Cincinnati City Council allocated $400,000 for lighting infrastructure along trail’s newest segment

Just a few short months after city and community leaders cut the ribbon on the Wasson Way’s newest segment—Phase 6A, looping Avondale and Evanston into the 6-mile shared-use path stretching across the city of Cincinnati—they returned Wednesday evening for a ceremonial trail lighting. The event celebrated a nearly half-million-dollar investment by the City to construct lighting infrastructure along the new segment.

The lights, which City Councilmembers Mark Jeffreys and Reggie Harris ceremoniously lit before a crowd of community members, trail users, and active transportation advocates, not only enhance safety but also symbolize a commitment to inclusivity, ensuring that the trail remains accessible and inviting for everyone. Cincinnati City Council approved the $400,000 for the lighting last year.

“A simple thing like a streetlamp can mean the difference between choosing to use the Wasson Way and grabbing your car keys and choosing to drive instead,” said Tri-State Trails Executive Director Wade Johnston. As active transportation advocates, we can’t thank Cincinnati City Council enough for listening to the community and delivering this impactful investment.”

The lighting was a direct request from members of the Avondale and Evanston communities, for whom this newly (re)forged connection between them marks a modest step toward healing the historical disparities that resulted from the mid-20th-century Interstate 71 highway expansion project. At December’s ribbon-cutting, Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval called Wasson Way 6A a “beacon of positive change” and emphasized how 6A is not merely a fresh stretch of pavement, but also a tangible commitment to correcting historical injustices.

The Wasson Way is an easy-to-moderate level, growing urban greenway trail in the Cincinnati Riding or Walking Network (CROWN) that creates a vibrant hub of community activity across the east side of Cincinnati. With the addition of 6A, it now connects from Blair Court in Avondale to Plainville Road in downtown Mariemont. 

[Read more about the Wasson Way and plan your next visit here.] https://tristatetrails.org/trail/wasson-way/