Statement From Mayor Jeff Gahan Regarding Glenmill Park Dam Safety Improvements
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Statement from Mayor Jeff Gahan Regarding Glenmill Park Dam Safety Improvements
The historic Glenmill Park Dam is an important part of New Albany’s infrastructure and recreational opportunities. It was placed in to service 108 years ago for multiple reasons, including to maintain water supply, provide habitat for wildlife, reduce flash flooding, protect the ecosystem, and create swimming, fishing, and paddling opportunities for residents on both sides of Silver Creek. These reasons still exist today. If the dam is removed, these benefits will be lost forever.
However, like many other ideas from over 100 years ago, dam technology has changed and improved. Today, we know how to make this dam safer, and you can see examples of widely used modifications in the attached pictures. Improvements like these are widely accepted by engineers and scientists as ways of modifying low-head dams to retain the infrastructure benefits while still allowing for safe recreation. They remove the dangerous undercurrent associated with low-head dams, but they still provide safe access to the water for recreation.
An image of the current Glenmill Park Dam
An “After” Image of Proposed Safety Improvements
River Heritage Conservancy and Origin Park unilaterally initiated a plan to destroy the Glenmill Park Dam. For years, Origin Park has been pursuing destruction of this public infrastructure, and for years, the City of New Albany has been attempting to meet with Origin Park to discuss converting the dam to improve its safety. Origin Park has declined every opportunity to meet. On November 15, 2022, The New Albany City Council unanimously approved a resolution opposing the destruction of the Glenmill Park Dam until all parties met to consider all options, including the City’s safety modification plans. Once again, Origin Park declined the opportunity to meet.
For over two decades, the City of New Albany has been improving access to our water ways. We are a River City, and for the first time ever, the people of New Albany own the New Albany Greenway, lands along the New Albany side of Silver Creek, the entire Riverfront, and the New Albany Loop Island Wetlands. Many changes have been made to improve these areas and make them safer, but more can be done to improve the safety at the Glenmill Park Dam, and now is the time to do it. Destroying this piece of infrastructure is not the solution.
By converting the dam and improving dam safety, we can:
Retain the important infrastructure benefits it serves, like providing water supply, flash flood protection, and ecological benefits for fish and wildlife
Retain the historical value that the site holds
Provide a safe area for recreation
In the spirit of Dam Safety, I encourage River Heritage Conservancy and our neighbors in Clark County to address the Blackiston Mill Low-Head Dam in Clark County. That dam has an even higher drop than the Glenmill Park Dam, and I would encourage them to pursue a conversion like the one we are finalizing.
Historic Photo of residents recreating along Blackiston Mill Dam
Current Photo of Blackiston Mill Dam in Clark County
River Heritage Conservancy and Origin Park were recently awarded over $40 million in taxpayer funds by the State of Indiana. The City of New Albany and River Heritage Conservancy should work together to improve dam safety and enhance recreational opportunities for everyone. The time for them to meet with us is long overdue.
We are looking forward to discussing this and working on solutions with the New Albany City Council soon.
