Saturday, May 08, 1999

Paddle wheel could be part of river park

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BY PHILLIP PINA
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The giant paddle wheel is to look like this from Mehring Way. | ZOOM |

        A 60-ton, bright-red paddle wheel may soon be churning up memories of Cincinnati's riverboat heritage as part of a number of park improvements along the downtown riverfront.

        As plans evolve for a large new riverfront park stretching along the Ohio River through downtown Cincinnati, planners are moving forward with a number of improvement projects to the existing ones, said Jess Parrett, the city's recreation commission spokesman.

        Work already has begun on a $1 million project that will make the Serpentine Wall's lower level accessible to those with disabilities. And preliminary computer models for Paddlewheel Park at the Public Landing reveal a massive monument to river transportation.

INFOGRAPHIC

Riverfront park design

        “This will celebrate Cincinnati's history as an important river port,” Mr. Parrett said.

        The park is planned for the foot of Broadway, south of Mehring Way.

Viewed from Broadway. | ZOOM |

        The 30-foot-tall paddle wheel, donated by the Delta Queen Steamboat Co., will be the highlight of the park, which will also feature historical markers to river history and a possible fountain, said Mike Moose, an architect for park designer Glaser Associates. Paddlewheel Park will be on an extension to a plaza that overlooks Public Landing.

        With the redevelopment of Cincinnati's riverfront, spurred by the construction of new Reds and Bengals stadiums, city planners want to develop a ribbon of green along the banks of the Ohio River throughout downtown Cincinnati.

        The key to that will be a 50-acre park, on land that is now a sea of parking lots, being planned between the new Reds and Bengals stadiums. The new, larger park is expected to cost $65 million and may not even begin until the year 2003.

        But planners do not want to waste any more time on other key elements to riverfront improvements, said Wayne Bain, Cincinnati Recreation Commission acting director. Work already has begun on the eastern edge of the Serpentine Wall on a new $1 million ramp.

        The project was made difficult, and expensive, by the dramatic height of Serpentine Wall and building in a flood plain, Mr. Bain said. Portions of the ramp jut out into the Ohio River. Work is expected to be completed by this fall, in time for Riverfest and the Tall Stacks festival in October.

        In 1997, Ohio's Controlling Board approved $4.3 million for renovations and construction for Paddlewheel Park. The idea of a 150-foot tower originally planned for the park but panned by many city officials has been scrapped, Mr. Bain said. Instead, the focus will be on the paddle wheel itself.

        The tower was expected to cost $2.5 million. That money will be redirected to the entire Paddlewheel Park project, Mr. Bain said. Planners want to get moving on the project, or face losing the state money. Work on Paddlewheel Park will not begin until after the riverboat festival, Mr. Bain said. It could be completed by the middle of 2000.

        The string of parks, once completed, will become Cincinnati's “front porch” and will complement the stadiums and skyline, Mr. Parrett said. “The central riverfront will become an incredible, wonderful impact for the entire city,” he said.

Riverfront park: Fountains, festivals, fun May 7 story

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