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Grandview Heights to hold Top of the Hill as interim park; master plan and archaeology review to follow
Summary
City staff outlined a near-term plan to put the Top of the Hill site (1016 Grandview Avenue) into a 'clean, safe, dry' interim park condition using $1 million in capital funds, retain the 1924/1936 firehouse west half, and proceed with a parks master plan and archaeological research before final reuse decisions.
City staff told the Recreation Services and Public Facilities Committee on Oct. 12, 2025, that when the municipal functions move from the Top of the Hill site, the city will use a $1,000,000 allocation to put the property into an interim park condition and preserve options for long-term reuse.
Why it matters: 1016 Grandview Avenue is centrally located and long familiar to residents as the municipal campus and a historic firehouse site. How the city treats the site in the interim and during master planning will shape neighborhood access, park connections and preservation of potential archaeological resources.
City staff recommended leaving the 1924 and 1936 portions of the firehouse intact while removing the later (1960s) addition. The design intent for the interim work includes removing most asphalt, preserving some north-side parking for maintenance and public access, narrowing curb cuts, extending sidewalks for pedestrian safety and restoring green space. Staff said the existing traffic signal at Grandview Avenue would remain and could be evaluated for pedestrian safety improvements.
The presentation outlined options for adding restrooms either by a small rear addition or by reusing existing interior space near existing plumbing; staff emphasized funding constraints and said the $1,000,000 is likely conservative and may not cover all desired improvements. Demolition of selected hardscape and partial removal of the 1960s addition was described as possible beginning in early 2026, with an interim community-accessible park sought in mid- to late 2026, contingent on design and bidding.
Staff raised archaeological and historic-preservation considerations. Historical records and oral history—cited by staff—identify several Native American earthworks in the region and an oral-history reference to an “Indian Mound” near the 1924 firehouse; oral accounts described a mound about 10 feet high and 65 feet in diameter and an account that reported skeletal remains found when the mound was removed. Staff said that further archaeological assessment is appropriate during master planning and that intensive excavation or ground-disturbing work should be avoided in the short term.
Staff described the interim approach as intentionally light-touch: remove nonessential paved surfaces, stabilize and secure the site, and avoid deep excavation so future archaeological study and community-driven master planning are not compromised. "The goal with this project is to spend as little as possible, preserve as many opportunities as possible for the future of the site, as fiscally responsible responsibly as possible," Liz, a city staff member, told the committee.
Staff also emphasized timelines for broader planning: master planning for parks is expected to be a multi-year process (staff estimated between two and five years of study and public engagement before a final program and project list), and staff said they hope to begin elements of that engagement next year depending on staffing capacity and workload. Committee members asked whether the city intended to sell the parcel; staff said there are no current plans or considerations to sell the land and that any future change would be a decision for a later council.
Ending: Staff said they will keep the public informed via a project page and will bring detailed design and cost estimates back to the council and advisory boards as the interim design and the parks master plan move forward.
