Frequently Asked Questions
FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS: WHEN/WHAT/HOW?
THE WHEN QUESTION
What is the project timeline?
The Scioto Mile is a three-year project: construction began in June 2008 and its completion date is set for June 2011 — just in time for the outdoor season.
Phase I of construction saw the conversion of Civic Center Drive to a two-way street, with an additional parking lane. The reclaimed roadway will be used to create the Promenade. This thoroughfare opened in the summer of 2009 and will also feature on-street parking, new sidewalks, planters and trees when the park officially debuts.
Phase II of construction began in May 2009 and will be complete in June 2011. Phase II includes the construction of the Promenade and the transformation of Bicentennial Park.
THE WHAT QUESTION
What are the major elements of the Scioto Mile?
The two major elements of the Scioto Mile are the Promenade and the renovated Bicentennial Park.
The Promenade on the Scioto Mile is a grand boardwalk and green corridor that stretches along Civic Center Drive from Broad Street to Rich Street. It connects Battelle Riverfront Park with the John W. Galbreath Bicentennial Park. The Promenade includes a series of water features in which visitors can interact with bronze fountain sculptures or rest and dip their feet in the cool, moving water of a canal.
The Promenade will also feature a stone colonnade with benches, swings, gardens, and card and chess tables.
The John W. Galbreath Bicentennial Park, a 4.7-acre area, will feature a stunning 15,000-square-foot water fountain, casual dining cafe and eye-catching bandshell.
THE HOW QUESTION
How will the Scioto Mile be funded?
The over $40 million investment in the Scioto Mile project is an unprecedented, 50/50 partnership between the public and private sectors. Only through the cooperative support and funding of many corporate and community sponsors is this amazing project possible. View our list of sponsors here.
DETAILS . . .
What is the plan for programming the park?
The Columbus Department of Parks and Recreation will take on the programming responsibilities once the park is complete.
Of course, the park’s features provide a built-in attraction round-the-clock. Local residents, workers and visitors of central Ohio will use the space for recreation, exercise and connecting with nature.
Who is paying for upkeep of this park?
The Scioto Mile will stay beautiful with the help of The Scioto Mile Endowment Fund with The Columbus Foundation. The fund will support maintenance, programming and operating costs for the Scioto Mile.
Will there be public restrooms on site?
Yes. Bicentennial Park will have large restrooms and changing facilities next to the café to make the Scioto Mile as visitor-friendly as possible.
Will there be access to the Scioto River?
Yes. As part of the project, the 80-year-old concrete wall that currently divides the Scioto Mile from the Scioto River will be torn down between Town and Main Street. In its place, an earthen slope will extend from Civic Center Drive down to the water 25 feet below. The sloping riverfront will add almost two acres to Bicentennial Park and extend 70 feet into the river’s current course.
How is the Scioto Mile greening downtown?
In addition to adding two acres of green space to downtown, the new riverfront between Town and Main Street will function as a natural stream bank, with native plants and bio-retention areas.
In turn, the plants and bio-retention areas will contribute to the health of the Scioto River by doing what plants do: filtering toxins and naturally releasing water into the river.
Solar panels on the roof of the Bicentennial Park Café are another green addition to the project. They help power the fountains and restaurant. Finally, Town Street, a green gateway to the Scioto Mile, has also been transformed with urban bio-retention areas to filter water before it reaches the Scioto River.
What are the features of the Bicentennial Park Fountain?
The Fountain is a truly remarkable piece of art. There’s nothing like it in the world.
It draws from a collection of hundreds of jets of water that can be computer programmed to make different geometric shapes. It will have interactive areas with access for children, as well as a central pool with a towering jet of water.
A stone-paved plaza and arcing seat-wall will be built adjacent to the fountain to provide an ideal place to enjoy the scenery during all seasons.
At night, the fountain will have a unique lighting design as well as fog effects that will form a backdrop for artistic light projections.
What is the design of the café?
The Bicentennial Park café restaurant was a design challenge because it faces both Bicentennial Park and Civic Center Drive – every inch is in the spotlight.
To address this challenge, the design incorporates glass elements. Park users will be able to see into the building, while café patrons will be able to gaze out at the fountains and bandshell. The design also features concrete roofs with solar panels to help power the fountain and café.
What is the Town Street Prow and Plaza?
Technically part of the former Town Street Bridge, the Town Street Prow is very much like the prow on a ship. It’s an overlook that creates a focal point along the Promenade.
The 90-year-old Town Street Bridge over the Scioto River closed in July 2008. In order to preserve this historic landmark in Columbus, the Scioto Mile will include the Town Street Prow at the site of the former eastern entrance to the Town Street Bridge.
The Prow’s new function will be to serve as the terminus to Town Street’s green gateway to the Scioto Mile, accented by gardens, decorative lighting and stone benches.
Why are we building an amphitheater at both the Scioto Mile and Columbus Commons?
The two new Downtown amphitheaters will complement, rather than compete, with one another. The Scioto Mile amphitheater is meant to host smaller, more intimate gatherings, while the Columbus Commons amphitheater will have the capacity to host large-scale events.
It is important for Downtown to have a variety of entertainment venues, both indoor and outdoor. These two venues will be connected through the Scioto Mile and Town Street, creating an opportunity to coordinate the programming of the amphitheaters. Together, these venues will enhance the Downtown arts and entertainment culture.
Will there be food at the Scioto Mile?
Yes, Bicentennial Park will feature a casual-dining café, with an outdoor seating area. The restaurateur has not yet been chosen, but a request for proposals will be issued in 2010.
Will there be free wi-fi?
Yes. Free wi-fi will be provided along the Promenade and in Bicentennial Park. We hope visitors will come to the Scioto Mile during their breaks and weekends to check e-mail, or surf the web.