Great Parks Nears Completion of Bass Island River Access

Great Parks is nearing completion on improvements to the Bass Island River Access project in Anderson Township that will expand recreational opportunities along the Little Miami State and National Scenic River. At the same time, the upgrades will also reduce uncontrolled river access that was contributing to riverbank erosion and negatively impacting wildlife and habitat.

Great Parks has constructed a new accessible boardwalk and concrete walk to the river’s edge and made site grading improvements utilizing new retaining walls. Great Parks expanded existing parking and added a vehicle drop-off loop for convenient loading and unloading of canoes, kayaks and paddling gear. Remaining work at the site will include completion of a new flood-resistant restroom building, while adding benches, a drinking fountain, a foot wash station and other amenities.

While construction continues, the site remains closed. Access to the Little Miami Scenic Trail continues to be available from the Little Miami Scenic Corridor Golf Course & Trailhead and Avoca Trailhead, both nearby. The project is planned for completion in winter 2027, although weather and any periods of high water along the river could impact construction timelines.

The current total cost of design and construction for the Bass Island River Access is estimated at more than $3 million. The project is partially funded with $294,000 from the State of Ohio Capital Improvements Fund. Additional funding has been provided by August A. Rendigs Jr. and the Helen Rendigs Foundation in support of this project. Great Parks will provide the remaining funds through its capital project budget.

Before planning and construction began, Great Parks sought input on Bass Island, during which 89% of respondents said improvements at the site would make them more likely to use Bass Island. Multiple aspects of this project have required careful design work to account for frequent flooding from the Little Miami River, and these design features, in addition to high water levels in recent months, have complicated construction work on the site.

More information about this project is available at GreatParks.org/projects.

Improvements at Bass Island complement other significant changes Great Parks is making in the area along the Little Miami Scenic Corridor. Across the river from Bass Island, Great Parks, in partnership with ODOT, is currently in construction on the third and final phase of the Columbia Connector Trail to link Columbia Township and Mariemont to the Little Miami Scenic Trail. And last year, a short distance north along the Little Miami Scenic Trail, Great Parks opened the new 1.5-mile natural surface trail at Avoca Trailhead.