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Columbus Trails and Greenways |
 | The Scioto Greenway south of Broad St. contains the oldest section of rails-to-trails conversion in Ohio. It passes through what will be the newest Metro Park in a few years, The Whittier Peninsula. North of Broad St. it is something of a work in progress. Much of the new, northern parts were built in conjunction with the just concluded I-670 project. The recent opening of North Bank Park has provided users with some amazing vistas of the downtown area. | PARKS Confluence Park OTHER City Hall |  | ||||
The Scioto Greenway Trail has two sections and an alternate - The two sections are Upper and Lower with the midpoint at Broad Street. The Lower Scioto Trail runs from that point, south along the east side of the river (using the walkways off Civic Center Dr) to the north entrance of Bicentennial Park. It goes through the park and then passes by the Miranova complex and drops down to run under the I-70/71 freeway. It emerges into what is currently Lower Scioto Park but which, over the next few years, will morph into the Scioto Audubon Metro Park. The trail current runs between Whittier St and the river as it curves around the peninsula and then emerges, near the new boat landing on the south side and exits the park via Whittier Street. It turns south on Front Street for a short run and then west on Greenlawn Ave going over the bridge on a new walkway. On the other side, it turns right onto Scioto Blvd and immediately loops back and under Greenlawn and rises up into Lou Berliner Park. Once in the park, it is pretty much of a straight shot south on the old rail right-of-way to just north of SR104. There is no direct access to the roadway (which is limited access at that point). This straight section, btw, is the oldest rail-trail conversion in Ohio having been constructed back in 1969. The Upper Scioto trail exists in two sections. The first section runs from Broad and Marconi north using the walkways in Battelle Park behind the court house to reach the asphalt trail on the north side. The trail then follows the east side of the river north through North Bank park and then along Long Street to the corner of Spring St and SR 315. Here is connects with the Olentangy Trail (across Spring St) north to points like OSU, Worthington and so on. The Scioto Trail turns left into Confluence Park and loops through the park emerging under Souder Ave to run along the south side of Dublin Rd. (US 33) It runs about eight tenths of a mile and dead ends across from the water works. The second section starts up off Grandview Ave at the intersection with I-670 about two miles to the northwest. (Getting from one section to the other is detailed on the section page.) The entrance is on the east side. This trail circles under the intersection and head northwest. It dead ends at the parking lot for the River's Edge office complex south of 5th Ave. There is no access to any other roads other than at the ends of this section and most of it travels on a spit of land with the river on one side and a wetlands basin on the other. There is a proposal in work to join the two sections. This is also detailed on the section pages although it is likely a few years away. The alternate trail is the West Bank Trail, aka Scioto Trail West etc. This is a section of trail that runs on that side of the river from Souder Ave south to Dodge Park. It can be accessed from the main Scioto Trail by exiting Confluence Park and going over the river on Souder Ave and then south at the trail head. The trail is paved asphalt until it nears Vets Memorial and then turns into a concrete walkway for most of the rest of the way. There are ramps to and from Broad and Town Streets and steps to COSI. Currently, the trail goes up and crosses Town St and runs above the river to Rich where it travels on some double-back ramps back down to the water and then under some railway bridges to Dodge Park. It ends at the south end of that park at the I-70/71 freeway. Planning has begun on the Downtown Connector. This is a short section of trail which will run from the Lower Scioto Trail in North Bank Park, via walkways adjoining city streets and trail to the intersection of Jack Gibbs Blvd and Cleveland Ave where it will connect with the I-670 Bikeway and, via that trail, with the Alum Creek Trail. The Scioto Trail will be a part of the Ohio To Erie Trail. Current plans will link the trail, coming from the south east, with the Lower Scioto somewhere below its current terminus in Lou Berliner Park. The OTE will travel along the Scioto Trail north to North Bank Park. There are plans to replace the somewhat narrow north side bridge walkway on Greenlawn Ave as part of a general bridge rehabilitation sometime in the next few years. Currently, the trail is being impacted in the area around the demolition and reconstruction of the Main Street bridge downtown. Users may need to detour around construction equipment are areas for the next several months. THE SCIOTO TRAIL: NEWS REPORTS: THE SCIOTO MILE There have been a number of news reports covering the recent announcements regarding the long-existing plan to renovate and improve the Downtown east bank of the Scioto from Battelle Park to Bicentennial Park. This involves creating a pedestrian arcade along Civic Center Drive and adding a lower level walkway along the river. This last would be an extension of the existing walkway below Battelle Park that ends just south of and under Broad St. Since the Scioto Trail passes through this area, likely any construction will involve improvements that enhance the recreational use. Details of the project funding, through a contribution from AEP and the City can be found here: http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/02/20/20070220-D1-04.html The artist renderings that I've seen are pretty basic. Currently, the Scioto Trail runs under the CSX trestle and ramps up to Battelle/Alexander Park on the north side of the Courthouse. It runs through Battelle and out to the sidewalk at Broad and Marconi, crosses Broad and runs on the sidewalk along Civic Center Dr south crossing Town and Main (by the closed bridge) and into Bicentennial Park. How the trail would run--either at river level to Bicentennial, or as it does now, up top, with improved surfaces, isn't indicated. | |||||||
10/16/2008