BY LISA DONOVAN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Hoping to market the north and south banks of the Ohio River as a regional attraction, a Northern Kentucky organization dedicated to enhancing the riverfront has asked for more help from Cincinnati.
Regionalism is something people talk a lot about, but it's rarely practiced, said Wally Pagan, director of Southbank Partners Inc., a public-private group committed to enhancing Northern Kentucky's riverfront.
He addressed the Cincinnati City Council's intergovernmental and regionalism committee Monday.
In asking for more representatives from the city, Mr. Pagan listed several "regional" projects Southbank is proposing, including establishing a new pedestrian link from Newport to Cincinnati on the L&N bridge.
He also discussed a shuttle bus that would be routed through Bellevue, Southgate Covington and downtown Cincinnati that would begin operation in May.
Calling the shuttle the "connection tissue" in the region, Mr. Pagan said the buses were initially geared to tourists and conventioneers but now that the road construction season has begun it will be a bonus for the locals.
In the works is a plan for water taxis and a shuttle boat service to help visitors see riverfront attractions. The plan, which would link Bellevue, Covington, Newport and Cincinnati, could become reality next year.
"We're looking at this as a mover of residential folks and business folks too," he said.
Councilman Phil Heimlich, who chairs the regionalism committee, lauded Mr. Pagan and his organization as agents of change.
"While we've been planning, you've been acting," said Mr. Heimlich. He made a similar comment last week when the majority of council voted to scrap Cincinnati's riverfront development plan and begin anew.
"You're doers, you're not just coming up with . . . one plan after another," Mr. Heimlich said. "That's what has to happen here in Cincinnati."
Mr. Pagan called last week's vote to scrap the riverfront plan for Cincinnat a minor glitch that may slow regional planning, but certainly won't halt it.
"It's a speed bump -- it's a little delay, but nothing you can't overcome."
While the economic development director, planning department and architects for Cincinnati have been working with Southbank, Mr. Pagan said he would like to expand the city's participation in regional "implementing."
Mr. Heimlich agreed, saying Cincinnati officials should work in concert with Northern Kentucky's officials as both move toward developing their riverfronts.
"They're far ahead in developing the riverfront on their side, we're in the beginning stages . . . regardless of who's ahead, we need to work together from this point on," he said.
