I, like many other Mariemonters, am enjoying the 1.4 mile scenic trail around the 80 acres of farm land in the flood plain of the Little Miami River owned by Mariemont. This ample walking and biking path is a fine addition to the range of activities offered to residents of the Village.
The media contains many articles about the Wasson Line Bicycle Trail, the Eastern Corridor Project that would extend Red Bank Road to Route 32, and the Oasis Trail Transit study for public light rail transportation connecting to Downtown Cincinnati. Each of these projects impacts Mariemont’s South 80 acres. However, many barriers such as zoning, ownership, eminent domain, preservation, safety, cost and engineering stand in the way of any of these projects becoming reality any time soon.
When I hike the trail, I see additional opportunities for the Village to utilize this area such as:
- A couple of baseball diamonds or soccer fields with a parking lot. This would alleviate some of the congestion and improve safety around Dogwood Park in the height of baseball season.
- A shelter with a picnic area along the stretch of the trail that runs along the main channel of the Little Miami River.
- A landing or dock along the Little Miami to accommodate small boats and give access to the River for swimming and fishing.
- For the gardeners, a shed to house roto-tillers and power equipment, and a water line to permit irrigation during summer dry spells.
- Dredging to open up the parallel channel of the Little Miami along which most of the trail follows to permit the channel to flow and eliminate stagnant smelly pools of water.
If the Village really pursued a robust recreational strategy to develop the 80 acres, I think it might preempt the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) from routing the connector through that area. Does this approach make sense? Let us know your thoughts.