Great Parks and Partners Make Progress on Oasis Trail

Great Parks, the City of Cincinnati and Metro have made significant progress on funding and property acquisition in the planning of the Oasis Trail, a 4.75-mile shared-use trail that will provide a safe, dedicated pathway for bicyclists, runners, joggers and non-motorized users to travel between Sawyer Point and the Lunken Airport area. The Oasis Trail will become a vital link connecting Downtown Cincinnati to local, regional and statewide trail networks. Great Parks is leading planning and construction for the Oasis Trail, in partnership with the City of Cincinnati, Metro and the Indiana and Ohio Railway (IORY).

The Oasis Trail will be constructed on the northern track of the Oasis Rail Line, which is located between Columbia Parkway/US 50 and Riverside Drive. The trail will be completely separated from nearby roads, making non-motorized travel between Downtown and Lunken Airport safer and more convenient. It will close a significant gap in Cincinnati’s CROWN (Cincinnati Riding or Walking Network), while providing a connection to the Little Miami Scenic Trail and extending the Ohio River Trail. 

Great Parks has been selected to receive $6 million in new grant funding from a Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) grant through the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments (OKI) for phase two of the trail’s construction between Collins Avenue and Carrel Street. This adds to an $8 million CMAQ grant from OKI announced in 2024 for phase one construction, between Friendship Park and Collins Avenue.  The current total cost of design and construction is more than $19 million, with a significant portion being secured by Great Parks through OKI grants, CROWN donor funds, and Great Parks capital project funds.

In an additional development, Metro (SORTA), as the property owner, has closed with IORY on the interests in the northern track easements, with the intent for Metro to next sell the property to the City of Cincinnati. Great Parks has partnered with the City of Cincinnati to secure $5 million in funding from the Ohio Department of Transportation through the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) for this acquisition.

“These are important foundational steps as we progress toward bringing the vision for the Oasis Trail to reality,” said Todd Palmeter, Great Parks CEO. “Trail expansion and connections are the top priority the public established for Great Parks, and the Oasis Trail will be the highest profile trail addition in this region’s history.”

Great Parks will be sharing project updates throughout the trail development process, including at a public meeting later this year. Construction is anticipated to begin in 2029. More information on the Oasis Trail is available at GreatParks.org.