Topic: Columbus: Scioto Mile Riverfront Park News

[Columbo]

I just had to share this beautiful panoramic pic of the Scioto Mile from this year's Arts Festival posted at Columbus Underground, which was originally posted on the Columbus Arts facebook page.  It shows a panoramic perspective of the Scioto River, Bicentennial Park, the surrounding streets and the two new bridges from the neighboring Waterford Tower.



And it relates to an article the Dispatch's Joe Blundo's wrote about this year's Arts Festival.  He stated that although the Scioto Mile opened last summer, he considered this year's Columbus Arts Festival to be its real debut.  And I think he's right.  This year's Arts Festival shows the Scioto Mile doing what it was designed to do.  Accommodate large groups of people in a graceful urban setting.  Below is his article:

Dispatch: Arts fest showed Scioto Mile at its best

[Columbo]

I was also pleased to read the following update to an earlier Dispatch article about the Scioto Mile promenade during today's Red, White & Boom.  Apparently event crews had planned to block off access to the promenade features that run along Civic Center Drive from Broad Street to Bicentennial Park.  It's pretty common to temporarily fence off private landscaped areas during RW&B to protect them from the huge crowds.  But it makes no sense to do that with the public promenade features, which are designed to handle large crowds.

Fortunately, the mayor understood this and issued an order to keep the public promenade open and free of obstructions during Red, White & Boom.  Below is an update to the original Dispatch article about this:

Dispatch: Mayor's decision opens Scioto Mile promenade for Red, White & Boom watchers

[ColDayMan]

That panorama is awesome.

[subocincy]

 ^^ Thanks for sharing this wonderful panoramic photo--it's arguably one of the best pictures of Columbus ever taken!

[Columbo]

Earlier this month, the Rich Street Bridge officially opened to once again connect Downtown Columbus to Franklinton.  The new Rich Street Bridge takes a slightly different path then the previous Town Street Bridge it replaces.  The old bridge connected Town Street in downtown to Town Street in Franklinton.  The new bridge connects Rich Street in downtown with Town Street in Franklinton.

Below are some photos of the new bridge from Columbus Underground's report on its official opening: Rich Street Bridge Officially Opens Downtown and photos of the Rich Street Bridge opening ceremony from the CU thread: Rich Street Bridge - News & Updates










A bonus to the bridge construction was a new pocket park built on the Franklinton side of the river next to COSI.  It looks like they re-used part of the concrete balustrade that was removed as part of the Scioto Mile work on the downtown side of the bridge:

[Columbo]

Scioto River project Downtown moves ahead
By Lydia Coutre, The Columbus Dispatch
Tuesday, July 24, 2012 - 4:44 AM

The City Council took another step yesterday toward removing the Main Street dam and revamping the part of the Scioto River that runs through Downtown.  The council unanimously agreed to give the Columbus Downtown Development Corporation the lead on the project's design, engineering and construction management.
(. . .)
The project is expected to be completed in late fall or early winter of 2015, although residents aren't likely to see construction until late 2013 or early 2014.  The city plans to remove the dam below the Main Street Bridge and lower the water level of the river, thus creating approximately 33 new acres where the city will add green space and trails.

MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/07/24/river-project-moves-ahead.html

[Columbo]

A few more photos of the recently completed Rich Street Bridge.  A local photographer took some stunningly beautiful night-time shots of the bridge.  I think the night-time look of the Rich Street Bridge is even better than its day-time appearance.  The concrete understructure of the bridge is brightly lit up.  That lighting beautifully hi-lights the graceful arches of the bridge while also producing some dramatic shadowing and reflections on the river.

Below are the three photos at a smaller preview size.  To see the full size images of the night-time views of the Rich Street Bridge at the photographer's flickr page click here. 

      

[Columbo]

An update to this post in the Random Developments thread.  The Columbus Landmarks Foundation presented its 2012 James B. Recchie Design Award to two of its finalists: The Scioto Mile and Scioto River Bridges.

Columbus Landmarks Foundation: Jury Selects Two Winners for James B. Recchie Award

Columbus Underground: Scioto Mile and Downtown Bridges Win 2012 Urban Design Award

[GCrites80s]

That Rich Street bridge is pretty nice with the lights I must say. Walker took CDM and I over it at night and I was all "ooooh". Almost makes up for us not getting the Snake Bridge!

[ColDayMan]

I know!  It was like doing acid...not that we know anything about that...yeah...

[GCrites80s]

Just for the record, I am terrified of acid. I like walls to stay where they are.

[Keith M.]

It's too bad there are no dedicated bike lanes on the Rich St bridge. Portland has a pedestrian-bike bridge connecting two neighborhoods.



http://www.gibbsbridge.org/

Another view.



http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-09-10/bike-lanes-revolution/57733256/1

What Columbus needs, Franklinton in particular, is at least one pedestrian and cyclist only bridge. Main offers a watered-down version and doesn't connect to destinations as well as the Rich St Bridge could have. Cyclists wanting a dedicated bridge to go to Dinin' Hall, Rehab Tavern, and more in the future have to go out of their way down to Main before crossing over if they're not comfortable in heavy traffic: no bike lanes on the new bridge. What should be a top priority is a ped and bike only bridge connecting the Arena District from around Neil Ave to Vet's Memorial. No harm in making it a fancier bridge like the Harbor Drive Pedestrian Bridge in San Diego, which is probably that way because it connects directly to downtown whereas the one in Portland doesn't. The only thing I might change would be to highlight separated bike and ped paths on the bridge. I love the modern look of the one in San Diego.


George M. Fattell

These bridges really are more useful by encouraging higher numbers of pedestrians and cyclists to visit destinations near either end and are a unique and enjoyable urban experience in their own right, which can't be said for Rich St Bridge with its loud motoring traffic that's prioritized and of course as ODOT said, “This project is a perfect example of ODOT’s values and goals". I'd say in the absence of a ped and bike only bridge connecting Downtown and Franklinton it also serves as an example of the City of Columbus' values and goals.

Here's a CU thread
Stop Rich Street Bridge where some forumers discussed a pedestrian-bike only bridge between Downtown and Franklinton back in 2010 is still overdue.

[jbcmh81]

Keith, the pedestrian bridge from the 2010 plan is still in the works, but the last I heard, it wouldn't happen for a few years anyway until after the Scioto River project is complete. 

[CbusTransit]

I saw the initial designs for them - they are done - and they were pretty cool. from  the area right under the railroad bridge to the vets memorial. most were s-shaped. pretty cool

[jbcmh81]

I saw the initial designs for them - they are done - and they were pretty cool. from  the area right under the railroad bridge to the vets memorial. most were s-shaped. pretty cool

Oh really?  Any link to the designs?  I wasn't aware they had gotten that far with it. 

[Keith M.]

Not sure why they're waiting until the Scioto riverfront is complete  before starting since it didn't stop either of the other new bridges from going up which are available for use today and not requiring a wait of years more. I was wondering if it was going to have to go under the railroad bridge due to the angle and best access point near Vet's. I'm glad it sounds like it's going to look fun with the shape they'll need to get under the bridge: much better to have a curvy bridge than a straight plain one, even if it's not decked out. Now cough up those renderings! I know you took pictures.

[Keith M.]

Found these (page 12), but based on the description above it's not going to look like this.

[CbusTransit]

I wish - they were on a CD that someone else in a bigger position than me briefly shared. This was about a year ago tho, so I don't know why they didn't come out with them. It was really soon after the plan and I was pretty surprised by how quickly they moved on it.