Council member Margie Witt has an idea for establishing a park on Fort Wright public land surrounding a stretch of Banklick Creek, and at the July 16 council meeting, Witt was able to explain her vision.
The land Witt referred to is located behind the TANK parking lot in Fort Wright. It includes around .67 acres of land, which is partially wooded and divided by Banklick Creek. A few months ago, the Banklick Watershed Council reached out to Fort Wright to ask about the land. This prompted Witt to look into this piece of land further.
“I really think we need to consider doing something with this piece of Fort Wright property that we already own,” Witt said.
To function as a park, the city would need to be cleaned up, maintained, and a park infrastructure established. There are some trails already on the land around Banklick Creek.
“There isn’t really anywhere else in Fort Wright where residents have [public access] to a water feature,” Witt said.
The National Institutes of Health has conducted research that found benefits of public water access or “blue space” for cities. Blue spaces like accessible creeks, lakes, and rivers are shown to support community mental health and social well-being.
Next steps include gauging resident interest in the proposed park and conducting a land survey. Witt has already heard from some residents who would love to bring their kids to a local creek. She also thinks it would fit perfectly into the Fort Wright brand.
“It would be great to embrace the idea of the ‘pocket park’ as part of our city’s identity,” Witt said.
Fort Wright Mayor Dave Hatter is open to the idea and has agreed to include it in the city’s next Parks Master Plan discussion. The city is now looking into officially surveying the land.