Park is set to transform downtown riverfront

(Columbus) Project leaders Michael Morris of American Electric Power (AEP) and Mayor Michael B. Coleman today joined partners from the business community, Federal Government, State of Ohio and Franklin County to celebrate the groundbreaking for the $38 million Scioto Mile Park. The Scioto Mile will transform Columbus’ downtown riverfront, creating places for festivals, families and recreation with water features, fountains, a café and variety of attractions for downtown residents, employees and visitors.

“Great cities are built around great parks, and it is time that we built the downtown park system that Columbus’ residents deserve at the Scioto Mile,” said Mayor Michael B. Coleman. “This new park system is historic in nature, with unprecedented partnership and funding from local businesses like AEP and our partners at the Federal, State and County level.”

In February 2007, AEP and the City of Columbus announced an historic partnership to fund the Scioto Mile, each committing $10 million as part of a 50-50 public/private sector fundraising effort to raise $38 million to build the park.

“Proven success in developing new public spaces has come from a strong partnership between the public and private sectors. That’s the approach we have taken with this project,” said Michael G. Morris, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer. “Together, we have raised more than $38 million to build the project and endow a fund at The Columbus Foundation to support the ongoing operations, maintenance and programming of the Park.”

The Scioto Mile is another key cornerstone in the community’s plan to revitalize downtown, and is designed to attract and complement on-going residential development, boost property values and stimulate commercial growth.

“Every great American city has a place in the heart of their downtown where people can gather and enjoy the energy and vitality the community has to offer, said Council President Michael C. Mentel. “The Scioto Mile park will be the signature setting for all things Columbus for generations to come.”

When complete, the Scioto Mile will revitalize the riverfront with an interactive Promenade and a transformation of Bicentennial Park. Key elements will be included that will attract people from all over the region. The Columbus Downtown Development Corporation has been charged by AEP and the City to manage this project through completion.

“The design of the Scioto Mile is unique in nature, with a Promenade that integrates water with a canal and fountain, and benches for seating and playing games,” said Guy V. Worley, President and CEO of the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation. “In addition to a café and permanent band shell, Bicentennial Park will also include a fountain unlike any other we’ve seen, serving as a signature element for the Scioto Mile.”

The Scioto Mile is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2011, in time for the City of Columbus’ Bicentennial in 2012.

The City of Columbus is helping lead the implementation of the Downtown Business Plan with CDDC and local businesses. 2008 marks the sixth year of the 10-year plan to bring new investment, energy and activity to downtown Columbus. There is a new market for downtown housing – with more than 5,000 housing units opened or under development, including the recently announced Lifestyle Communities apartments and condos that will be moderately priced and attract younger local workers. North Bank Park is already open and the Audubon Center Park on the Whittier Peninsula is going to begin construction later this Spring. The City is also moving forward with the construction of two new parking garages, and private partners are looking at developing acres of surface parking lots into new housing and retail throughout the district. Since 2002, the Mayor also has worked with 35 companies to keep or bring 3,000 jobs downtown. The total new investment in downtown since 2000 is estimated at $2.19 billion, with $711 million in public funding helping leverage $1.48 billion in private investment. This includes projects proposed, under construction, or built since 2000.

American Electric Power is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, delivering electricity to more than 5 million customers in 11 states. AEP ranks among the nation’s largest generators of electricity, owning nearly 38,000 megawatts of generating capacity in the U.S. AEP also owns the nation’s largest electricity transmission system, a nearly 39,000-mile network that includes more 765 kilovolt extra-high voltage transmission lines than all other U.S. transmission systems combined. AEP’s utility units operate as AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana and east Texas). AEP’s headquarters are in Columbus, Ohio.

Columbus Downtown Development Corporation is a private, non-profit development corporation designed to lead City-changing projects, including The Scioto Mile. The Board of Directors consists of senior business and institutional leaders who have a strong commitment to downtown revitalization.

The Scioto Mile Project Summary:

The park consists of two elements: the creation of the Promenade and the transformation of Bicentennial Park.

Promenade:

• The Promenade will stretch along Civic Center Drive from Broad Street to Rich Street, connecting Battelle and Bicentennial Parks. Civic Center Drive will be narrowed from four lanes to two and converted to two-way traffic flow to make the Promenade more pedestrian friendly.
• The historic balustrade will be restored to its original condition, and a four-foot-wide linear water canal with a series of water jets to animate the water surface will be constructed with a continuous stone bench on which visitors can rest and dip their feet in the cool, moving water. There is also a stone colonnade loggia with swinging benches, traditional park benches and card and chess tables. In the middle of the Promenade, there will be a beautiful plaza area with seating and an interactive water feature. The entire area will be a free Wi-Fi zone, so for work or play, the Scioto Mile will offer something for everyone.
• Bicentennial Park will be transformed with several new features. The signature piece is a stunning 15,000 sq. ft. water feature with water halos and several different fountains, with varying water heights. A permanent band shell will be added as an outdoor venue for concerts, performances and events. A glass-enclosed casual-dining café restaurant with outdoor terrace dining overlooking the Park will serve as an architectural icon along the Riverfront.

Construction Schedule:

The official construction of the Scioto Mile will begin in early May 2008, with the renovation of Civic Center Drive, turning it from a four-lane, one-way street into a two-lane, two-way street from Broad Street to Rich Street. The plan is to keep one lane of Civic Center Drive open at all times during the construction period. Construction on Civic Center Drive is scheduled to be complete in the summer of 2009.

Phase 2 consists of the creation of the Promenade along Civic Center Drive and the transformation of Bicentennial Park. Work will begin in the summer of 2009, and the Scioto Mile will be complete in the fall of 2011, in time for the City of Columbus’ Bicentennial celebration in 2012.

The Scioto Mile Funders:

This is a historic, 50-50 funding partnership between the public and private sector communities.

Leadership Gifts ($5-10 million)
American Electric Power Foundation
City of Columbus
Franklin County Board of Commissioners

Benefactor Gifts ($2-5 million)
Huntington Bancshares
Nationwide Insurance
Robert F. Wolfe and Edgar T. Wolfe Foundation
U.S. Department of Transportation

Sponsor Gifts ($500,000-$1 million)
Columbia Gas
The Columbus Foundation
Limited Brands
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company
State of Ohio

Patron Gifts ($100,000-$500,000)
Anonymous Donors
Crane Family Foundation
Grange Insurance Companies
Ingram-White Castle Foundation
JP Morgan Chase
U.S. Department of Interior

Friends of the Scioto Mile ($10,000-$100,000)
Bowen Engineering Corporation
Cardinal
Industrial Contractors
Sun Technical Services

For more information, please visit: www.sciotomile.com

Civic Center Drive is going to be a happening place this summer — if you prefer heavy machinery and construction over festivals.

Work is under way to transform the east riverfront strip from Bicentennial Park to W. Broad Street into the Scioto Mile, which includes a promenade with benches and swings, bicycle and pedestrian paths, planters and fountains along Civic Center.

To accommodate the work, Civic Center is down to one lane southbound. Besides inconveniencing drivers, some of the festivals and events traditionally held there are moving elsewhere temporarily, some for at least two years.

The Columbus Arts Festival, scheduled for June 6-8, announced earlier that it was moving to the Discovery District, which encompasses the Columbus Museum of Art, Columbus College of Art & Design and Columbus State Community College. Arts festival organizers eventually want to return to the riverfront, said Emily Swartzlander, spokeswoman for the Greater Columbus Arts Council.

“It depends really on what the site looks like on Civic Center Drive once they get it finished and whether we can still fit,” she said. “But for now, we are planning on it being a temporary move.”

Festival Latino, June 20-21, will move across the river to the west bank, along Washington Boulevard and at Genoa Park, said Terri Leist, Columbus Recreation and Parks Department spokeswoman.

“Pride Festival, they are going to relocate some of their vendors and adjust their parade route, but for the most part they are staying close to the same area,” Leist said. The festival and parade is set for June 28.

The launch site for Red White & Boom fireworks July 3 is moving to Veterans Memorial from near COSI Columbus. That will move the prime viewing area for crowds on the east bank farther north of the construction area.

The Jazz & Rib Fest, July 25-27, will remain in Bicentennial Park this year. After that festival ends, construction on the Scioto Mile portion at Bicentennial Park will begin, said Amy Taylor, chief operating officer of the Columbus Downtown Development Corp. The park will receive a face-lift, including a cafe, permanent band shell and a signature fountain.

“Next year, all the events that are traditionally housed on the east side of the riverfront will be moved, with the exception of Red White & Boom,” Taylor said of 2009. “There still will be access for people to go, just not in the construction zone.”

Traffic has been reduced to one lane on Civic Center between Broad and Town streets while American Electric Power moves underground utilities and those from the Town Street bridge in preparation for the Scioto Mile. The Town Street bridge will be demolished next year to make way for a new span. Work also is continuing on the new Main Street Bridge, which is scheduled to open the end of next year or 2010.

In May, work will begin to convert one-way Civic Center, which has been four lanes southbound, to one lane in each direction between Broad and Rich streets. Civic Center will remain open during construction, and work on the two-way version should be finished by summer 2009.

After the dust settles on the Scioto Mile construction in late 2011, the goal is to return the events to the east bank.

“We are building in electric, water, free Wi-Fi, all things that we hope will help the events,” Taylor said.