Ohio Senator Brian Chavez, left, a Marietta native, speaks during a press conference Monday afternoon where it was announced that the city of Marietta will receive $9.4 million to improve Ohio Riverfront Park, also known as Levee Park, and the village of Beverly will receive $1.2 million to add a marina and trails, as Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, right, watches. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

The city of Marietta and the village of Beverly were awarded $9.4 million and $1.2 million, respectively, in funds from the Appalachian Community Grant program as part of the new Ohio’s Wonderful Waterways Initiative Monday afternoon.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine held a press conference for the awards at the Campus Martius Museum in Marietta.

Marietta Mayor Joshua Schlicher thanked everyone for coming to the press conference and introduced DeWine.

DeWine said he announced two years ago that he and Lt. Gov. John Husted were getting ready to present a plan to the general assembly to spend money in Ohio’s 38 Appalachian counties.

“The whole idea was that we didn’t want to decide how the money was spent,” DeWine said. “We wanted the people in the local communities in our Appalachian counties to make the decisions.”

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, left, listens as Marietta Mayor Joshua Schlicher, right, talks about the projects the city will create at Ohio Riverfront Park, also known as Levee Park, with $9.4 million that DeWine awarded, during a press conference Monday afternoon. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

He said communities applied for projects and the projects had to be something that would be transformative and that would be of great help to communities. The first announcement for projects receiving Appalachian Community Grant funds for projects focused on health care was made a few weeks ago, he said.

“Today we’re really focused on the Ohio River and our communities along the Ohio River,” DeWine said about the award announcements. “Today we’re announcing we’re awarding to the city of Marietta $9.4 million and the goal is to follow what the vision is of the community … to transform the riverfront to a development of historic Levee Park.”

According to Schilcher, Levee Park is also known as Ohio Riverfront Park.

DeWine said the projects at Levee Park will “aid the quality of life for those who live here” and will enhance tourism.

“Let me also add an award to Washington County,” DeWine said. “We’re also announcing a $1.2 million grant to the village of Beverly to install a marina to enhance outdoor recreation and to provide direct access from the river to the village’s downtown area.”

Pictured is Ohio Riverfront Park, also known as Levee Park, for which the city of Marietta was awarded $9.4 million as part of the Appalachian Community Grant program to improve the park by adding a retaining wall, building a boat ramp, building an amphitheater and other projects. (Photo by Michelle Dillon)

The money awarded to Marietta and Beverly is part of the new Ohio’s Wonderful Waterfronts Initiative, where $152 million of Appalachian Community Grant program funds will be awarded to communities in 12 counties to expand access to local waterways, revitalize historic riverfront downtowns and create new tourism and recreational opportunities, according to a press release from DeWine’s office.

Washington County Commissioner James Booth spoke after DeWine announced the projects, saying, “It’s not every day that you get to stand here and say ‘Hey, here’s (millions) to revitalize the downtown area of Marietta.'”

Booth also talked about the money awarded to Beverly.

“I went to schools at Fort Frye and to see Beverly get $1.2 million for trails and such … it is kind of nice to see (people) work hard … to make that trail a reality.”

Schlicher spoke next.

“Whew, $9.4 million … I’m very pleased and that money will be well received and vital in accomplishing our goals and wish list for the city of Marietta.”

He then thanked DeWine and his administration for the award on behalf of the city.

Marietta Development Director Geoff Schenkel also spoke. He thanked everyone and said the money will help the city hit its top priority.

“This is a huge day for us,” Schenkel said.

Ohio Sen. Ben Chavez, who is a Marietta native, talked next. He said the last time he was in Marietta it was to announce an award for funds for the area.

“It’s still great indeed to invest in this area,” Chavez said.

Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik closed out the press conference.

“Today with these announcements we are absolutely changing the trajectory of the regions for hundreds, maybe thousands, of families and businesses in communities across our great state,” she said.

She also said the work of local leaders of all the communities that will receive Ohio’s Wonderful Waterfront Initiative funding is “an inspiring example of what happens when you have passion and it meets purpose. I’m so proud I’ve had the opportunity to be a part of it.”

Mihalik said the redevelopment of Levee Park “symbolizes a beacon of hope and its progress for Marietta and the entire Appalachian community.”

After the press conference DeWine talked to The Times about the award announcements.

“We’re announcing many, many different counties, many different communities, but it just seemed appropriate to come to the community where it all started, as far as settlement and that’s Marietta,” DeWine said. “We had to come to Marietta. We want to come to Marietta. Fran and I always loved being here, it’s a beautiful community. It’s a community I think that understands the importance of the Ohio River.”

He said the money the state is providing will allow the community to continue and finish up big projects downtown and will “open up the river even more and make it even more of a beautiful place to come”.

According to DeWine, Monday’s announcement was the first announcement for Ohio’s Wonderful Waterfront Initiative awards and he will do more on Thursday.

After the press conference Schlicher talked about the projects coming to Marietta.

“It’s going to be a great project,” he said about the projects in Levee Park. “The focal point on the river, especially the Ohio River, is the levee area down there. Over the years it’s been added to … This is going to be a chance to take the whole entire area, change the whole landscape.”

He said the improvements at Levee Park will include new sidewalks, ADA accessibility, lighting, getting rid of overhead power lines, clearing it up, parking and trail access. There will be preservation of the historic cobblestones in the area.

Schlicher said originally the city submitted a plan for a bigger amphitheater but now they will still construct it but on a smaller scale. He said it would probably have tiered seating that the community and people attending things like the Ohio River Sternwheel Festival can enjoy.

Beverly Mayor Jim Ullman spoke about the village’s projects after the press conference. He said the village put in for a marina for six boats at the river end of Ferry Street. He said it is a prime spot for boaters to come into the downtown merchant area.

“The multi-use trail, the plans of it really started to be concrete plans a year ago last March” when the village received a grant for planning, Ullman said.

He said the trail is going to start at Lock 4 and go past the sewage treatment plant and will be about a mile long. He also said the trail is the first step in a long range plan for a 20-mile trail that will connect to Devola, Marietta and beyond.

“We’re hoping it brings a lot of people to our area,” Ullman said of the marina and trail.

He said he hopes it brings more people to Beverly Island, too, “which (would bring) more people to the village.”

Ullman said the village of Beverly is “very excited to get this and very thankful,”

During the press conference, DeWine talked about some of the other grants that were awarded during the first round of the Ohio’s Wonderful Waterfronts Initiative.

A total of 19 awards were made, including to the village of Caldwell and the village of McConnelsville, according to a press release from DeWine’s office.

The village of Caldwell in Noble County received $4,009,778 as part of the initiative for its downtown square to undergo streetscape, placemaking and walkability improvements and to revitalize a downtown courtyard next to a historic building into a community gathering and performing arts space, according to the press release.

The release also said that the village of McConnelsville in Morgan County will receive $10,346,714, to make improvements to enhance pedestrian access and riverfront opportunities through the enhancement of streetscapes connecting the town square to riverfront areas, pedestrian accessibility and ADA additions, greenspaces, a riverfront park, an amphitheater and a playground.