City of Columbus Parks Master Plan

The parks of the City of Columbus are beloved assets for the community. To support the community’s goals for high-quality, safe, and accessible parks, city leadership needed an organized, practical guiding document to support funding and maintenance decisions. Particular attention was paid to Itch-Kep-Pe Park, the riverside park and campground managed by the city. Itch-Kep-Pe Park is a significant asset for the City of Columbus and part of the local identity. The master plan, management, and improvement recommendations were selected for their potential to meet park user expectations while retaining the city’s connection to the remarkable natural area.

Early in the project, our team recognized the need to consider cost and local maintenance capacities when identifying effective solutions. The Interstate Engineering planning team offered budget-friendly, ready-to-implement recommendations explicitly created for each city park. For Itch-Kep-Pe Park, the recommendations were accompanied by extensive research related to floodplain regulations, campground management practices, arboriculture, and non-motorized trail creation. A navigational map for the park was also created, intended to improve the navigability of the park and direct people to river access points.

The City of Columbus, equipped with the master plan recommendations, is ready to set budget priorities, maintenance schedules, and facility upgrades in its city parks–all with a sound understanding of existing conditions, park needs, community interests, and potential improvements.