The Lick Run Greenway is more than just a park surrounding a stream with trees and other landscaping.
It's also a $110 million dollar project by the Metropolitan Sewer District to prevent sanitary sewer and storm water from overflowing into the Mill Creek.
PEOPLE OF SOUTH FAIRMOUNT HAVEPUT UP WITH HEAVY CONSTRUCTIONAND TRAFFIC HEADACHES ALONGQUEEN CITY AND WESTWOOD.BUT AS WCPO 9 NEWS REPORTERLISA SMITH SHOWS US -- THEPAYOFF IS ALMOST HERE -- INTHE FORM OF THE LICK RUNGREENWAY.IT'S TAKEN MORE THAN THREELONG YEARS TO GET EVERYTHINGIN PLACE SO THAT A STREAM CANFLOW THROUGH SOUTH FAIRMOUNT."I did think it would takethis long, I can't wait 'tilit's done.
And I'm reallyexcited to see what it brings."JACQUI CHISCHILLIE IS ALIFE-LONG RESIDENT OF SOUTHFAIRMOUNT.
HER HUSBAND JIMCASEY IS THE COMMUNITYCOUNICIL PRESIDENT."What thisproject did was kind of re-write the canvas."THEMETROPOLITAN SEWER DISTRICT ISCONSTRUCTING THE LICK RUNGREENWAY AS A WAY TO SEPARATESTORM AND SANITARY WATER ANDPREVENT OVERFLOWS INTO THEMILL CREEK.BUT, THE PROJECTALSO RE-CREATES THE LICK RUNSTREAM AS A MAJOR FEATUREALONG QUEEN CITY AND WESTWOODAVENUE.
A LARGE POND BEINGBUILT NEAR HARRISON..
WILL BEKEY."Once that pond iscompleted, we will be able tohave the flow from the streambe recirculated so that youwill actually have the amenityof a natural stream flowingthrough that area." COST OFTHE LICK RUN PROJECT COULDREACH 120-MILLION DOLLARS..SEWER RATES CONTRIBUTE TOPAYING THAT PRICETAG.
IT WASAN EPA CONSENT DECREE THATMANDATED A REMEDY FOROVERFLOWS INTO THE MILL CREEK.HOWEVER, THE PROJECT IS AGREEN SOLUTION THAT GIVES THENEIGHBORHOOD ADDED AMENITIES."We have lighting and thebeginnings really of the civicrecreation space that is beingrestored that used to be inplace including playgroundsand basketball courts."AND,THE COMMUNITY IS LOOKING ATEVEN MORE ENHANCEMENTS LIKEBENCHES AND BUSINESSES..
AND,NEW RESIDENTS."It opened upkind of a large amenity that'sgoing to bring people, or wehope is going to bring peoplearound that core asset."CONSTRUCTION OF THE LICK RUNGREENWAY IS EXPECTED TO BEFINISHED BY SPRING 2021.LSWCPO 9 NEWS