Finishing touches and landscaping will continue into the spring, but Dublin’s Riverside Crossing Park, as well as a pedestrian tunnel under Riverside Drive connecting it to Bridge Park, opened Oct. 22.

Construction of the $19.6 million Riverside Crossing Park began in February 2020 after Dublin City Council approved advancement of the project.

The new park, 6635 Riverside Drive, is nestled on the east bank of the Scioto River, west of Riverside Drive and on the north and south sides of the Dublin Link pedestrian bridge.

The city plans to repay the debt for construction of the park with income-tax revenue, although service payments from tax-increment-financing districts in the Bridge Street District are eligible to pay down the debt, according to Shirley Blaine, a public-information officer for Dublin.

A TIF is an economic-development mechanism available to local governments to finance public-infrastructure improvements and, in certain circumstances, residential rehabilitation, according to the Ohio Department of Development.

A TIF locks in the taxable worth of real property at the value it holds at the time the authorizing legislation is approved, diverting resulting incremental revenue to designated uses.

The park’s upper and lower plazas, shared-use paths, south lawn, water features and pedestrian tunnel at John Shields Parkway are completed, but the north lawn and other greenspace will remain closed to allow the grass and other landscaping to establish themselves, Blaine said. Those latter components are expected to open in spring 2022, she said.

Dublin plans to hold an opening celebration for Riverside Crossing Park at a later date, Blaine said.

Julie Douglas, who lives with her husband, Craig, in Bridge Park and watched the park's construction, was enjoying the new park on the morning of Oct. 27.

"It's a peaceful park; I love it," said Douglas, who was walking a Shih Tzu, Dexter, and a Chorkie mix, Fiona.

Dublin resident Sara Scarborough, who had her 3-year-old daughter and 1-year-old son with her, was visiting the park for the first time.

"It is such a pretty park, and (my) kids will love it," Scarborough said.

Dublin leaders are pleased to add the park to the city’s options, said Matt Earman, director of Dublin Parks and Recreation.

“We are excited to open more amenities in Riverside Crossing Park, and come late spring 2022, Riverside Crossing Park will officially join Dublin’s extensive 60-plus parks and green spaces,” Earman said.

As one of the city’s “most important civic and natural spaces, Riverside Crossing “encompasses both sides of the Scioto River to further enhance and connect Historic Dublin and Bridge Park,” Earman said.

The park’s upper plaza and pavilion includes a shaded gathering space with lights, a gas fireplace, a seating area with tables and chairs, restroom facilities, Wi-Fi access and an overlook of the Scioto River.

The lower plaza includes benches, tables and chairs, lights, flowing-water features and a boulder play area with artificial turf and attenuated padding.

The upper and lower plazas are connected by a stairwell, and a shared-use path connects the plazas to Riverside Drive and the pedestrian tunnel on the north end of the park.

Construction on the first phase of trails, which includes a loop trail in the open area under the Dublin Link, will begin later this year and will continue into next spring, Blaine said. Future trails to the north and south are included in the city’s master plan and will be added to the city’s capital-improvements budget in the near future, she said.

The west plaza adjacent to the Dublin Link also is part of Riverside Crossing Park. Construction began on the west plaza in December 2018; the plaza "hardscape" is complete, but additional landscaping and path connection are yet to be finished, Blaine said.

For more information about Riverside Crossing Park, go to BridgeStreet.DublinOhioUSA.gov.