City of Blue Ash, OH - Future Airport Park & Golf Course Improvements Update

Throughout 2007, Blue Ash continued work with the City of Cincinnati towards the eventual development by Blue Ash of a 130-acre future park on property at the Blue Ash Airport. BLUE ASH OFFICIALLY FINALIZED THE PURCHASE OF THIS PROPERTY FROM CINCINNATI ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 31, 2007!! (see photo below). <Read the entire August 31, 2007 News Release.>

Pictured are Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory (left) & Blue Ash Mayor Jack Buckman signing the closing documents finalizing the sale of the 130 acres. The signing ceremony took place at Cincinnati City Hall at 2:30PM on Friday, Aug. 31st.

Blue Ash plans to develop this property into a park in the future, and thought continues regarding potential park amenities and concepts. In 2008, Blue Ash will continue work with Cincinnati towards the goal of relocating their existing Cincinnati-owned Airport facilities to its reconfigured location south of the existing runway. Cincinnati has three years, plus two optional one-year extensions, to relocate and reconfigure the airport facilities. Though conceptual planning for the new park will continue, actual park development by Blue Ash cannot begin until Cincinnati relocates the existing airport facilities to the remaining Cincinnati-owned 100 acres of the airport property south of the existing runway.

Preliminary conceptual planning continues related to the planned future improvements to the Blue Ash Golf Course. With focus in 2007 and 2008 upon the Rec Center expansion project, it is expected that golf course improvements will not be finalized before 2008 or 2009, with the potential for construction to begin in late 2009 or 2010. One of the major concepts being considered currently includes the overall course layout, including placement of a driving range. With potential relocation of two golf holes to the airport park property east of Plainfield Road, golf course improvements are also somewhat “on hold” until Cincinnati relocates the airport facilities.

The future 130-acre park to be developed on the former airport property and the improvements planned for the Golf Course were made possible by passage of Issue 15 by Blue Ash voters in November 2006.

Image showing concepts for the future 130-acre park near the Airport. (Click on image to see a larger version.)

Architect's rendering of the front view of a future golf course clubhouse. Rendering by Steed-Hammond-Paul. (Click on image to see a larger version.)

Architect's rendering of the BACK view (from the Course) of a future golf course clubhouse. Rendering by Steed-Hammond-Paul. (Click on image to see a larger version.)