Downtown plaza plan brings $4 million pricetag

The entrance to downtown Columbus would receive a $4 million dollar refresh under a proposal to revamp the plaza leading from the Second Street bridge to the Bartholomew County Courthouse.

The Columbus Redevelopment Commission heard the proposal from designer Merritt Chase this week.

The proposal would include two main elements, a public safety plaza featuring monuments to police and firefighters on the north side, and a public gathering area with trees, shade and a water feature on the south side. The water feature would be a space of shallow moving water for relaxation and wading. There would also be picnic areas, a community lawn that could be used for events such as a farmer’s market and some amphitheater seating.

The area would be set off from the roadway with trees, meadow areas and an elevated barrier.

The iconic Crack the Whip sculpture of children playing would be moved to the public area on the south of the project. The existing POW/MIA memorial monument would be removed. The Robert D. Garton plaza sign and sculpture would also be moved to more prominent locations.

Last year, the commission hired the Indianapolis and Pittsburgh based design firm to come up with a plan to improve the area, which is currently underutilized. The city’s goal was to tie the plaza into the 1821 Bicentennial Trail as well as the city’s riverfront development project.

The proposal will come back before the redevelopment commission next month, and then could be up for approval by the City Council in November.

If approved by city officials later this year, a proposed timeline would start construction next fall with work finishing in early 2027.

Images courtesy of Merritt Chase via Columbus Redevelopment Commission