River Run project awards contract

The RiverScape River Run project took a key step forward on Friday with the selection of a contractor for the construction work, which is expected to begin in July.

The Five Rivers MetroParks Board of Park Commissioners awarded the construction contract to J & J Schlaegel, an Urbana-based company which submitted the lowest bid of $2.48 million.

The project, which should take about a year to complete, will remove a dangerous low dam in the Great Miami River downtown and install two new rocky structures, featuring passageways for kayaks and other paddlers.

“We’ll open the river to paddlers of all levels of experience and (create) two white water play spots,” said Carrie Scarff, deputy director of MetroParks.

J & J Schlaegel has experience with river run projects, including the Mad River Run at Eastwood MetroPark and the Buck Creek Whitewater project in Springfield.

Construction work will begin after fish-spawning period from April 15 to July 1.