COLUMBUS, Ohio - Like gem cutters working painstakingly on a diamond in the rough, planners in Columbus have kept city improvements at a steady pace for several years. Despite economic dips and swings, functional and aesthetic changes have added shine and luster to a city that, a decade ago, looked worn and tarnished.
The city's new 12-acre, $15 million Northbank Park on the bank of the Scioto River is part of Mayor Michael B. Coleman's plan to lure people into the city. Planners have now accomplished a key part of it by developing a winding, interconnected park system that runs along the river through the downtown area. It's also been a great enticement to real estate development. Late this year, two new, eight-story condominium buildings with 98 units will be completed just north of the park.