Appalachian History Heritage and Culture

Ross County - UNESCO Sites

ACGP Award: $2,770,950

On September 19, 2023, Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks was inscribed on the World Heritage List at the 45th World Heritage meeting in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The site consists of eight monumental American Indian earthwork and mound complexes in Warren, Licking, and Ross Counties, southern Ohio. The National Park Service at Hopewell Culture National Historical Park manages five sites (Ross County). It is the first World Heritage site in Ohio and the 25th in the United States. World Heritage inscription places these sites on the same level as Stonehenge, The Great Wall of China, the Pyramids of Giza, and Machu Pichu.

This project will make the following infrastructure improvements in order to improve visitor experience and accessibility at the following UNESCO World Heritage sites: 1) At the Mound City and Visitors Center site, the installation of Interpretive signage, a site entry/exit sign, and a pavilion/shelter; 2) At Seip Earthworks, a visitor restroom, install interpretive signage, and make parking improvements; 3) At Hopewell Mound Group - Install interpretive signage and finish the expansion of the bike trail at HMG to connect to Ross County Park at Maple Grove Prairie (outside of park); and 4) At Hopeton Earthworks install interpretive signage, and expand the parking lot.

Mighty Children's Museum

Building Upgrades and Programming

ACGP Award: $543,000

The Mighty Children’s Museum is undergoing an expansion to utilize the upper story of its current location, so that it can provide additional and expanded educational programming to Ross County families.

Frankfort

Park and Streetscape Improvements

ACGP Award: $3,079,793

Frankfort is proposing to improve the downtown streetscape from Paint Creek to just north of High Street, adding bump outs to calm traffic and improve pedestrian safety, including ADA compliant ramps. Additional improvements will also be made at Lightle Park, including the addition of a trailhead with bike repair station, wayfinding signage for the popular Paint Creek Recreational Trail, new playground equipment, adding tennis and pickleball courts, softball and baseball diamonds, soccer and football fields, and a dog park. The extension of the Paint Creek Recreational Trail will provide an equitable and safe non-motorized link for families to access these recreational amenities, supporting a healthier lifestyle for the entire community.

Bainbridge

Streetscape Improvements

ACGP Award: $2,145,275

Over the past two years, several local entrepreneurs have invested in multiple Main Street properties, which has started a downtown renaissance. This project will reinforce those investments and spur additional growth by enhancing the public space, improving safety, and creating new gathering places. The Village of Bainbridge is the western gateway to Ross County and to the UNESCO World Heritage sites with Seip Earthworks less than two miles to the east on US Route 50. It is also the gateway to multiple state parks including Pike Lake State Park and State Forest, Paint Creek State Park, Paint Creek Wildlife Area, Highlands Nature Sanctuary, and Rocky Fork State Park. Serpent Mound State Memorial is just south of SR-41. Streetscape improvements will occur along Main Street from Mountain Street to Maple Street. The improvements will include the replacement of full-depth pavement, sidewalk, and drainage. The village will also build a pocket park and outdoor community space at the village’s core along Main Street.

Hillsboro

Crossroads Park

ACGP Award: $5,204,536

This project creates a brand new “central” park for the City of Hillsboro, the County seat of Highland County. Crossroads Park will be built on a City-owned property that was acquired partially through donation and partially through acquisition. Located between West Main Street, North Elm Street, and West Beech Street, the park will include an outdoor gathering space, amphitheater, water feature, beautification of the surrounding streetscape,  construction of a new building for farmer’s market events, concession, event space, and parking areas. The amphitheater area will include a stage and restrooms, a green room, storage areas, and open up to several lawns with paths to facilitate movement and seating options. Other improvements include, murals, signage, and grand entrance.

Logan

Gateway to the Heart of the Hocking Hills: Revitalizing Downtown Logan

ACGP Award: $14,328,481

This project will overhaul and modernize the built environment of downtown Logan through three distinct component projects. These investments aim to advance the vision of the City to create a more livable and walkable downtown for existing and new residents, as well as encourage the millions of people who recreate in the Hocking Hills to spend time in Downtown Logan: 1. Create a “gateway corridor” to downtown by reconstructing Mulberry Street (State Route 93) between the Mulberry Street/US-33 interchange to the Mulberry Street/Hunter Street intersection. 2.Convert Main Street between High Street and Orchard Street into a “complete street” by reorganizing surface parking from front-in to parallel to accommodate wider sidewalks and a shared use path. 3. Dramatically expand the form and function of Logan’s “central park,” Worthington Park, doubling its size through the pedestrianizing of Market Street in front of the Hocking County Courthouse and adding new recreational amenities.

Chauncey

Streetscape Improvements

ACGP Award: $1,964,135

The Village of Chauncey seeks to connect their downtown to a new park and the Bailey’s Trail with streetscape improvements. Sidewalks and other amenities, including lighting, street trees and other plantings, benches, trash cans, and signage, will be added to Chauncey’s Converse Street (Route 13) between Sycamore and Mill Streets. Secondary street segments from Main to Sycamore Streets and Mill to Lexington Streets will receive more limited amenities. Gateway features at Mill and Main Streets will welcome people to town and point them to the Bailey’s Trail access in the park. A mural will be painted on one building in the village, either along Main Street or Converse Street.

Athens

Athens Central Business District Beautification

ACGP Award: $6,564,071

The City of Athens has done much to revitalize and modernize its uptown core over the past decade. Since 2009, the City has completed a number of full depth reconstruction, utility relocation, complete street, and/or corridor projects within the CBD, including Court St, Carpenter St, Washington St, Mill St, and Stimson Ave, as well as sections of Congress and State Streets. In addition, with significant matching funds from ODOT, the City is finalizing design for streetscape projects along State St and Washington St for 2024 construction. By using this ACGP opportunity to “complete” this last piece of the Central Business District, this vision to expand uptown’s campus feel to the entire north will be realized.

MOUNT ZION BLACK CULTURAL CENTER ATHENS, OHIO

Building Upgrade and Repairs

ACGP Award: $7,043,674

Rehabilitate its historic church building into the Mount Zion Cultural Center, in order to create multipurpose community and educational space.

Southeast Ohio History Center

Building Upgrades and Repairs

ACGP Award: $2,639,453

Upon completion of this ambitious vision, the main level will provide more than 6,000 sq ft of space for galleries, multipurpose exhibitions/programs, a museum store, and a reception area, the lower level will provide storage space for local artifacts and rotating collections, while the third floor will house a 2,500 sq ft research library, with a balcony slated for future renovation.

Chesterhill Auction

Site Improvements

ACGP Award: $977,635

To allow Chesterhill Auction to further expand its impact across the region, a number of improvements to its facilities are planned, including upgrades for livestock sales barn, electrical upgrades to the CPA space, new sewer line and bathroom house, commercial kitchen improvements including a 3-phase power upgrade (not equipment), and an expansion of the auction floor to meet the ever-increasing need for more space to accommodate produce.

City of Jackson Downtown Streetscape

Streetscape Improvements

ACGP Award: $3,698,250

Traffic calming curb bump-outs, enhanced with landscaped areas. Trees and benches to be installed in two-block spans in most heavily trafficked areas of Main St. and Broadway St. Improvements and a new shelter for the Farmers' Market.

Holzer Hill Medical Complex Child Care Center

Child Care Facility

ACGP Award: $7,377,238

The Holzer Medical Center in Gallipolis, Ohio, is building a new childcare facility for its employees. The state-of-the-art center spans over 12,600 sq ft and will cater to children of different ages. It can accommodate 50 children initially and up to 107 children in the future. The facility features specialized classrooms for various activities, including art, technology, and activity. It aims to provide a safe, nurturing, and educative environment for the children of Holzer Medical Center employees.

Village of Georgetown Downtown Courthouse Square Streetscape

Streetscape Improvements

ACGP Award: $6,505,344

The Village of Georgetown proposes to reorganize its downtown county courthouse square while the Ohio History Connection works to revitalize the U.S. Grant Historic Sites in the Village. Together, these projects aim to turn Georgetown into one of the nation’s premier destinations for 19th century American history, and to catalyze a new economic future for the county seat of Brown County.

US Grant Boyhood Home and Schoolhouse Improvements

Building Upgrades and Repairs

ACGP Award: $2,187,956

Make significant structural and environmental repairs to each of the three U.S. Grant historic sites in the Village. These improvements include structural repairs, recreating certain spaces within each site (including the kitchen of the Boyhood Home, the interior of the Schoolhouse, and the entire tannery itself) to appear as they did in the 1800s, revising exhibits with new content, and creating gathering and recreational space for visitors and tour groups.

Village of Greenfield Felson Park

Park Improvements

ACGP Award: $5,371,410

The project includes improvements to better serve residents and bring additional activities to the park. The park will feature a hillside play ground with multiple terraces, and an amphitheater/ rental venue for weddings and parties. A central multipurpose lawn will host informal sports and events, with picnic shelters clustered around it. The park will offer access to the creek by way of a livery access, and natural access with nature play. The park will also feature improvements within an adjacent former quarry as a camp and adventure park.

Jackson Downtown Revitalization

Downtown Revitalization

ACGP Award: $3,698,250

The City of Jackson seeks to revitalize Downtown Jackson through street parking reorganization and addition as well as sidewalk modifications for enhancement of pedestrian experience.  Trees, benches, and landscaping to be installed in heavily trafficked areas of Main Street and Broadway Street along with utility improvements and a pocket park.

University of Rio Grande - Jackson Campus Manufacturing Center

Workforce Development/Building Renovation

ACGP Award: $1,286,330

The Jackson Center project is the renovation of approximately 10,000 square feet of open garage space into a versatile and flexible advanced manufacturing center with an emphasis on robotics training. The renovation of the current space is designed to create flexible manufacturing training space. The planned programming in robotics meets current employer needs, however, as employer needs change, so can the programming in this space. The design of the new manufacturing space will allow for flexibility in training with versatile electrical capacity and ventilation, high bay ceilings, and a large open floor space. The space will truly be a manufacturing training space that can meet a wide range of employer needs.

University of Rio Grande - McArthur Campus Center

New Construction/Workforce Development/Healthcare

ACGP Award: $11,912,000

The new McArthur Center, a 22,000 sq. ft. facility in McArthur, will be a hub for education, economic development, healthcare, and community engagement. Located near the county's only public high school, it will offer affordable education in areas like healthcare and advanced manufacturing, catering to students with limited access to such opportunities. The Center's flexible space will serve as classrooms, event venues, and notably, office space for community partners. Collaborations with the Vinton County Local School District focus on facilitating a seamless transition for high school students to Rio, with the building's intentional proximity to Vinton County High School enhancing this alliance. The partnership with OSU Vinton County Extension emphasizes lifelong learning, aligning with Rio's community engagement commitment and sharing resources efficiently. Vinton County Ohio Means Jobs supports students beyond the classroom, aiding in skilled training and funding opportunities as well as funding to meet life’s other challenges. Holzer Health Systems addresses a critical community need by providing after-hours healthcare and telemedicine services, improving student attendance and community well-being. These intentional partnerships showcase a holistic approach to supporting education, community development, and economic development in Vinton County.

Blackhorse Inn Underground Railroad

Historic Preservation Building Rehab

ACGP Award: $3,901,017

The Underground Railroad (URR) Museum, currently in Flushing, Ohio, seeks to relocate its collection to the historic Black Horse Inn in Morristown, which will be restored for that purpose. The Black Horse Inn is one of the last remaining inns and taverns on the Old National Road, and it is believed to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad. In 2013, a group of local citizens launched efforts to restore the building before it fell into total disrepair. They have been able to preserve it and prevent additional deterioration, but the interior damage is significant. Meanwhile, the curator and founder of the URR museum in nearby Flushing passed away in 2019. Dr Mattox would be honored for his legacy to carry forward within the Black Horse Inn. By moving closer to I-70, the museum will see an increase in visitors and remain sustainable for years to come. This project rehabilitates the Black Horse Inn's main floor to accommodate the URR museum, artifacts from which will be curated and relocated from their current location in Flushing. The building's basement will be developed to accommodate revenue-generating coworking and food-service businesses. Its 2nd floor will be white boxed for a future revenue-generating business (likely an AirBnB).

Mount Orab Healthcare

New Healthcare Facility

ACGP Award: $5,006,180

Expand access to healthcare in Brown County by constructing a new medical office building in Mt. Orab offering a wide variety of services, as well as house a training program for future healthcare workers.

Welsh Museum

Historic Preservation/Building Rehabilitation

ACGP Award: $307,630

Oak Hill boasts a unique history deeply intertwined with the Welsh immigrant experience and the industrial pioneers who shaped its destiny. At the heart of our project lies the commitment to preserve the oldest Welsh Heritage Museum in North America. This project will restore the original church steeple; restore and weatherizing the 8 stain glass windows and two original front doors; replacing some deteriorated brick and repointing the lime-based mortar. The front yard will receive a face lift to become more open and inviting as well as ADA compliant. The restrooms will be reconfigured and updated to create more space for storage and better serve the visitors.

Village of Peebles Streetscape Improvements

Streetscape Improvements

ACGP Award: $5,564,700

The Village will make streetscape improvements on Main Street (SR41) between McMillen and Elliott Avenues including pedestrian bump outs to calm traffic and improvement pedestrian safety, improve drainage, remove one mid-block crosswalk, and re-establish crosswalks at major intersections. The Village will add a median and a dedicated right turn lane on Main at Rardon Road, and convert Church Street to a right out only to improve both pedestrian and vehicular safety at this dangerous intersection. Traffic signals at Rarden and Vine/Elm will be coordinated to improve pedestrian safety and calm and regulate traffic flow through the downtown.

Serpent Mound Observation Tower

Observation Tower Repairs

ACGP Award: $862,000

This project is to repair the historic observation tower at the Serpent Mound Historical Site. At over 1,000 feet long, Serpent Mound is the largest effigy mound in the world. Built approximately 1,000 years ago by American Indians, near present-day Peebles, Ohio, this figural earthwork is in the shape of a large serpent undulates across a small plateau and sits near the edge of an ancient meteorite impact crater. Due to the Serpent’s size and the sloping terrain, it is difficult to perceive the entire earthwork from the ground. For that reason, in 1908 the Ohio History Connection (then known as the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society) built a metal observation tower overlooking the site. Visitors from across the globe have ascended the tower for 115 years to see the Serpent, and the tower itself has become a historically significant icon. Although periodic maintenance on the tower has occurred, a structural engineering assessment completed in the winter of 2021-22 concluded that the tower needs significant repair/ rebuild in order to be safe.

Paint Creek Recreational Trail

Trail Repairs

ACGP Award: $1,933,740

The Ross County Parks District proposes to make repairs to six areas of its 22 mile long Paint Creek Recreational Trail where erosion threatens the physical structure and the continued viability of this highlighted trafficked recreational trail.

Wellston Medical Office Building

Medical Office Building

ACGP Award: $1,664,578

This project will allow Adena Health System to expand its operations in Wellston, and serve more patients in Jackson and Vinton Counties.

Monroe Theatre

Historic Preservation

ACGP Award: $4,607,200

The Monroe Arts Council seeks to revitalize downtown Woodsfield with the renovation of the historic Monroe Theatre. Built in 1939, the Monroe Theatre was closed in 1974. After several ownership changes, the Theater was partially reopened in 2019. Today it serves as an arts venue, with a variety of acts and shows such as live music, movies, drama, local talent shows, school-based band/choral concerts and more. This project will greatly expand the transformative potential of this unique cultural asset by comprehensively upgrading and repairing the Monroe Theatre to include a new stage, curtains, seats, ceiling, floor covers, AV and electric, doors, MEP, lighting, a new marquis, and more.

Village of Zaleski

Trail Heads, Sidewalks, Park Improvements

ACGP Award: $3,603,436

The Village of Zaleski, the closest town to the adjacent Lake Hope State Park, Zaleski State Forest, and Moonville Rail Trail, has no accessibility or services to any of the state treasures listed above. The ACGP funding would introduce trailheads along the Moonville Rail Trail, create an accessible walking loop and connect to adjacent communities, provide access to Pre-Historic Native American Mounds, rehabilitate the community downtown park with safe, accessible elements, and plant trees for shade. This project includes a Village Wide Mobility Improvement, including an update of sidewalks, and associated Storm Water Management. The primary outdoor recreation area, Memorial Park, will be renovated to further the use of this area by the residents of Zaleski. An existing connection to the Moonville Rail Trail would be strengthened and the connection to Lake Hope State Park would be enhanced. A trailhead shall be established at the northeast corner of North 2nd Street and East Mill Street, to create a direct connection between Memorial Park and the existing Moonville Rail Trail. The improvement of sidewalks and the connection to the Moonville Rail Trail will create an in-town exercise Loop benefiting the residents of Zaleski. The presence of Pre-Historic Native American Burial Mounds of the Adena people in the Village is culturally and historically significant, the implementation of Interpretive Signage and the proposed improvements would further strengthen this important connection between the past and the present. These improvements throughout the Village of Zaleski would benefit the overall outdoor recreation opportunities of the residents as well as strengthen the connection with the nearby park systems, helping to create a more regionally transformative benefit.