Dayton Riverfront Plan

The Stillwater River. Wolf Creek. Mad River. The Great Miami River. How many cities can boast that four waterways traverse their downtown? Dayton’s rivers and creeks are the lifeblood of the region, linking neighborhoods, lending a dramatic backdrop for downtown events, and drawing people into the river for outdoor recreation activities. From paddling amid the natural surroundings of Mad and Stillwater Rivers to attending a concert at RiverScape MetroPark, downtown Dayton’s riverfronts today offer an extraordinary benefit to the community; one that is not yet fully realized. Building on decades of efforts to ensure protection of the city from flooding; strong momentum in the local economy, and new recreation projects to activate the water, this is the moment to put the forgotten areas of Dayton’s riverfronts back on the map.

The Plan was created from a partnership-driven revitalization effort that brought together Five Rivers MetroParks, Miami Conservancy District, the City of Dayton, Montgomery County, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission, the Downtown Dayton Partnership, and the Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority (RTA). Additional funding support was provided by The Dayton Foundation and the Montgomery County Land Bank.