Cincinnati City Council has approved an emergency ordinance allowing city manager Milton Dohoney Jr. to enter into a project partnership agreement (PPA) with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for construction of Cincinnati Riverfront Park.

According to the ordinance language, the PPA is necessary in order "to foster a partnering strategy and a working relationship through a mutually developed formal strategy of commitment and communication as embodied within the PPA, which created an environment where trust and teamwork prevent disputes, foster a cooperative bond between the Corps and the City, and facilitates the successful implementation of the Project".

Both parties entered into a similar agreement for the engineering and design of the park in June 2003.

Under terms of the agreement, the City will be required to contribute 50 percent of the $30-$36 million cost of the park's first phase, which will include among its sources $7 million in capital improvement program project funds and the total combined value of City-owned land, easements, and rights-of-way in the project area.

Groundbreaking was held in September for the first phase of Cincinnati Riverfront Park, which is expected to include a grand fountain and pools, a glass floor promenade with balconies, a new restaurant, shade trellises and play areas, a visitor's center and a public bike center.

Previous reading on BC:
$2.97M Cincinnati Riverfront Park grant application approved (6/22/09)
Ohio grant could aid first phase of Cincinnati Riverfront Park (6/15/09)