CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — State and local leaders gathered in Chillicothe to celebrate the completion of a transformative $35 million revitalization of Yoctangee Park, adding major athletic, performance, and historical infrastructure adjacent to the city’s historic First Capital District.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik toured the site to showcase the newly completed upgrades. The project scope includes a new outdoor amphitheater, a multipurpose pavilion, a new baseball field, a skatepark, pickleball courts, renovated tennis courts, upgraded sidewalks, and expanded green space, alongside extensive renovations to the historic Armory.
“As Ohio’s first capital and the home of four Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks, Chillicothe is truly one of Ohio’s most beloved cultural and historical treasures, and my administration was proud to invest in these transformational projects,” DeWine said. “These improvements create new and improved public spaces where families can gather, neighbors can connect, and visitors can learn about what makes Chillicothe so special.”
The overhaul was financed through Governor DeWine’s Downtowns and Destinations Initiative. Established in 2024, the program is designed to revitalize historic downtown centers, expand outdoor recreation options, and boost cultural tourism across Ohio’s Appalachian region.
The initiative represents one branch of the broader Appalachian Community Grant Program, a $500 million investment approved in 2022 by Governor DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly to support development projects across 32 Appalachian counties.
