5-year-old plan dusted off as city, AEP each pledge $10 million.
MARK FERENCHIK THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Almost five years ago, Mayor Michael B. Coleman unveiled a plan to build a mile-long park Downtown along the Scioto River.
Yesterday, the millions of dollars it will take started to come together. The city of Columbus and American Electric Power each are committing $10 million toward construction of the $38 million park to be built along the east bank of the river.
The Scioto Mile, featuring a promenade with sculptures and fountains along Civic Center Drive and a riverside park below, is to be done in time for the city’s bicentennial in 2012.
But to finish it, the city and corporate donors will have to raise $15 million more.
Construction is scheduled to begin in spring 2008.
Coleman called it a symbol for the city that will drive economic development. He said
he thinks that AEP’s $10 million is the largest private contribution toward a public park
in the city’s history.
Michael G. Morris, who is AEP’s chairman, president and chief executive officer, said
he has talked to the city about sponsoring the park, possibly including naming rights.
Morris and Coleman announced the funding for the park yesterday on the 30th floor of
the AEP building, which overlooks the river as it curves along Downtown’s western edge.
Morris said AEP employees will be among those who use the park.
The $20 million will be funneled as a grant through the Columbus Downtown
Development Corp., which will manage the project. An additional $2.2 million in federal
money and $1 million from the state already have been lined up, said Amy Taylor, a
spokeswoman for the development group.
The $23.2 million will be enough to begin work on the promenade next year, said Dale
Heydlauff, an AEP vice president who will work full time on the project.
The street-level, 30-foot-wide promenade between Broad and Rich streets is expected
to cost $20.6 million. The tree-lined promenade will help connect Bicentennial Park to
Battelle Park along Civic Center Drive, which will be narrowed to two lanes to slow traffic
so pedestrians can easily reach the park.
The 50-foot-wide river walk is expected to cost $17.4 million and include wetlands that
visitors will be able to walk through.
Restaurants or other riverfront amenities could ultimately be in the mix, said Guy
Worley, the Downtown development group’s chief executive.
Coleman said he is confident the remaining money can be raised to finish the park.
AEP’s $10 million contribution is coming from the American Electric Power
Foundation, the company’s charitable arm. AEP spokesman Pat Hemlepp said the
money comes from company profits.
"It’s just an example of being a good corporate citizen," he said.
"Some corporations sponsor pro teams. We feel this is the right thing to do. Our
headquarters are located right along the river. It made sense to us."
AEP is helping to oversee construction drawings and applications for environmental
permits.
"I’m going to drive the team hard to get them moving on that part," Heydlauff said.
The city will use capital money to pay for its share. Coleman said the city will not be
taking money from other projects to pay for the park.
The plan has been on a shelf for almost five years; Coleman unveiled his plan for a
riverfront park when he announced his Downtown development plan in April 2002.
But in the following years, the city’s budget was tight because of sluggish job growth
and a poor economy.
Now things have improved, for the city and for the corporations based here, Coleman
said.
The push to get something done by the city’s bicentennial is one motivation.
"This is going to happen," Coleman said. "This park is going to be world-class."
Dispatch reporter Mike Pramik contributed to this story.
mferenchik@dispatch.com?