South River Walk to Close June 22 for Safety, Lighting and Resurfacing Improvements
Closure limited to gravel connector behind downtown YMCA; Great Miami River Recreation Trail remains open
DAYTON, Ohio — June 18, 2026 — The Miami Conservancy District (MCD), in partnership with the ODOT, will temporarily close a section of the South River Walk beginning June 22 to make way for long-planned safety and accessibility improvements, including a full path resurfacing and a new energy-efficient, dark-sky-compliant LED lighting system.
The closure affects only the gravel connector on the river's left bank between the Main Street Bridge and Interstate 75, directly behind the downtown YMCA. It does not affect the Great Miami River Recreation Trail, which runs along the riverbank and will remain fully open to pedestrians and cyclists throughout construction.
Work is expected to take approximately 100 days, with reopening anticipated in late September or early October 2026.
What's Changing
The project will replace South River Walk's lighting system with a modern LED system. The new lighting is designed to use less energy, require less maintenance, and meet dark-sky standards that reduce light pollution along the riverfront. Crews will also resurface the path and add new benches, swings, and picnic tables along the corridor.
The improvements respond to longstanding concerns raised by area residents and commuters about inadequate nighttime lighting along the path, which serves as a key pedestrian connection between downtown businesses, the Downtown Dayton YMCA, nearby apartments, RTA bus stops along West Monument Avenue, and the riverfront trail network.
"This stretch of the South River Walk is one of the most heavily used pedestrian connections in downtown Dayton, and it's overdue for an upgrade. We know a temporary closure is an inconvenience, and we appreciate the community's patience while we make this corridor safer and more welcoming for years to come” says MaryLynn Lodor, General Manager of the Miami Conservancy District.
Project Background
South River Walk has long been considered a more direct and better-protected alternative to the lower recreation trail for pedestrians, since it sits at street level and avoids the steeper descent to the riverbank as well as the potential for flooding during high water. The upgrade is part of the Dayton Riverfront Master Plan, a broader, multi-year effort by the City of Dayton and regional partners to revitalize the downtown riverfront corridor, which includes nearby attractions such as RiverScape River Run, the Dayton Art Institute, and the Water Street Development area.
The project is funded in part through a federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) grant secured through the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC), with a local funding match provided by MCD. Total project cost is approximately $617,940.00 covering new lighting fixtures, path repair, concrete work, and new trailside amenities.
A Note on Signage
Some closure signage was initially placed in the wrong location along the Great Miami River Recreation Trail, leading to confusion among some trail users about which path was closed. MCD apologizes for any confusion this caused and confirms the Recreation Trail remains open.
Detour Information
A detour map showing the closed segment and the recommended alternate route along the Great Miami River Recreation Trail is available on MCD's facebook page.
