Buckeye Hills Regional Council Downtown Workshops
Buckeye Hills Region, Ohio
WHY
Following on the announcement of a historic $500 million investment in Appalachian Ohio by Governor DeWine's administration, Buckeye Hills Regional Council partnered with Designing Local to host a series of eight workshops aimed at helping communities reimagine their downtowns.
Buckeye Hills Regional Council and Designing Local are excited to help communities translate their vision into a unique, interesting, and powerful built environment through these workshop sessions.
HOW
The series was free and open to all Southeast Ohio community leaders, elected officials, nonprofits, and anyone working to make their community a better place to live, work and play. Each workshop covered the topics of Outdoor Recreation, Historic Preservation, Public Art, Streetscapes, Pedestrian Infrastructure, and more. Designing Local helped guide communities through the best practices of developing both small- and large-scale revitalization projects.
WHAT
Following the completion of the workshops Designing Local created a workbook intended to assist folks within the Buckeye Hills region to develop projects.
Ohio & Erie Canal Southern Descent NRHP Nomination
Various Sites Throughout Central And Southern Ohio
WHY
The Ohio & Erie Canal was originally constructed in the 1820’s and 1830’s and conveyed goods from Portsmouth to Cleveland. The canal system played a critical role in the early development of Ohio and established the growth of Akron, Columbus, Chillicothe, Newark, and numerous other cities along the route. The canal system was the key transportation system up until the proliferation of railroads in the 1860’s.
Although parts of the canal are on the national register, much of the southern portion is not. This nomination covers many of the lock structures and other remaining infrastructure that remain on the southern descent between Columbus and Portsmouth.
HOW
The nomination team aggregated a list of potential infrastructure to be placed on the register and contacted private property owners or municipalities to seek support. The final list includes existing lock structures, watered canals, bridge abutments, and other elements that are located in 4 counties throughout Central and Southern Ohio.
Identifying the location for each of the elements included field visits and the use of high resolution aerial photography. A boundary was created for each element which will serve as the official historic site on the National Register of Historic Places.
WHAT
Given its geographic reach and broad collection of relatively small sites, this nomination was technically challenging. However, it serves as a model for other non-contiguous district nominations that preserve transportation, infrastructure, or other geographically complex historic sites.
Ohio & Erie Canal Southern Descent Heritage Trail
Various Sites Throughout Central And Southern Ohio
WHY
The Canal Partners is a coalition of communities in Southern Ohio along the alignment of the Southern Descent of the Ohio & Erie Canal. These communities have existing and lost features of the canal, as well as numerous related historical elements.
The goal of the Canal Partners is to create a heritage trail that will attract tourists throughout the corridor and to communicate the history of the canal system to a broad audience.
HOW
This grant-funded project included several team members including the project leaders, a graphic design consultant, the partner communities, and Designing Local.
The first phase process included engagement of the Canal Partners through workshops and a survey. This phase also included mapping of the resources and other sites along the trail. Once this was completed, a highly visual plan booklet of the sites was created which included descriptions of the various elements as well as a prototype trailhead design. Part of the project study will included bike and pedestrian trail connections to the canal right-of-way.
WHAT
The end product is being used by the partner communities in their planning and capital improvement projects for the next several years. The mapping will be used by tourists to experience the canal features. The project was completed in summer 2021.
Lockbourne Veterans Park
Lockbourne, Ohio
WHY
Lockbourne is located south of Columbus and has a charming collection of historic homes and buildings. The Village is taking steps to capitalize on various resources including several canal locks and a major stream corridor.
The Village planned to utilize an open lot adjacent to its Town Hall as a site for a new Town Green that will include a new Veterans Memorial, a performance pavilion, plantings, and various amenities. The Town Green will become the focal point of future community events.
HOW
Designing Local worked with Village leadership to develop a working concept which was used to solicit feedback from various community stakeholders. Adjustments to the original concept were made and multiple variations of various design elements were created.
In addition, the plan included an integrated plan for phasing. The Veterans’ Memorial were constructed first and the remaining elements were constructed when funds become available. The plan allows for the Town Green to function with only some elements complete or as a fully realized plan.
WHAT
The park had its grand opening on November 10, 2021, and included a substantial Veterans Day celebration. The park will be utilized for both Memorial Day and Veterans Day celebrations going forward.
