The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District is working in coordination with the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County to help improve Cincinnati’s Riverfront along the Ohio River in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio. USACE and the Cincinnati Park Board are partnering on a $2.5 million feasibility study to improve and revitalize the Ohio River’s edge along Smale Riverfront Park.
“The study will look at opportunities for recreation while protecting Cincinnati’s Riverfront from erosion,” said Laura Mattingly, Louisville District community planner. “Erosion is occurring at the edge of Smale Park, so in addition to adding recreational value, we must also ensure that the bank is stabilized and will be resilient to future flooding.”
The project’s overall vision is to make the Cincinnati Riverfront a welcoming, safe, sustainable park, serving as a gateway to connect people to their heritage, community and the natural environment for years to come. According to the Cincinnati Park Board there are three specific objectives for the project, which include: enhancing Smale Park by creating a safe recreational connection between the usable areas of the park and the water, while reducing erosion potential, providing educational signage and programming to inform park users about the natural and cultural resources in the area and improving the environment with native vegetation and shade trees.
“The main goal of the project is to enhance the recreational experience at Smale Park in downtown Cincinnati, Ohio, by adding interesting recreational features that will allow park users to safely engage with the Ohio River,” Mattingly added. “We are currently in the process of narrowing down to our final plan selection, which will be presented to our division office in early May, and then it will be made available for public and agency review.”
Strong partnerships are key to a successful project, and according to the Louisville District Project Delivery Team, the Cincinnati Parks Board has been an enthusiastic and engaged partner from the start.
“We have been working closely with our partners and they have been very hands-on and supportive,” said Aaron Steele, Louisville District project manager. “This is a unique project, as I believe that flood resilient recreation features aren’t usually included in Civil Works projects. We are happy to be involved in such a project that will enhance public use of and access to the recreational and environmental amenities of the Ohio River.”
The Louisville District completed construction of Phase I, a $30 million five-acre project, in 2014. Since that project is now complete, the city is looking to expand the size of the project to construct similar features, such as continuous walkways along the river, informal grass terraces, landscaping, and lighting. This effort, which is Phase 2, began in January 2023 and is estimated to take approximately three years. Currently, the project is in the planning stage and community input is being sought to ensure everyone has a chance to participate.
The four alternatives being evaluated which will ultimately determine the Tentatively Selected Plan were modeled by Louisville District Civil Engineering Branch. To view the alternatives and to provide feedback, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SmaleRiversEdge.