The Riverfront Project has received our IDNR permit and is working with IDEM and USACE for permitting.

During construction, the Riverfront Project will support approximately 89 jobs, infuse $1.6 million dollars into the local economy and create approximately $280,000 in state and local tax revenue.

The City has received a permit from the IDNR and the design team is currently working with the USACE and IDEM to obtain the final permits needed to construct the project.​

In August, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) has determined that the Columbus Riverfront Project (“Our River….Our Riverfront”) is eligible for Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) funding. Funding will be awarded in the amount of $600,000 to support Columbus’ vision to create an iconic riverfront experience that improves safety through connectivity and access, ecology, repair eroding banks, and expand usable greenspace and workforce development efforts.

The IEDC, in conjunction with Ernst and Young, have reviewed the Columbus Riverfront proposal prepared through collaboration between South Central Indiana Talent Region, SIHCDC, Columbus Redevelopment, The Columbus Park Foundation, ARa and additional contributors. We are very excited to receive READI state funding support, which will help drive the riverfront revitalization to come!

The City recently received a $1.7 million grant from Next Level Trails to assist with constructing the project and is actively pursuing other grants as well.

We have been diligently working to ensure public input on all plans to refocus attention on our Riverfront.  We realize that this is “our” River and that the future of our community will continue to be tied to innovation and creativity.  Having a vibrant Riverfront that is developed based upon considerable community and public input is important to the future of Columbus.

Please note that we have also presented the proposed improvements to representatives of Congressmen Pence and Governor Holcomb, who support the many benefits of the Riverfront project.

We will continue to make updates to this website to keep you informed as the project moves forward.

Please take a few minutes to review this short video that outlines plans for
Our River … Our Riverfront Project.  

Redeveloped Riverfronts are creating valuable assets and driving economic development for communities across the Midwest. Click on the cities below to see some of the exciting ways communities have revitalized their riverfronts into beautiful parks and greenways that are reconnecting people to their rivers and waterways.