Oxford residents will see some improvements and new projects around town following the approval of two resolutions regarding the Martin Luther King Jr. Uptown Park and the Oxford Area Trails (OATS) during Tuesday’s council meeting

Councilors approved a recommendation presented by community staff to apply for and accept $175,000 through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for improvements made to the Martin Luther King Jr. Uptown Park. These improvements include a public outdoor restroom facility in the park. 

City Development Director Sam Perry presented plans for the public restroom to council at the April 2 meeting; however, city staff was not yet aware of the awarded funds in the Ohio Capital Budget. The city has retained App Architecture to design the restroom facility, and the structure will be located in the west end of the park. 

The allotted budget will go toward the construction of the restroom facility, which Perry said the city staff hopes to have underway in Spring 2025. The remaining funds can also be used for improvements to the uptown park fountains, which have reached the end of their useful life, according to Perry.

Councilors also approved the construction of a pedestrian bridge over as part of the OATS Phase 5 Project. The installment costing $800,000 is funded by the local trail levy tax dollars, as well as the Ohio Kentucky Indiana Regional Council of Governments. The total cost of Phase 5 of the project is projected at $5.5 million. 

The bridge will be located near Talawanda High School and will provide access to Oxford neighborhoods, Talawanda Middle School and the rest of the trail and sidewalk networks in Oxford, according to Perry.

– Olivia Patel