Blue Ash City Council approved a roughly $1.85 million expansion of Summit Park, adding a picnic grove, doubling one parking lot and restoring a prairie along the park's western edge.

The Phase 4 plan, announced by the city on Sept. 17, covers four projects at the park on Glendale-Milford and Plainfield roads. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2027.

The largest piece is a revamp of the West parking lot. The redesign calls for a bioswale filtration and drainage system, new lighting and additional spaces. A $350,000 state grant will fund sustainable construction methods for that lot. Staff had been testing a gravel-lock system to combine asphalt and gravel surfaces while keeping maintenance manageable, Parks and Recreation Director Brian Kruse told council at an Aug. 13 meeting.

The East parking lot near the park canopy will more than double in size. Landscaping, walking paths, prairie mounds and a bioswale will fill the triangle between the lot and Glendale-Milford Road.

A new Picnic Grove in the northeast corner of the Great Lawn will feature sunshades, trees, picnic tables and string lights. The city described the space as flexible enough for small events, concerts and food trucks.

Along the West prairie, crews will clear overgrowth, add mounding and native plantings, and lay walking paths.

Kruse presented the concepts as preliminary at the Aug. 13 meeting. He estimated the West lot at $1.6 million to $1.8 million, the East lot at $600,000 to $800,000, the prairie at $400,000 to $600,000 and the picnic area at $300,000 to $500,000.

The city had budgeted about $1.5 million for the project overall, plus the $350,000 grant. Assistant City Manager Kelly Harrington said staff had been developing Phase 4 concepts since the 2025 budget presentation and a January 2026 council retreat. KZF Design, the park's civil engineer, prepared the plans.

Parking lot construction will be phased so the park keeps as many usable spaces as possible during the work. The city has not announced a groundbreaking date beyond 2027; project details are posted on the city's website.