Dogwood Park Centennial Plan Evolves

By Randy York

The Mariemont Centennial Committee held two public meetings on September 13th and October 26th to present proposed plans to update Dogwood Park. The presentation was organized and conducted by the Kleinger’s Group who have been contracted by the Village to prepare the plans.

Following the September 13th meeting, a survey was announced in the October edition of the Mariemont Town Crier, posted on the Village website, and announced to Village email subscribers. Based on the 241 responses, the plans for Dogwood Park have been updated.

The seat wall at the entrance plaza has been eliminated. An entrance feature can be added later that may match the other stone entrances in the Village (Plainville Road and Hopkins Park). Kleinger’s is working on options to reposition the handicapped parking near the playground. The original plan required the removal of a large heritage street tree; the revised plan would provide that no street trees or heritage trees in the park be removed. The parking lot at the south end of the park would be redesigned to provide a one-way entrance and exit and provide a drop-off point. The footprint of the parking lot would be reduced while still bringing the parking lot up to code.

To-date, $540,000 has been raised that is designated to Dogwood Park. In September, the Village was awarded a 90% matching grant to construct a sidewalk along Dogwood Park from Mariemont Avenue to Wooster Pike. The Village has applied for a Land & Water Conservation matching Grant that could fund up to $500,000 for the park, and there are plans to apply for a Community Development Block Grant and a Community Funding Projects Award.

For additional information ,visit mariemontpreservation.org/centennial.