CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik visited Chillicothe on Friday to celebrate the completion of the revitalization projects that have remade Yoctangee Park, the city’s central park beside its historic First Capital District, according to the Governor’s Office.
The finished work, funded with more than $35 million, includes a new outdoor amphitheater and multipurpose pavilion, renovations to the historic Armory, a new baseball field, a new skatepark, new pickleball courts, renovated tennis courts, and additional sidewalks and greenspace, the Governor’s Office said.
“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 money flowed through the Downtowns and Destinations Initiative, which DeWine created in 2024 to revitalize historic downtown districts, expand recreation and amplify cultural sites in Ohio’s Appalachian communities. The initiative is one of three funded through the Appalachian Community Grant Program, a $500 million investment in Ohio’s 32 Appalachian counties developed by DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly in 2022.
The renovated Armory goes to work right away: Chillicothe City Council holds its first meeting in the Armory’s second-floor ballroom tonight, Monday, at 7 p.m. The Armory is at 199 Alexander Road, and council meetings are open to the public.
Details in this story come from the Governor’s Office announcement of the completed projects.
WATCH: Yoctangee Park’s $35 million revitalization is complete — our full report is in the video below.
