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Waterville receives $557,625 grant for river overlook; bridge preservation activists push for Clean Ohio funding
Summary
City staff announced a $557,625 grant award for a Roche De Beaufort overlook and shared-use path; public commenters urged quicker action and recommended the city or a partner submit a Clean Ohio grant to support preservation of a historic bridge and related land acquisition.
City staff told council that the city received a grant of $557,625 to build a river overlook and shared-use path that will connect to the Farnsworth Metropark and include a pedestrian span over South River Road and a small parking area.
"We did receive notice that we got a grant for $557,625," City Manager John Gokenauer reported, describing a proposal that would install an overlook using an existing pier and wing walls, add a 35-foot pedestrian span across South River Road, approximately eight parking spaces, and shared-use connections to the trail and Farnsworth Metropark.
During public comment, Dave Weber, spokesperson for Save the Bridge Association (a nonprofit formed to preserve a local historic bridge), urged faster action and additional grant applications. "Time is of the essence. You know, we've frittered away about a half a year," Weber said, and requested regular status updates and municipal support for submitting a Clean Ohio grant application to acquire land and seek funding for a scenic overlook through ODOT programs.
Weber told council the nonprofit had discussed the project with ODOT and other partners and said past engineering estimates for a nonfunctional but safe preservation of the bridge had been roughly $600,000. He told council the Clean Ohio application deadline is Sept. 26 and that his group needs a municipal or partner organization to submit the request because the nonprofit’s charter did not explicitly include an environmental mission.
Gokenauer confirmed staff had discussed the bridge with ODOT and noted the city is pursuing the overlook project grant funds. Council members asked for design input in the future and sought clarification about ownership of the right-of-way near the piers; staff said the property is ODOT-owned abandoned railroad right-of-way that may be deeded or dedicated to the city as part of project implementation.
Weber also outlined possible funding and management partners — Metroparks Toledo and Miami Valley Heritage Corridor — and suggested an environmental covenant to preserve acquired parcels in perpetuity, including invasive-species removal and canopy planting consistent with recent tree- and parks-focused work discussed elsewhere in the meeting.
Council did not take formal action on the Clean Ohio request during the meeting. Staff said they would continue coordinating the overlook design and grant implementation process and would provide council with opportunities to review design plans.
