HAMMOCK PARKAMONGNEW IDEAS FOR DAYTON RIVERS
Master plan includes changes to many of the area’smetro parks.
New water play at Island MetroPark. New adventures atWesleyan MetroPark. New scenic views at Deeds MetroPark. And RiverScape will be part of a new downtown park loop.
Those new and bold ideas are packed into the Dayton riverfront master plan and shared Tuesday with the public as a variety of community partners prepare to adopt the final version of the document.
The plan, which is intended to be a blueprint to guide development and investment for the next 20years, recommendsmany new experiences, green spaces, trails, connections and amenities.
Some specific proposals are ambitious.
The plan calls for extending the southern tip of Island MetroPark to the low dam on the Great Miami River to create a paddler pass through on the eastern side channel, which would fall several feet over vertical drops.
A“rockscape beach plaza” and sun deck are proposed for Deeds Point, and RiverScapeMetroPark would benefit froma new pedestrian connection on the Riverside Drive bridge and reconfigured infrastructure on Monument Avenue.
Wesleyan MetroPark, located alongWolf Creek, could become a play and nature destination, with a zip line over a ravine and new nature play features, like boulders, logs and plantings.
The riverfront master plan is uniquely Dayton, reflecting its history, culture, assets and strengths, said Carrie Scarff, Five Rivers MetroParks chief of planning and projects.
Theriver, which has divided the city for years, can finally become a uniter with new connections and projects, she said.
“The (master plan) process has taken about a year ... but we are heading toward the finish line now,” Scarff said.
Details of the final version of the riverfront master plan were shared Tuesday at the Dayton Metro Library.
MetroParks, along with a variety of other partners, has helped craft a frame work for a study area that includes all four rivers, extending about two to three miles out fromdowntown to feature parks, Scarff said.
The plan calls for big changes in the next couple of decades to RiverScape, including a new pedestrian bridge alongside of the Riverside Drive bridge and the removal of the fifire department headquarters at Monument and Main streets.
New park space could replace the fifire station, and the communications building could be re-purposed into a riverfront restaurant withoutdoordining, according to the plan.
RiverScapewouldbeacentral part of a new park loop that better connects opposite sides of the river.
Otherimprovementscould include a reconfifififigured plaza at Patterson Boulevard and MonumentAvenue;enhanced roadway crossings at North MainandMonumentAvenue; terraced seating at both the northandsouthends of River Run; a newboat rental facility; nature play space along the water front and other park enhancements on the north side of the river.
“We are creating the play part of the live, work, play” mantra, Scarffff said.
The southern tip of Island MetroPark can be extended to enlarge the nesting habitat andcreate a retainingwall for a paddling pass-through at the dam, the plan states. The pass-through would be on the eastern channel.
The plan says converting EastHelena Street to apedestrian-friendly, at-grade crossing with traffiffic calming features would create an idyllic park drive.
A new backwater creek would snake through the middle part of the northern section of the park, creating interactive play environments.
Theplanrecommendsrenovating the band shell and offffffffffffering a new nature play area and pedestrian bridge.
Kettering Field, located in the McCook Field neighborhood, could welcome a new promenade runwaywiththe closure ofNorthBendBoulevard to motor traffiffic.
The levees and flflood controlmeasures along the river banks hurt access to the water, but the plan offers some creative ways to overcome these obstacles, like terraced seating west of the promenade, Scarffff said.
DeWeese Park, along the Stillwater River, could connect with Triangle Park to the south. There could be a new disc golf course near the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery and new places for fifishing, picnicking and sunbathing.
Themasterplanis a “longterm, aspirational, visionary” document that has lots of big ideas, but implementation could take two decades or longer, said JonWhite, city of Dayton planner.
“This is an expansive scope — we’re really looking at our entire river system here, so it’s all hands on deck,” he said.
The Deeds park area, on the north side of the Mad River, is targeted for new development, likely with a focus on housing.
The Deeds Point MetroPark should connectwith the development and have expanded green space for flflexible programming, the plan states.
The plan proposes a sun deck at the point, with waterproof covered seating facing the fountain in the river, offffffffffffering unique views of downtown and lounging experiences.
A newsandy beach plaza would offffffffffffer vantage points on boulders at the top of levee, with movable cafe seating.
Other ideas for the park include offffffffffffering a hammock gardenandslackliningopportunities and a new “adventure” playscape.
Sunrise MetroPark and a new“Sunset”parkarelocated across from each other on the Great Miami River. Sunset was createdwhen Interstate-75 was reconfifigured.
But the opposite sides of the banks don’t feel connected, and so a newpedestrian bridge would seek to unite the parks, offifficials said.
McIntosh Park could be extended to the riverfront by closing Negley Place road to motor vehicle traffic to Orth Avenue.
And the art terrace along the riverfront infront of Dayton Art Institute could be expanded.
The plan suggests enhancing the experienceunder the Interstate-75 overpass with rotating art pieces, lighting installations, interactive features and music.
Other projects could include a new play space, forest terrace, sculpture terrace, boulder terrace and water runnel feature.
Other ideas include a river meadow, loop trail and new benches andriver platforms. The plan proposes a pedestrian bridge entry plaza, greeting pedestrians with sculptures, gardens andfood trucks.