By Jennifer Edwards
The Cincinnati Enquirer

MARIEMONT - Work tentatively is scheduled to start this summer on a $9.9 million sewer project around the largest public area in town, Dogwood Park.

The work means about a mile-long stretch of Wooster Pike outside the park will be torn up for about two years.

There will be traffic disruptions when construction begins in July, but workers will try to keep inconvenience to a minimum, said Bob Campbell, deputy director of the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati.

A 5,800-foot-long sewer line must be installed to replace some older lines leaking in the heavily wooded park.

"This project will eliminate three highly active sanitary sewer overflows that exist in the park," Campbell said. "Anytime we do projects there will be disruption in the construction area. Somebody will be unhappy, but the project needs to move through."

The new sewer line will run along Wooster Pike, with additional redirection of flows required in side streets such as Harvard, Park, Lane and Mariemont Avenue, according to county records.

The project comes after years of disagreement between the village and sewer district over how to do it. The district originally wanted to run a new, large sewer line above ground through the middle of the 33-acre park from one hillside to another, essentially ruining the area's beauty and creating a potential liability for the village, Mayor Dan Policastro said.

Sewer district officials walked the area and retooled the plan.

"It's an important park for us, and we want to keep it pristine," Policastro said. "They are doing the right thing. I am not looking forward to the chaos - but once it's done, it will be worth it."

Hamilton County commissioners approved the project 3-0 on Wednesday.

The project is required under an agreement the sewer district has filed in federal court that outlines ways the district will end overflows of sewage into streets, streams and other public areas.

There also is concern over Indian artifacts that could be in the project area. Dogwood Park and Mariemont in general are rich in Indian artifacts from the days when Indians roamed the land, using the Miami Bluffs as a lookout.

The sewer district earmarked $26,000 for an archaeological study to look for Indian artifacts. Any found will be catalogued and turned over to the village, Campbell said. The study is expected to begin in February.

Meanwhile, some residents hope the impending work won't destroy the grassy medians bisecting Wooster and their pricey homes.

"They are part of our historical district," said Councilman Bill Ebelhar, who lives off Wooster just outside the park.

The medians will be torn up, and some trees will be removed - but everything will restored, Campbell said.

Cindi Andrews contributed to this report. E-mail jedwards@enquirer.com.