Renderings show the proposed bridge and parkland on either side of the Olentangy River. Visuals by POD Design and Burgess & Niple.

The latest plans for a new pedestrian bridge and riverfront park near the new Crew stadium will be presented to the Downtown Commission next week.

Building a bike and pedestrian bridge to connect the western terminus of Nationwide Boulevard to the Olentangy Trail across the river is an idea that was first floated in 2015. At that time, a plan to build offices and apartments on about five acres of land north of Nationwide Boulevard was being considered. Although that plan was approved by the commission – and an updated design for the bridge was later released – the project never moved forward.

Since then, an alternative vision for the area – involving the new soccer stadium and adjacent mixed-use development – has been advancing, with construction work well underway on the stadium portion of the project.

The new proposal for the bridge and parkland along the river will be heard by the commission at its next meeting on February 25. It is listed on the agenda as an application for a certificate of approval, meaning the plan will be voted on by the commission and could move forward if approved.

Materials submitted to the city in advance of the meeting show new landscaped areas on both sides of the river, as well as other amenities like a kayak launch, a bike share station, a dog park, and a new trail running along the east side of the river that appears to extend both south to the Downtown riverfront and north to the Reach on Goodale site.