If you haven’t noticed, one intersection into Chillicothe's Yoctangee Park has reopened, one road in the park is now permanently closed, and another road is back to being two-way…while being rebuilt.
Renovation of parts of the city’s major park continus, as the annual Feast of the Flowering Moon – in the park – approaches, next weekend.
This means that a second entrance into Yoctangee is open again – Mulberry Street – in addition to Paint Street. (See a video of it below.)
However, southbound Yoctangee Boulevard remains closed at Mill Street, blocking that access unless you’re coming northbound on Yoctangee. But…the entire intersection is planned to be closed all summer, once school ends, to complete rebuilding it into a small roundabout.
Mayor Luke Feeney had discussed the Yoctangee Boulevard situation in March. See my story on that, with its link to more details on plans for the intersection.
Locals who know city streets have been using a small, narrow street to cut over to southbound Yoctangee Boulevard…but that is creating dangerous conditions on now-congested High Street, which is serving as a bypass of both southbound Bridge Street and Yoctangee Boulevard.
A resident on High Street pointed that out in Monday’s Chillicothe Council. Hear Erik Hill in council’s video on YouTube or Facebook, from 20:00 to 29:00.
Inside Yoctangee Park, the middle part of the main road between Mill Street and Paint Street – Alexander Road, also known as Tritscheller Road – has been permanently closed, between both ends of the lakeside road.
Plans called for the road to be cut off northwest of the armory to prevent the park from being used as a cut-through for traffic and to make it safer for park visitors. (This was also called for it the 1990s park master plan.)
Planners also said the road was being removed because it did not fit into the safety constraints of a drop-off circle / cul de sac in front of the armory.
Council briefly considered a modification of the road to allow it to remain open, but its S-curve modification would have required a few mature trees to be removed, and council voted to keep to the original plan to remove the road.
Then to balance the loss of that road, the park road along the lake – western Enderlin Circle – is being renovated into a two-way road. It has been one-way southbound for years, but longtime residents say that started in the 1970s.
Sidewalks, curbing, and some wider pavement is currently being built while the road remains open. It is busy with park visitors, sightseers…and waterfowl.
The middle part of Enderlin Circle, between the Paint Street and Mulberry Street entrances, is still being rebuilt – along the pavilion building and hillside amphitheater under construction, and renovated parking areas.
Also learn about the response by the Chillicothe Ross Chamber of Commerce to the serious impact of traffic hassles on local businesses, including the street changes around Yoctangee Park. See also renderings of the final plans for Yoctangee Park, as released in September.
Find the article on the Scioto Post.
Kevin Coleman covers local government and culture for the Scioto Post and iHeart Media Southern Ohio. For stories or questions, contact Kevin Coleman or the iHeart Southern Ohio Newsroom.
A drive-through of the newly reopened Mulberry and Riverside Streets.