The Columbus Board of Public Works and Safety awarded the bid for the riverfront tree mitigation project to Williams Creek Management Corp. for $296,257.87.
The new trees will be planted along the riverfront and on Water and Lafayette streets to replace the invasive trees previously removed as a part of the “Our River… Our Riverfront” project.
“When you remove trees, you have to replace those trees,” Mayor Mary Ferdon said. “Even though we’re replacing the trees at the riverfront with better trees, native trees, we still have to mitigate by getting more trees which we’re putting back here.”
The “Our River… Our Riverfront” initiative has been in the planning stages since 2016 with officials beginning the process in 2025. Plans for the project involve removing the failing low-head dam in the East Fork White River, making space for a pedestrian connection to the 1821 Trail and Mill Race Park and providing safe access to the river for emergency personnel and community members.
