Dayton Riverfront Plan

Spring 2022 Progress Report

Jun 21, 2022

The vibrant redevelopment of downtown is spilling up, down, and over our rivers to Dayton’s neighborhoods along all points of the compass. The Dayton Riverfront Plan continues to spur on this evolution. The Third Street Bridge has reopened; the Gem City Market is...

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About the 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.

Partners

  • City of Dayton
  • Five Rivers MetroParks
  • Miami Conservancy District
  • CityWide Development Corporation
  • Downtown Dayton Partnership
  • Greater Dayton Regional Transit Authority
  • Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission
  • Montgomery County
  • Montgomery County Land Bank

Keep up with our progress

Tour a map of the Plan’s study area to see what projects have been completed, what projects are being implemented, and what projects are being planned right now.

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News

Achieving a Healthy City for All

Feb 20, 2023 | ,

A major tenet of the Dayton Riverfront Plan is to achieve a healthy city where places and programs support health, safety, and wellness for all who live, learn, work and play along the riverfront. In the Miami Valley, more than a third of adults are obese and one in...

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Reconnecting a City Divided by Roads

Jan 30, 2023 |

The Dayton Riverfront Master Plan is, in many ways, a plan about connecting. This is a common theme among the many projects being advanced—connecting neighborhoods with waterways, connecting neighborhoods with one another and connecting residents with natural...

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Our Goals

Economic Engine

Leverage the rivers to catalyze development in greater downtown and ensure long-term vitality of the region.

Something for Everyone

Provide more diverse programs and experiences, and ensure their equitable distribution across the riverfront.

Heart of Dayton

Enhance Dayton’s identity through placemaking that celebrates the historic legacy, cultural heritage, and vibrant future of its rivers.

Healthy City

Build in places and programs that support health, safety, and wellness for all who live, learn, work, and play along the riverfront.

Take me to the River

Improve access through physical connections to and across the riverfront and to the surrounding community

Living Protection

Promote the ecological health of the riverfront while continuing to protect from
flooding.

The Plan

Guided by input from partners, stakeholders, and the public over a year-long process, the Dayton Riverfront Plan evolved to a roadmap for making our rivers exciting assets and destinations.
Download Plan (PDF)
> Plan Recommendations (map)
> Focal Park Recommendations (map)