ST. BERNARD — A group of seniors who fought city hall to prevent a housing project from being built on the last piece of the Miami-Erie Canal now have city support to convert the area into a park.

        They are busy getting designs and searching for money to get the park finished in time for the state's bicentennial celebration next year.

        “Right now we don't know how much it will cost and we don't have all the designs, but we have plenty of ideas about what we want in the park,” said Dolores Rutemueller of Harvey Court, whose home is adjacent to the 1.3-acre site. The group will meet next week at her home to discuss plans.

        She said they envision a walking park with lights, flower pots, pavers engraved with donors' names, and wrought-iron benches.

        “We would like some kind of trail in the park, pointing out the history of the Miami-Erie Canal,” she said.

        The idea has caught the attention of Mayor Barbara Siegel. She said the city has agreed to develop a walking park on the vacant land, which starts near 4801 Andulas Court and runs south about 1.3 acres, sandwiched between a line of trees and a small section of single-family homes.

        “I think it could be a beautiful park,” Ms. Siegel said. “We have applied for a state grant to help with the cost. We have contacted several senators and state representatives. Right now we don't know how much the state will give us.”

        As of yet, the group has not come up with a cost for converting the land to a park. They hope to have designs and possibly some figures at the meeting next week.

        The seniors' group and the city became involved in a bitter dispute last year when the city proposed a $3.8 million senior housing project with 36 units on the site.

        The seniors argued that the housing project would destroy a rich piece of St. Bernard's history. They also said the project would make the area too congested, with more cars needing parking space.

        Also, the city had recommended developing a park with the concept of a historical trail in the old canal in a 1988 comprehensive housing development plan. The seniors wanted the city to stick to that plan.

        Historical documents show that the canal was formed in the early 1820s in Middletown and later stretched to Cincinnati by way of St. Bernard. At the height of its operation, the canal stretched from Cincinnati to Toledo.

        “We would like to preserve that piece of history,” Mrs. Rutemueller said.

        The city relented after the seniors had gathered enough signatures to put the issue on the ballot. The city decided to find another site for the housing project.

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