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Rain garden maintenance – Late Summer 2026 status: Record-setting rainfall continues across Columbus this summer. These conditions continue to foster expansive plant growth, requiring maintenance teams to spend extra time at each basin visit trimming and maintaining existing native vegetation. All Blueprint rain gardens are maintained monthly. You can learn more about the maintenance program HERE

Walhalla Ravine Restoration

SAVE THE DATE! Stream Restoration Construction Kickoff September 10th Blueprint Clintonville 3: Tulane-Findlay

Walhalla Stream Restoration is a Win-Win

Stream restoration in the Walhalla Ravine helps to preserve one of the city’s natural resources and helps to improve water quality by reducing Total Suspended Solids (TSS), which include sediment and various pollutants, from entering the stream due to bank erosion. By restoring banks on Walhalla Ravine, sediment is prevented from entering the Olentangy River downstream. By doing this stream restoration, the Blueprint project saves over $25 million and requires less green infrastructure to be built throughout the Clintonville 3 Blueprint project area.

Pre-Construction Phase

Plans have been approved, work has been bid to a contractor with an approved contract by City Council. 

Walhalla Design Update

New for 2026: Stream restoration is set to begin in mid September! This long-anticipated project will help reduce pollution entering our waterways while sustainably securing the banks of the Walhalla Ravine on the eastern side near Clinton Hts. Ave. Join Blueprint for heavy appetizers and our pre-construction presentation on September 10th at the Clintonville Women’s Club. Doors open and food is served at 5:30 p.m. Our presentation on the ravine work begins at 6:00 with an open house with designers and engineers to follow. 

 

Project information: The roadway material will be asphalt, with no added sidewalk (see final renderings below). This decision was based on community and resident feedback that overwhelmingly supported asphalt material, due to noise and long-term maintenance concerns. The guardrail material is timber on the roadside and reinforced in the back by weathered steel. Upon installation, it will appear shiny silver and, over time, will change to match the color of the wood.

2024 Project Renderings

 

Click HERE to view the slides from the presentation!

 

After feedback received during the February 28, 2024 public meeting, as well as multiple conversations with residents adjacent to the ravine, the final design will include an asphalt roadway with no additional sidewalk. The renderings below show the final designs selected.

 

Walhalla Project Schedule

  • Survey
  • Design
  • Construction

Phase 1

Surveying: 2017-2018

8 permanent cross sections of the Walhalla Ravine were studied from June 2018 to October 2020. Results of this study indicated that Reach 1 and Reach 2 experienced the highest bank erosion rates, and the restoration of these sections would help Blueprint meet its TSS reduction goal. More information can be found here

Phase 2

Green Infrastructure Design: 2017-2025

After the Walhalla Ravine Study, Stantec developed preliminary plans for the Walhalla Ravine, which were communicated to impacted residents, FLOW, and FOTR. Input from residents, stakeholders, and other city departments further shaped these plans as the team developed the preferred design. This revised detailed design was presented to the community on October 11, 2023 and again on February 28, 2024. Stantec continues to incorporate feedback into this design as they make their way to final design.

Learn More

Phase 3

Shovels in the Ground: 2026

Construction of green infrastructure involves work in the public right-of-way and street. All neighborhood residents will be notified of anticipated impacts, and Blueprint will send out weekly construction updates to keep everyone informed of the schedule and activities.

Learn More

Frequently Asked Questions

How many trees are being removed from the ravine?

There are currently 11 trees slated for removal: ten 18” DBH trees and one 48” DBH tree.

Will the City close Walhalla Road?

At this time, closing the road is not on the table.

Why does a guardrail have to be installed along the stream?

The guardrail is necessary to uphold City and state standards for pedestrian and vehicle safety.

Why is only this portion of the ravine undergoing restoration work?

The ravine was studied with a comprehensive approach, and this is the section in most need of bank stabilization and stream restoration; restoring this stretch of the ravine aligns with Blueprint project goals.

Project Milestones: Community Touch Points

  • September 10, 2026: Construction Kickoff Meeting! 
  • June 26, 2025: Wahalla Project Update Meeting
  • February 28, 2024: Walhalla Detailed Design Meeting
  • October 11, 2023: Walhalla Revised 60% Community Meeting
  • August 8, 2023: Walhalla Impacted Residents Revised Detailed Design Meeting
  • October 26, 2022: Walhalla Ravine Onsite Meeting with DPU leadership
  • October 10, 2022: Walhalla Ravine Detailed Design Meeting
  • October 2022: Impacted Resident Site Visits
  • June 8, 2022: FLOW Science Committee Meeting
  • November 24, 2021: Meeting with FLOW
  • September 21, 2021: Walhalla Ravine Resident Meeting (Impacted Residents)
  • August 20, 2021: Conversation with Friends of the Ravines and Walhalla Ravine Association

 

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