City of Columbus - File #: 1945-2025

• File #: 1945-2025
• Version: 1
• Type: Ordinance
• Status: Passed
• File created: 7/2/2025
• In control: Neighborhoods, Recreation, & Parks Committee
• On agenda: 7/28/2025
• Final action: 7/30/2025
• Title: To authorize the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to modify an existing contract with E.L. Robinson Engineering of Ohio Co. for the Big Walnut Trail - Refugee Road to East Main Street Project to add additional funding; to authorize the transfer of $1,037,030.70 between the General Fund Income Tax Set Aside Subfund and the Recreation and Parks Bond Fund; to authorize the appropriation of $462,969.30 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund; to authorize the appropriation of $1,037,030.70 in the Income Tax Set Aside Subfund and Recreation and Parks Voted Bond Fund; to authorize the transfer of $462,969.30 within the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund; to authorize the expenditure of $1,500,000.00 from the Recreation and Parks Permanent Improvement Fund and Voted Bond Fund; and to declare an emergency. ($1,500,000.00)

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
7/30/2025	1	CITY CLERK	Attest
7/29/2025	1	MAYOR	Signed
7/28/2025	1	COUNCIL PRESIDENT	Signed
7/28/2025	1	Columbus City Council	Approved	Pass

Explanation

Background: This ordinance authorizes the Director of the Recreation and Parks Department to modify an existing contract with E. L. Robinson Engineering of Ohio Co. to provide construction services associated with the Big Walnut Trail - Refugee Road to East Main Street - Stage 2 Phase 1 Project. The modification amount being authorized by this ordinance is $1,500,000.00.

This is a planned legislative request for Stage 2 of the central section of the Big Walnut Trail. This section includes 3.5 miles of 10 foot asphalt trail from Nafzger Park on Refugee Road to the north end of Big Walnut Park at East Main Street. The central reach of the Big Walnut Trail is developing into one of the region’s most scenic and accessible greenways in Central Ohio. It will put thousands of residents of the Mid East, South East, and Far East Communities within a few minutes access to the regional trail network.

This project has been awarded $7,483,914.00 from Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC) Attributable Funds towards construction in the 2028 fiscal year. The extension begins in Nafzger Park, along Big Walnut Creek at Refugee Road. From there, the trail will head north along Big Walnut Creek and the Noe Bixby Road corridor, passing beneath I-270, Norfolk Southern Railroad, and I-70 to a proposed stream crossing into Big Walnut Park. The trail then uses the existing one mile trail ending north of Livingston Avenue. The final segment will head north through Big Walnut Parkland to the northern terminus on the south side of East Main Street at the Fairway Boulevard signal crossing. The project will also provide connection to the Walnut Heights, Pine Hills, and Shady Lane Neighborhoods.

Ordinance 2015-2024 authorized Stage 1, which encompassed preliminary engineering, environmental studies, and community outreach. The Stage 2 contract modification is structured into two phases to allow the consultant to advance the project while the City awaits capital fund re...