to the MORPC Waterways Plan, developing trails within river corridors and acquiring scenic easements whenever possible.

The Columbus Recreation and Parks Department is getting ready to begin construction on the Olentangy Trail's Broadmeadows Bridge, just south of Antrim Park, on March 19.  Construction of the connector bridge is expected to be complete by early October.

During this timeframe, the trail will be closed around the construction site from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday thru Friday. Detour signs will be posted on the trail near Henderson Rd, and in Antrim Park. However, on weekends a short gravel path will allow full use of the trail.

For more information, contact the department's Greenway Planner, Bradley Westall, at 645-2441.

1969 - Lower Scioto Bikeway at Berliner Park - 8'-0" wide asphalt recreational path from Greenlawn Ave. South along the west bank of the Scioto River terminating at Frank Road.  1.7 miles.

Early to mid 1970's - Upper Olentangy Bikeway - 8'-0" asphalt path built from Whetstone Park south to Northmoor Park; Clinton-Como Park south of Broadway.  Both paths parallel river on east bank.  3.2 miles. (Land & Water Conservation Funds)

Mid 1970's - Lower Scioto Bikeway - 8'0" path from Bicentennial Park at Main Street south to the boat launch on Whittier Street (Lower Scioto Park).  Located on the east side of the river and bridges over the concrete revetment just south of the Main Street bridge.  (Land & Water Conservation Funds).  The sidewalk on Front Street was signed (code revision) from Whittier Street at the park entrance to Greenlawn Avenue just west of the bridge.  2 miles.

Late 1970's - Upper Olentangy Bikeway at Antrim Park - Antrim Park and the 8'-0" loop path (1.2 miles) was developed simultaneously.  S.R. 315 included a parallel bikeway on the east side of the expressway (west side of the river) connecting the Antrim path to Henderson Road on the south and S.R. 161 to the north.
Henderson to Bethel Road        1.4 miles
Bethel Rd. To S.R. 161            2.2 miles

City of Worthington built an extension of the path from S.R. 161 to Wilson Bridge Road. 1.5 miles

The Ohio State University designated bike routes on campus grounds and installed the Olentangy bikeway from Woodward to King Avenue (Woodward to Lane added in the 1980's)

1980 Westbank Walkway (downtown) - .5 mile path from Dodge Park north to the riverfront Amphitheater (Town St.)  (Land & Water Conservation Funds)

1981 Signage: OSU to Civic Center (downtown) Street Route - American Youth Hostels donated to the City of Columbus materials and labor: installed 31 signs along predetermined route by AYH and City of Columbus Traffic Engineering.

1980's Planning - Consultant selected/hired and prepares contract drawings for:

• Scioto Bikeway segment from Battelle Park (100% federal construction funds)
• Alum Creek Bikeway Study: Feasible Alternatives & Preferred Alignment (completed) Ongoing process to obtain  easements along Alum Creek.
• Worthington Hills extension : Wilson Bridge Road to Worthington Hills Park
  Consultant selected to prepare detailed design drawings with the award of 100% construction federal funds  with supervision of ODOT; 8' path, 1 mile length, one bridge to cross Olentangy.  (Still current)
• Riverwatch at OSU: through a zoning variance, developer provides easement and agrees to construct bikeway connecting Tuttle Park to Lane Avenue.  (Riverwatch Contractor did not build path as required...easement with Riverwatch renegotiated at later date)
• Antrim Park: 8' path widened to 12', loop around east side of Antrim lake closed to cyclists to alleviate congestion and conflicts (increasing number of walkers/joggers).

Federal cutbacks eliminate Land and Water Conservation Funds, Transportation funding available for bikeways through the Ohio Department of Transportation.  The agency applying for construction funds responsible for all design fees and drawings, with all engineering drawings and procedures subject to ODOT requirements and reviews.

1987 OSU easement along  west bank of Olentangy River - north of Dodridge. (Future Tuttle Park to Clinton-Como connection. CRPD working with OSU, Union Cemetery and Olentangy Village to explore all alignment options.

1990-1995 Tuttle Park to Clinton-Como Park - Olentangy Village Corporation agrees to give bikeway easement on the east side of the Olentangy River which permits Recreation and Parks to hire a consultant to begin engineering drawings (CRPD applies and receives 100% Transportation funds) Path to cross river twice, 1.1 miles.  Filed with ODOT for bid 1995.

1990 I-670 Bikeway: Engineering and Construction - 8' wide path built with expressway from SR. 62 to Fort Hayes. (note: Spring-Sandusky interchange under design: with downtown to 3rd Ave. bikeway connection and connection to Grandview)

1991 Scioto Bikeway at Alexander (Battelle) Park - 8'-0" path constructed along east bank of Scioto downtown to Spring/Long Streets to connect future Spring Sandusky Interchange (100% federal construction funds) .5 mile

1991-1995

• Olentangy River: King Avenue to Third Avenue: surveyed, applied and received  ISTEA grant (*100% funding eliminated, replaced with highly competitive federal enhancement funding at 80-20 match), consultant hired for engineering drawings, environmental assessment and ODOT reviews.
• Wolfe Park to I-670 (Alum Creek) connection: surveyed, easement obtained from St. Charles, consultant hired and prepared engineering drawings for Broad to Clifton. Wolfe Park path built in 1991.
• Frank Road south to SR. 104 (Lower Scioto) surveyed
• Purchased property north and south of Watts Road along Alum Creek for parkland and Alum Creek Trail (SR 104 to Williams Road

1996-1997 

• Olentangy River: King Avenue to Third Avenue: Battelle agrees to easement, removed buildings.  Consequently, CRPD cancels ISTEA funding and will pursue building of path in house.
• Third Avenue Bridge/Olentangy River (Franklin County)
  CRPD requests separate path across new bridge, pays for additional path under bridge on west side of Olentangy River.
• Working with Franklin County & ODOT on future bridges (King and Lane Avenues and  East Broad Street at Alum Creek) to provide shelf on east bank for bridge underpasses.
• Greenways: MORPC
  River corridor study throughout county on public greenspace, possible trails.  Preliminary cost estimate generated for trail system on Alum Creek, Scioto River, Big Walnut and Blacklick Creeks, Dry Run Feeder, Big Run.
• Trail Connector planning for Hilltop area to connect Glenwood Park to Holton Park using UIRF dollars for.5 mile of trail.
• Scioto River Floodwall Recreational Trail: westbank, 10' wide trail incorporated into Army Corps of Engineers and City of Columbus project from Souder Avenue to Broad Street bridge downtown.  This will connect to existing Westbank walkway (to Dodge Park).
• Alum Creek south of I-270: Working with developer to start a connector from Cooper Park north to Westerville.  Consultant hired and plans inserted into ODOT drawings of I-270 widening to provide shelf under I-270 on east bank of Alum Creek.
• Purchased property east bank of Alum Creek, north of Williams Road (Ace of Diamonds property), pursuing easement for west bank for Madison Mills Park/3 Rivers Park connection.
• Consultant hired to prepare engineering drawings for bid to design:

Underpass at 5th Avenue, east bank of Olentangy River
Bridge over Alum Creek south of I-270
Bridge in Whetstone Park over Adena Brook to avoid bypass for existing Olentangy trail.

• Alum Creek: Nelson Park 10' path built, working to obtain easements to continue path north to I-670 (drawings to be done in house)  Purchased properties north of Nelson Park on Alum Creek and razed house and garages for trail alignment.
• ODOT begins construction of Tuttle-Clinton Como Parks connection on Olentangy River.  $987,599
• Existing Olentangy and Scioto trail system inventory, pictorial album and recommendations started. Replacement of 8' path to 10'-12' to be prioritized.
• Pursuing acquisition of property on Nelson Road through purchase to obtain route of Alum Creek trail to I-670 (in City Attorney's Real Estate Division) Attempts to obtain easement unsuccessful.
• Spring Sandusky Interchange: phased trail construction (ODOT/Cols. Engineering & Construction) 3rd Avenue south to downtown. Completion date: 2002

1998-1999

• Tuttle Park to Clinton Como Park Trail : July 31 completion, dedicated September 2, 1998
• White Property along Nelson Road south of I-670 purchased for trail access.
• Alum Creek "The Creeks" Trail, 12' asphalt path constructed Williams Road to S.R. 104 by Columbus and Franklin County Metroparks in joint park venture.
• Floodwall project: Souder Avenue to RR tracks north of Veteran's Memorial completed Fall 1998.  Work on trail from RR tracks south along Veterans Memorial to Dodge Park started Feb. 1999.  (Trail between Broad St. and Town Street in contract for new amphitheater to start and be completed Spring to Fall 1999.
• Spring Sandusky Interchange: phased trail construction (ODOT/Cols. Engineering & Construction) ongoing.
• Lower Scioto Trail Renovation: remove 8' asphalt path and replace with 10' asphalt path, new fencing and signs. 
• Construction documents prepared, Corps permit received, bid 3rd Avenue to King Avenue with 5th Ave. Underpass.  Spring 1999 for fall construction. (County underpass with King Ave. Bridge replacement)
• Construction documents prepared, Alum Creek bridge south of I-270 and Westerville.  T-21 application for federal funding, May 1999.
• Alum Creek Underpass at Broad Street under construction, piggy-backing on ODOT project (City funded), bid Alum Creek Trail Broad to Nelson Road, summer 1999.

 2000-2002

• Land acquisition and easements along greenways, concentrating on Alum Creek in the Columbus municipal limits.
• The Creeks: construction of Blacklick Trail from Three Creeks east of Hamilton Road.
• Lane Avenue Bridge construction drawings with planned Olentangy Trail underpass.  Connect trail to Tuttle Park.
• Spring-Sandusky trail along the Olentangy: Third Avenue to Downtown completion.
• King Avenue Bridge/underpass completion.
• Renovation of Olentangy Trail (repave, sign and widen) Tuttle Park, Clinton-Como Parks, Whetstone Park to Antrim Park.  Screenings loop (pedestrian separation) at Antrim Lake.
• Blacklick Trail Creeks Park east of Hamilton Road built by Metroparks.
• Alum Creek Trail from Main St. to Livingston Avenue.  Construction completed. Dedicated 10/24/02.
• Grant funding (TEA-21 for Alum Creek 270 to 161, Creeks to SR 104, Olentangy Wilson Bridge to Worthington Hills
• Consultant hired to determine alignment of Upper Scioto Trail at Spring Sandusky terminus.
• Lower Scioto Trail in conjunction with Floodwall project on west bank in downtown area constructed from Souder Avenue to Dodge Park.
   

FUTURE PLANS 2002-2005

• Bid and construct bridges and trail across and along Alum Creek I-270 to Easton.Lane Avenue underpass and trail connection to Tuttle Park.
• Construct Worthington Hills trail extension north of Worthington.
• Design development for Lower Scioto Trail connection to SR 104.
• Design, bid and construct Big Walnut trail The Creeks to Elk Run Park.
• Design, bid and construct the Upper Scioto Trail (Grandview to Fishinger Road), which will become a route for the Ohio to Erie Trail.
• Design development Blacklick Trail Hamilton to Pickerington Ponds.
• Spring Sandusky trail along Upper Scioto to Grandview Avenue construction.
• Alum Creek Trail  Livingston south to The Creeks.