Amanda Van Benschoten

avbnky@nky.com

After more than a decade, Riverfront Commons is on the path to reality

First leg of the 11.5-mile project opened Wednesday, better connecting Newport's riverfront

Eventually, Riverfront Commons will run through all six river cities and spur growth along the Ohio River

NEWPORT – It started more than a decade ago with a simple vision: create a way for people to walk and bike along the southern shore of the Ohio River.

The path ahead wasn't easy, however. Planners ran into obstacles such as the need to stabilize parts of the riverbank, not to mention trying to secure funding during a recession.

But community leaders stuck together, the riverfront development agency Southbank Partners plugged ahead, and today the long-awaited Riverfront Commons project is finally becoming a reality.

On Wednesday, the first leg of the project opened to the public: a 3,000-foot pedestrian bridge and path atop and carved into the earthen levee between the Purple People Bridge and Daniel Carter Beard (Big Mac) Bridge.

"This is a symbol of what can be accomplished when public officials get together and work toward a common goal," said Roger Peterman, chairman of the Riverfront Commons Committee, a member of Southbank's board of directors and chairman of the Northern Kentucky Port Authority.

The $1.2 million path connects the restaurants, condominiums and apartments along Riverboat Row with the Purple People Bridge and with Newport on the Levee. Eventually, it will be one piece in an 11.5-mile multi-use path that stretches along the Ohio River from Fort Thomas in the east to Ludlow in the west.

"This is the beginning of a big dream, and it's going to pay huge dividends. Because when all these cities are connected, it's going to be huge," said state Rep. Dennis Keene, the Wilder Democrat who represents the riverfront region. "The river is the mechanism we're going to use to revitalize all of these riverfront neighborhoods. It's going to start here and move in."

Engineers are drawing up plans now for other sections of Riverfront Commons in Ludlow and western Covington for which federal, state and local dollars have already been secured. Covington is also applying for a federal grant to redevelop its riverfront in conjunction with the project. Other legs of the project will have to wait until funding becomes available.

When it's finished, however, Riverfront Commons will connect Northern Kentucky's river cities in a new way: visitors and locals alike will be able to travel from Fort Thomas to Ludlow on foot or by bicycle, visiting local attractions along the way.

It's more than a quality-of-life project, however: Riverfront Commons will ultimately grow the economy by bringing more people – and their dollars – to the riverfront and its restaurants and businesses.

"It will create economic development. It will spur jobs. People want to be where other people are at," said Newport Mayor Jerry Peluso.

Eventually, the project could lead to new riverfront development: planners believe it could spur the redevelopment of the aging Kenton County Courthouse at the foot of the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge and the redevelopment of Ludlow's riverfront.

"Riverfront Commons has awakened that 'I can do anything' confidence in all of us," Keene said. ⬛