This spring, Great Parks of Hamilton County and Columbia Township plan to complete phase one of their initiative to extend the Little Miami Scenic Trail into Mariemont, Ohio. With construction underway, this jointly funded shared-use trail will extend from Newtown Road to Walton Creek, including direct access to Fifty West Brewing Co.’s new Burger and Beer Garden concept.
“We’re thrilled to announce this first phase of the extension of the Little Miami Scenic Trail,” said Todd Palmeter, CEO of Great Parks of Hamilton County. “The public and private sectors of Columbia Township, Great Parks and Fifty West working together to create greater access to shared-use trails and outdoor experiences for the residents of Hamilton County is exemplary and a model we plan to replicate on future projects.”
Preliminary construction began in January 2020 with an anticipated grand opening in early May. The existing trail bypasses Mariemont near Newtown Road. The new trail will continue West, before coming to a terminus at the Walton Creek Bridge. Great Parks and Columbia Township are currently reviewing proposals and securing funding to further develop the trail to the Mariemont Public Library.
“We’ve worked in conjunction with Great Parks and Columbia Township for almost 10 years on this trail expansion,” said Fifty West Founder and Managing Partner Bobby Slattery. “This trail is an asset to greater Cincinnati. We will continue to invest in infrastructure and programming that make our back door along the path our front door, as we race towards completion.”
Fifty West designed its new Burger Bar and Beer Garden with a focus on families. Patrons entering the campus from the Little Miami Scenic Trail extension can expect plenty of bike parking, an outdoor dining space, futsal court, green space for active programming and a sand play area for kids. The fast-casual restaurant concept features Americana-style fare, including milkshakes, burgers, hot dogs and sandwiches inspired by the various states connected to Route 50 throughout America. The concept also includes 16 beer taps along with house-brewed root beer and sodas for kids.
“Our goal with the space is to create an inclusive outdoor area that connects active people of all ages to the trail,” said Slattery. “Whether you want to bike, hike, canoe, kayak, run or walk, we provide a destination for rest and entertainment when you’re finished. We’ve studied other successful bike trail developments and feel like this project will be very special and an added benefit for Cincinnatians for many years.”
Columbia Township is working in conjunction with the Ohio Department of Transportation to engineer and install a new midblock pedestrian crossing across Wooster Pike connecting Fifty West Brewpub to the Little Miami Scenic Trail and the new facility.
“We understand that the people of Columbia Township want a walkable, safe neighborhood and this crosswalk combined with the Little Miami Scenic Trail extension will help connect our community with surrounding communities,” said Columbia Township Trustee David Kubicki. “We hope to continue these types of public-private collaborations to spur connectivity and business development within the township.”
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