City staff outlines Paper District Park plan, says construction possible in 2026–27

City staff presented a plan to develop Paper District Park on city-owned parcels west of the Chesapeake, emphasizing the reuse of salvaged materials and an educational component about the paper and local ice industries.

Aaron Klein, staff member, said the project "has been putting ideas on paper" and that the city hopes to move forward with construction in 2026 or 2027. He described plans to incorporate sandstone salvaged from sidewalk programs and large blocks retained from the demolition of the Keller Building, and to reuse rail salvaged from projects on Shoreline Drive and Columbus Avenue.

The project would be a relatively low-cost buildout, Klein said, with the city hiring a landscape architect and using existing renderings and stored materials to reduce construction costs. Klein also said the city is coordinating with the historical society so educational signage reflects both the paper industry and the local ice industry that once operated nearby.

Committee members pressed staff on property ownership at the site adjacent to the Chesapeake. "Last I checked, the tax map showed the condo owners," a committee member said. Klein replied that some parcels are privately owned and that legal and ownership details still need to be worked out; he said the city has been asked in the past to reserve a park on the city-owned piece next to the building and that coordination with the condominium association and the Chesapeake is ongoing.

Klein said the city wants to avoid blocking sunset views from adjacent properties while providing shade and plantings where appropriate. He said staff will continue to refine property boundaries, easements and agreements before selecting a landscape architect and advancing construction.

If advanced, the project would use reused materials and include interpretive signage; a final timeline depends on resolving ownership issues and staff capacity to undertake design work in 2026 or 2027.