The Greater Cincinnati Foundation Supports
Launch of $4.9 Million Queen City-South Mill Creek Greenway Trail

Federal Economic Stimulus Funds Sought for Completion of Project

Phase 1 Trail
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation (GCF) has awarded a $35,000 grant to Mill Creek Restoration Project (MCRP) to underwrite planning and design costs for the first phase of the City of Cincinnati’s Queen City-South Mill Creek Greenway Trail. MCRP is especially honored that a portion of the GCF grant comes from the Joan Jones Portman Nature Enrichment Field of Interest Fund, because of Mrs. Portman’s inspiring dedication to the conservation of natural resources.

The “barebones” budget (without major furnishings and trail heads) for the .6 mile Phase 1 greenway trail segment is $265,000. In addition to the GCF grant, funding will come from the City of Cincinnati Mill Creek Greenway Program, a $175,000 grant from the Clean Ohio Trail Fund, and MCRP donors. The property owner, the Mill Creek Valley Conservancy District, has approved project construction. The Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati is coordinating its capital sewer projects with development of the greenway trail within the river corridor.

The Phase 1 trail will connect Salway Park, in the Cincinnati neighborhood of Spring Grove Village, to the intersection of Dooley By-pass and Ludlow Avenue in Northside, one block from the Northside business district along Hamilton Avenue. The trail will follow along the west side of Mill Creek and will be constructed this spring. Consultants for the project include the Human Nature Landscape Architecture Studio and ME Companies Engineers.

Overall Queen City-South Mill Creek Greenway Trail
When all three phases are complete, the off-road Queen City-South Mill Creek hike and bike trail will span 3.4 miles along the river, from Mitchell Avenue at the Queen City shopping center to the Mill Creek Road bridge in South Cumminsville. The multi-purpose trail (e.g., for recreation, exercise and bike commutes) will connect with existing streets, on-road bike lanes, Metro and Access bus stops, and pedestrian sidewalks. In addition, the trail will link parts of five residential neighborhoods; two business districts; Salway park, a heavily used recreational facility; and the Spring Grove Cemetery together.

The comprehensive Queen City-South Mill Creek Greenway Trail will feature green technology and eco-friendly construction methods, including use of porous and other green paving materials (e.g., rubber from shredded tires) for the trail and parking lots, and trail furnishings from reused/recycled materials. In addition, the project will help to regenerate natural resources, including restoring wildlife habitat by planting Ohio native trees. Signage and art will be integrated to highlight the rich cultural history of the Underground Railroad that actively operated along Mill Creek.

For ecological fieldwork along the trail, MCRP will recruit and train community volunteers from neighborhood, civic, religious, business, and environmental groups. In conjunction with the Mill Creek Greenway development, MCRP will offer environmental education and service learning opportunities for thousands of sixth through twelfth grade students.

Federal Economic Stimulus Funds
The total cost for Phases 2 and 3 of the trail project, encompassing almost three miles, is $4.9 million for environmental improvements; planning, design and construction of the trail and trail heads; and signage and furnishings. To underwrite this expense, MCRP is seeking donations, and has submitted proposals to the Clean Ohio Trail Fund, the Recreational Trails Program, and to Ohio Governor Strickland’s Office for consideration of Federal Economic Stimulus Funding. The stimulus funds are expected to be distributed throughout the State for projects that create and retain jobs. MCRP is working with the Applied Economics Research Institute in the U.C. Department of Economics to quantify jobs and the economic multiplier effect of a major infusion of Federal funds for the City’s Mill Creek Greenway Program.

Short- and long-term, the Mill Creek Greenway Trail Program will engage diverse businesses and help to create and retain Ohio jobs for surveying crews, landscape architects, engineers, biologists, construction laborers, solar power technicians, asphalt and concrete specialists, maintenance workers, nursery and landscaping field staff, MCRP fieldwork trainees, local artists, and university students.

MCRP believes that the timing is right for the Mill Creek Greenway Trail Program because there is synergy with other major investments within the Mill Creek corridor, including the Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati’s capital program that will advance Mill Creek water quality improvements by preventing and reducing untreated sanitary sewage and stormwater discharges to the river from combined sewer overflows.

The Queen City-South Mill Creek Greenway Trail is a major component of the City of Cincinnati’s Mill Creek Greenway Trail Program that seeks to improve the health of the degraded river and to revitalize neighborhoods and communities within the river corridor. Mill Creek flows through the geographic heart of the City and Hamilton County. For information about this and other Mill Creek programs, please visit MCRP’s website at www.millcreekrestoration.org.

About GCF
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation empowers donors to make a profound difference in the quality of human and community life in the Greater Cincinnati regions, today and tomorrow. We believe in the power of philanthropy to change the lives of people and communities. As a community foundation, GCF makes grants and provides leadership in six key areas: arts and culture, community and economic development, education, environment, and human services. An effective steward of the community’s charitable resources since 1963, the Foundation inspires philanthropy in eight counties in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.