After the historic 1997 flood, Anderson Township partnered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to initiate the public acquisition of flood-prone structures and properties along the Little Miami River. This spawned a now, nearly three-decade long program, where the Township has acquired and preserved numerous floodplain areas in Old Fort, off Debolt Road in the northwestern part of Anderson Township.
Over that time, there has been a growing interest in Anderson Township to provide opportunities for the public to access and enjoy these properties and the riverfront area. This recommendation was therefore incorporated in the Township’s Comprehensive Plan, as well as planning studies conducted by the Township and other entities, for the Little Miami River area.
In response to this, Anderson Township secured the services of Burgess & Niple, Inc. in the fall of 2025, to assess the feasibility of creating a passive riverside open space area/park at the intersection of Washington Boulevard and Little Miami Terrace, along this portion of the Little Miami River in the Old Fort area.
In late 2025 Burgess & Niple conducted background studies and worked with Anderson Township staff to prepare a vision/concept plan for the future use of this area. This plan was first shared with nearby property owners, and ultimately with the broader community through the Township’s Anderson Insights newsletter, website, and media coverage.
Based on input from the community, modifications were made to the direction, and additional details added to the plan for what will be identified as Old Fort Park, during May and June of 2026. That plan appears below, as well as the prior plan and concepts that may become part of this plan in the coming years.
Staff is currently working to make access, signage, safety, and trail improvements in the fall and winter of 2026 to begin opening the area for public access. As that occurs, it is envisioned that a five-year plan will be prepared in the coming months that will identify and guide possible future improvements to the property.
Comments or questions on the Old Fort Park, and planning process are welcome, and may be directed to:
- Steve Sievers, ssievers@AndersonTownshipOH.gov, 513-688-8604
- Paul Drury, pdrury@AndersonTownshipOH.gov, 513-688-8602
Also, for additional information, please see page 3 of the Township's April 2026 edition of the Anderson Insights newsletter, found HERE.
We appreciate our community's interest in shaping a future vision for this Little Miami Riverfront area!