Downtown Fort Washington Way caps pitched as event hub

• For decades, Cincinnati has tried to stitch downtown back to its riverfront after Fort Washington Way split the two.

The big picture: Plans include three grass-covered caps, the first being a 1.2-acre park between Vine and Walnut streets overtop traffic for Interstate 71 and U.S. Route 50.

• The 26-year-old bridges on those streets will be rebuilt and new traffic-calming improvements on Second and Third streets will make the area more pedestrian friendly.

What they're saying: "When we consider our major public events — Cincinnati Music Festival, Oktoberfest, BLINK and so on — events like that only get better and bigger with the public access the decks can create," Mayor Aftab Pureval tells Axios.

• "That's what this is about — encouraging more residents and guests to want to spend time and enjoy our downtown."
• Think concerts, food truck rallies, craft fairs and other events, similar to what's offered at Washington Park, Smale Riverfront Park and Fountain Square.
• "The secret sauce isn't just creating green space," Pureval says. "It's programming it so people use it."

🫧 Casey's thought bubble: I'm curious to see how this works during big events.

• Second and Third already get slammed when there's something happening at The Banks or a game, so you have to think traffic will have to change when these parks are full of people.

Yes, but: A $25 million federal grant funds only the first of three planned caps.

• Completing the $200-plus million vision will require additional local, state and federal funding. The city is still fundraising for the $25 million match.

What's next: Construction is expected to begin in 2028 and wrap up by the end of 2029.

• "Getting one cap done to show just how transformational this project will be and can be will be really important to continue the momentum of investment in the downtown area," Pureval says.