Public to discuss feedback on Central Parkway Reimagined project

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Usually, soccer balls are kicked around inside TQL Stadium, but on Tuesday, it's ideas about re-imagining and redesigning a stretch of Central Parkway.

Right now, it is a concept in search of community buy-in.

But Cincinnati Department of Transportation Engineers have armed themselves with public input collected over the summer about what citizens would like to see done to improve Central Parkway from Plum Street to Liberty Street.

They have worked on several design options and will present them tonight for initial review.

Among those who will closely scrutinize the possibilities is Michael Williams.

He owns the Wooden Nickel, an architectural antique business that has been on the street for 45 years.

He has witnessed a major change with the emergence of soccer at TQL, as well as a lack of much else to try to transform the street into something more vibrant and contemporary.

"In the last 10 or 15 years, it's more of an exit strategy to leave downtown as fast as you can," he said Tuesday in his shop where antique chandeliers, marble tables, vintage roll-top desks and a 19th century Brunswick back bar fill just about every foot of space.

He desires more of a pedestrian Parkway.

"It's going to tie downtown, Over-the-Rhine, and the West End together in a way that hasn't been done yet in a long time," he said.

On the northwest corner at Liberty, land has been cleared for a hotel, events center, concert hall, condominiums, and a park.

The soccer stadium has been a catalyst for such potential change.

Anna Kerth of Harrison regularly plays three-on-three at The Pitch bar and cheers at full volume for FCC.

She supports the notion of revitalizing the area fronting the stadium.

"Bring more people in, more people for destinations for TQL games," she said. "It'd be awesome."

She was not aware that there was once a canal where the parkway is now.

Historical photographs after it was filled in nearly a century ago show water features, lighting, and much more of a pedestrian look than the parkway has today.

Improvements over the years have been sporadic.

The city's transportation website encourages a re-imagining, a reconnection if you will, with more space to gather as opposed to just passing by.

Councilman Mark Jeffreys, who has championed the Complete Streets project, said today he hopes the redesign can make Central Parkway safer for all concerned.

"It's also about creating a space where people may want to gather," Jeffreys said. "Today, they don't really want to gather, right? Cars are speeding through. How can you create an environment where people want to hang out, where they want to invite others to meet them? And I think that's where the opportunity is."

After a presentation of the design options, interested parties will break into groups and discuss what they favor.

If the concept is to move forward, there would be a long road ahead.

The city would need to settle on a specific design, then arrange funding, financing, and a construction timetable.

"We don't want to dictate now what it is," Jeffreys said. "I'm excited to see what they come up with."