Updated: 9:06 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015 | Posted: 5:09 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015
Middletown river project wins
funding
By http://www.journal-news.com/staff/ed-richter/" rel="nofollow - Staff Writer
MIDDLETOWN —
A project along the Great Miami River in Middletown is slated to
receive state funding.
MetroParks of Butler County announced it
would be receiving $2 million in capital funding that will be used for two
strategic projects: the construction of the Middletown River Center to be
located along the 90-mile Great Miami Recreation River Trail and Great Miami
River; and the installation of artificial turf on two of the existing 22 grass
fields at Voice of America Park Athletic Complex in West Chester Twp.
Kelly Barkley, MetroParks’ senior manager
of community relations, said the presence of the Great
Miami River and its trail are tremendous assets that are currently
underutilized by the general population, both locally and regionally. The trail
system serves a population of about two million people, she said.
“People currently do not utilize the
resources as much as they might due to the lack of accessibility and the
absence of modern conveniences near the trail and river,” she said. “Up-to-date
available amenities will draw people in to use and enjoy these areas. The River Center
will provide safe drinking water, clean modern restrooms, nearby parking,
meeting space, ranger presence in the hub and programming. It will certainly
entice a larger number of people to take advantage of the river and trail.”
The 3,100 square-foot River Center
will have drinking water, restrooms, reservable public meeting space, as well
as a ranger substation that could also accommodate volunteer trail monitors.
These features will support programming and trail based recreation.
Barkley said there has been significant
progress in conceptual architectural renderings for the proposed River Center.
The River Center
committee, which includes stakeholders and officials from MetroParks and Middletown, are carefully
reviewing the components of the new building so that it can successfully meet
the economic development goals that were envisioned for the project, she said.
Barkley said a final site for the River Center
has yet to be determined. While there is no specific timeline for the project,
including groundbreaking, the targeted grand opening is set for sometime in
2016, she said.
Denise Hamet, Middletown’s economic development director,
said the proposed project is a way for the city and MetroParks to take
advantage of that portion of the riverfront area.
“We see a lot of possibilities and opportunities,”
she said. “Finishing the bike path, getting more programming at the (AK)
bandstand and tying it into downtown such as putting packages together to bring
people to the Manchester
(Hotel).”
Hamet said the city has a perpetual
recreational easement with the Miami Conservancy District who owns and controls
the riverbanks for flood control.
“This improvement will provide facilities
for people, something we don’t have now,” Hamet said. “It could also feature trail-based
educational programming and can be a real community asset.”
Public Safety Director David VanArsdale
agreed with Hamet, saying the project is “a great way to tie-in the river
corridor and downtown.
“It gives people more reason to come
downtown and there are several restaurants available downtown already,” he
said. “This is just one more benefit to come to Middletown. One more good reason to be here.”
VanArsdale said he kayaks on the river
about every weekend and said the River
Center could be a place
for anyone using the bike trail to get water or to use a restroom.
Curtis Garner, a Middletown resident who regularly walks, runs
and enjoys fishing along the bike trail, thinks the project is a good idea and
would be good for business and the local economy.
“I think it’ll be really good for Middletown because Middletown
looks like it’s dying and it needs something,” he said. “We got the college and
Burlington Coat Factory at the mall open, and we’re trying to get more
businesses in Middletown.”
Staff Writer Lot Tan contributed
to this report.
|