PORTSMOUTH — Ohio Governor Mike DeWine visited Portsmouth on Tuesday, August 19, to celebrate two major projects that promise to transform the city’s riverfront and improve the health of the Ohio River.
The first initiative, the Portsmouth Riverfront Park Project, is moving forward with the help of a $34.2 million grant from the Appalachian Community Grant Program’s Wonderful Waterfronts Initiative. Plans call for a redesigned Alexandra Point Park featuring a scenic riverfront overlook, an amphitheater for concerts and festivals, a riverwalk trail network, an RV campground, and improved access to the water.
“Through the Wonderful Waterfronts Initiative, we are not just revitalizing our riverfronts, we are reconnecting communities to their natural heritage, sparking new economic opportunities, and creating spaces that everyone can enjoy,” DeWine said.
Launched in 2024, the Wonderful Waterfronts Initiative awarded $204 million to 12 counties across Ohio to expand access to waterways, boost tourism, and revitalize downtown riverfront areas.
In addition to the Portsmouth development, DeWine and Ohio Department of Natural Resources Director Mary Mertz unveiled the Queen of Clean — a 30-foot barge designed to remove large debris and trash from the Ohio River. Built through the H2Ohio Rivers program with support from the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District and county commissioners, the vessel is equipped with a hydraulic crane to lift waste from the river and its banks.
“This boat will assist in large-scale clean-up projects for years to come,” DeWine said. “Keeping the Ohio River clean and clear of litter is critical for preserving our natural resources for future generations.”
ODNR Director Mary Mertz added that the project will benefit both people and wildlife. “This boat not only addresses water quality by removing litter, but it will improve habitat and recreation opportunities too,” she said.
The Queen of Clean will be maintained by the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District and is expected to support both environmental health and tourism along the river.
H2Ohio, launched in 2019, is Governor DeWine’s statewide water quality initiative that works to reduce pollution, improve drinking water, and restore natural ecosystems through science-based projects.
