The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded an $8.5 million contract to Monarch Construction Company, the first contract it has bid and awarded for Phase I of Cincinnati Riverfront Park.

The contract is for construction of the Walnut Street Grand Stairway and Fountain, which will feature restrooms, an elevator, landscaping, interactive fountains, and various mechanical systems. The concrete construction will be clad in sandstone and paved with granite.

Construction is scheduled to begin within a few weeks.

The second stage of phase one construction work, including the Jacob G. Schmidlapp Stage & Event Lawn, Bike and Mobility Center, donor wall and promenade, is out to bid and expected to be awarded later this summer.

Scheduled to open in April 2011, the first phase of the 45-acre, $120 million Cincinnati Riverfront Park will also include the Moerlein Lager House, a labyrinth, a bike trail, a monument to the Black Brigade of Cincinnati, and various tree groves and gardens.

Previous reading on BC:
Women's Committee announces new initiative for riverfront park (6/1/10)
New construction updates for riverfront park (5/24/10)
Cincinnati Riverfront Park receives $1M gift from Schmidlapp Trusts (4/12/10)
Project manager takes viewers on video tour of Cincinnati Riverfront Park (3/25/10)
Voinovich affirms his support for Cincinnati Riverfront Park (3/22/10)