Fun. Friends. FUTURE! 

Residents interested in learning more about First Responders Park will have an opportunity for a guided tour as the nation observes the 22^nd anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

The City of Hilliard Division of Police will be offering tours guided by a police officer from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 11. No registration is required. The tour is free.

Members of the Hilliard police and Norwich Township Fire Department Joint Honor Guard will ring a bell commemorating the times the World Trade Center towers and Pentagon were struck, as well as the crash of Flight 93. The bells will be rung at 8:46 a.m., 9:03 a.m., 9:37 a.m., and 10:03 a.m.

Hilliard’s First Responders Park, located in the center of Old Hilliard, memorializes those who died on 9/11 and pays tribute to the 403 First Responders who died making the ultimate sacrifice for their community.

In 2010, a delegation of 20 individuals representing the Division of Police, Norwich Township Fire Department, and the Hilliard community made the two-day round-trip from Hilliard to New York City to escort home seven tons of steel from the World Trade Center.

The memorial features granite walls inscribed with the names of those who lost their lives, a reflecting pool, personalized pavers, a monument honoring fallen officers, and a metal sculpture made from the steel of the World Trade Center.

Those wishing to take self-guided tours can reference signs describing 9/11 artifacts that will be placed in the park throughout the weekend.

Community leaders are joining together this fall to offer a free event for parents interested in learning about spotting the signs of substance use addiction.

Be Well: Prevention, Awareness, & Recovery, will be held Sept. 20 at Hilliard Darby High School. The free event is open to adults only. The first 300 guests will receive a free meal.

The event will begin with dinner and a resource fair in the school’s cafeteria from 5 to 6 p.m. A simulated teenage bedroom, known as Can You See Me Now?, will be on display in the school’s stage area. Parents are invited to tour the interactive bedroom to learn to spot risky behavior.

A presentation to include panelists of local first responders, health and wellness experts, and school officials will follow from 6 to 8 p.m. in the performing arts center. Experts will discuss substance abuse (including vaping), mental health, recovery, and addiction prevention.

“Our hope is to educate parents,” said Norwich Township Administrator Jamie Fisher. “We feel like this event will not only support our mission of promoting a healthier way of living but provide resources to help individuals make better choices.”

“Research shows one of the best ways to reduce the chances of teens using drugs by 50 percent or more is having an adult or parent have conversations with them about alcohol and drug addiction,” said Dawn Steele, who serves as an attorney with the City of Hilliard Recovery Court.

Research also shows 50 percent of teenagers have misused a drug at least once.

“We want parents to know they should not wait,” said Hilliard Chief of Police Michael Woods. “Don’t wait to have a conversation with your teen, don’t wait to ask for help, and don’t wait before a small problem turns into an addiction.”

The program is funded by Norwich Township Opioid Settlement Funds. Other cooperating partners include the City of Hilliard Division of Police, Norwich Township Fire Department, Hilliard City Schools, and HART (Health, Awareness & Recovery Together).

No RSVP is required.

The City of Hilliard has received an additional $3 million to build a standalone pedestrian bridge at Hilliard’s busiest intersection, the I-270 overpass at Cemetery Road. The bridge will be completed as early as 2027.

City of Hilliard officials have been working on this project for several years now. This week, Governor Mike DeWine’s office announced the City would receive $3 million from the Ohio Department of Transportation’s Highway safety Improvement Program. Hilliard was awarded more than $7 million from MORPC Attributable Funds for the project earlier this year, meaning the City will only have to contribute 13 percent of the total costs of this $11.5 million project.

“This is a hugely transformative project for Hilliard,” said Letty Schamp, City of Hilliard Transportation and Mobility Director. “It’s not just about recreation, but providing safe access for all people, especially for those that do not own a car or do not want to have to use a car to get around. This also has potential to transform Cemetery Road and Mill Run from a development standpoint and greatly improve connectivity throughout Hilliard’s I-270 corridor.”

Design and Timeline

Last year, the City surveyed residents on which design they preferred. The chosen alternative was safe and user-friendly for pedestrians:

• The multi-use path will be on a separate bridge on the south side of Cemetery Road, which will not impact automobile traffic or any future ODOT improvements.
• The pedestrian bridge will eliminate all free-flow ramp crossings for path users. There will be only one ramp crossing at a signalized intersection.
• It will result in fewer conflicts between vehicles and path users.

With funding now approved, City staff and ODOT will move forward with the design stage in 2024. In the following years, more prep work will begin with right-of-way acquisition and utility relocation. Construction is expected in 2026 and 2027.

The pedestrian bridge over I-270 will be a huge asset to our community and aligns with the City’s long-range plan to improve the environment, promote alternate forms of transportation, support local business, and connect our community to Central Ohio’s multi-use path system.