Fairdale roundabout makeover included in series of community investments
May 29, 2026
CINCINNATI. WHAT INVESTIGATORS FOUND, AND HOW IT COULD HELP SOLVE THE CRIME. BEFORE WE GOT HERE, THERE WAS NONE OF THIS STUFF. AND NOW THE PRIDE IS STARTING TO BUBBLE. ROUNDABOUT REDO. IT’S PART OF A SERIES OF INVESTMENTS AIMED AT ATTRACTING MORE PEOPLE TO FAIRDALE. MORE THAN $100,000 IS BEING INVESTED IN A CRITICAL FAIRDALE INTERSECTION. THE UPGRADES MAY APPEAR COSMETIC, BUT SUPPORTERS SAY THE PROJECT IS ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN LOOKS. WLKY WISE EDWARD SMITH EXPLAINS IT’S PART OF A LONG TERM PLAN TO TURN THE COMMUNITY INTO A REGIONAL TOURIST ATTRACTION. THIS BUSY ROUNDABOUT AT THE CENTER OF FAIRDALE IS REALLY NOTHING BUT A LOT OF EMPTY SPACE AND ROCK THAT WILL SOON CHANGE. COME MONDAY, CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN TO REDO THE ROUNDABOUT AND MAKE IT MORE ATTRACTIVE FOR FAIRDALE CARS, TRUCKS AND PEDESTRIANS. MUCH OF MOVEMENT. LITERALLY REVOLVES AROUND THE ROUNDABOUT. IT’S NOTHING BUT A BIG PIECE OF FLAT. NOTHING BUT METRO COUNCILMAN DAN SIME DOESN’T HAVE TOO MANY GOOD THINGS TO SAY ABOUT THE LOOKS OF THE TRAFFIC CIRCLE. IT’S UGLY AND WE WANT TO MAKE IT BEAUTIFUL. SIME SAYS HE’S WANTED TO DO THAT FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS NOW. MORE THAN $100,000 IN NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT FUNDS WILL BE USED TO BRING LANDSCAPING, PLANTERS AND A SCULPTURE TO THE ROUNDABOUT. I HOPE THAT IT LETS PEOPLE KNOW THAT WE ARE DOING THINGS TO BRING FOCUS TO FAIRDALE, TO BEAUTIFY FAIRDALE THAT’S BEEN FORGOTTEN FOR SO LONG. THE IMPROVEMENTS AT THE ROUNDABOUT COME AFTER A NUMBER OF INVESTMENTS IN THIS AREA, LIKE THIS AMPHITHEATER SPACE OVER HERE AND NEW SIGNAGE PLACED ALL AROUND. IT’S ALL MEANT TO MAKE THIS THE GATEWAY TO A REIMAGINED JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST. THE MAYOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET EARMARKS 5 MILLION FOR FOREST IMPROVEMENTS. CITY LEADERS HOPE TO MAKE THE LARGEST URBAN FOREST IN THE NATION A REGIONAL ATTRACTION. THE ROUNDABOUT DESIGN WILL PLAY INTO THE FOREST THEME. THIS IS THE GATEWAY AND WE WANT TO INVITE FOLKS INTO THE FOREST THROUGH FAIRDALE. THE FOREST IS DEFINITELY GROWING. MEANWHILE, BUSINESS OWNERS ARE OPTIMISTIC AT THE CONTINUED INVESTMENT AND INCREASED VISITORS WELCOMING IT LIKE, COME ON, BRING THEM ON. NOTHING IS TOO MUCH HERE. WE WELCOME THEM WITH OPEN ARMS.
Fairdale roundabout makeover included in series of community investments
Thousands are being invested in a critical Fairdale intersection. The upgrades may appear cosmetic, but supporters say the project is about much more than looks.
Updated: 7:10 PM EDT May 29, 2026
Thousands are being invested in a critical Fairdale intersection. The upgrades may appear cosmetic, but supporters say the project is about much more than looks.For Fairdale cars, trucks, and pedestrians, much of their movement literally revolves around the roundabout. Metro Councilman Dan Seum Jr. doesn’t have too many good things to say about the looks of the traffic circle.”It’s nothing but a big piece of flat nothing,” Seum said. “It’s ugly, and we want to make it beautiful.”Seum says he’s wanted to do that for more than two years. Now more than $100,000 in neighborhood development funds will be used to bring landscaping, planters and a sculpture to the roundabout.”I hope that it lets people know that we are doing things to bring focus to Fairdale, to beautify Fairdale that’s been forgotten for so long,” Seum said. The improvements at the roundabout come after several investments in this area that include an amphitheater space and new signage placed all around. The additions are meant to make the intersection the gateway to a reimagined Jefferson Memorial Forest.The mayor’s proposed budget earmarks $5 million for forest improvements. City leaders hope to make the largest urban forest in the nation a regional attraction. The roundabout design will play into the forest theme.”This is the gateway, and we want to invite folks into the forest through Fairdale,” Seum said. Fairdale business owner Stephanie Lanham, who owns The Floral Grind, is optimistic about the continued investment and increased visitors.”The forest is definitely growing,” Lanham said. “I’m welcoming it like, come on, bring them on. Nothing’s too much here. We welcome them with open arms,” Lanham said. Construction at the roundabout will begin on Monday. No road closures are expected, and the roundabout will remain open.
Thousands are being invested in a critical Fairdale intersection. The upgrades may appear cosmetic, but supporters say the project is about much more than looks.
For Fairdale cars, trucks, and pedestrians, much of their movement literally revolves around the roundabout.
Metro Councilman Dan Seum Jr. doesn’t have too many good things to say about the looks of the traffic circle.
“It’s nothing but a big piece of flat nothing,” Seum said. “It’s ugly, and we want to make it beautiful.”
Seum says he’s wanted to do that for more than two years. Now more than $100,000 in neighborhood development funds will be used to bring landscaping, planters and a sculpture to the roundabout.
“I hope that it lets people know that we are doing things to bring focus to Fairdale, to beautify Fairdale that’s been forgotten for so long,” Seum said.
The improvements at the roundabout come after several investments in this area that include an amphitheater space and new signage placed all around. The additions are meant to make the intersection the gateway to a reimagined Jefferson Memorial Forest.
The mayor’s proposed budget earmarks $5 million for forest improvements. City leaders hope to make the largest urban forest in the nation a regional attraction. The roundabout design will play into the forest theme.
“This is the gateway, and we want to invite folks into the forest through Fairdale,” Seum said.
Fairdale business owner Stephanie Lanham, who owns The Floral Grind, is optimistic about the continued investment and increased visitors.
“The forest is definitely growing,” Lanham said. “I’m welcoming it like, come on, bring them on. Nothing’s too much here. We welcome them with open arms,” Lanham said.
Construction at the roundabout will begin on Monday. No road closures are expected, and the roundabout will remain open.
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