"For those of us who have lived here a while, the red barn where the sheep lived is a part of Powell." Mayor Heather Karr said that at the August council meeting where the city agreed to have the barn taken down. She opened with "I'm really excited, not that it's coming down, but what it will be on the Bennett Farm." That hedge says a lot about this property. From State Route 750, the farm looks like it's being cleared. The contracts behind the work show a city saving the parts it can and starting at the edge of the farm.
If you drive East Olentangy Street past Arbor Ridge Park, you've probably seen the grading and the crews. Here's what each one is doing, and why most of the park is still on paper.
Three crews, three different jobs
Bennett Farm is about 32 acres at 2409 State Route 750, roughly a mile east of downtown Powell. Arbor Ridge Park sits right next to it on the east side. According to the City of Powell's Bennett Farm page, site preparation started in August 2026. Crews graded the eastern part of the property and took out old garages and a corn bin. They also cleared the south end so the old fence can be replaced.
After that, the work split into three contracts:
| Contractor | Job | Contract | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frontier Timber Framing LLC | Take apart, catalog, store and reassemble the historic barn | Up to $87,441 | Authorized in August 2026 |
| Watson General Contracting | Demolish the farmhouse | Price not published | Expected by late fall |
| Law General Contracting, Inc. | Build a shared-use path along the farm's frontage | $449,319.09 | Target is end of 2026 |
Only one of those three contracts removes a building for good. The barn contract is about preservation, and the path contract is the first time the public gets real access.
Why the barn survives and the farmhouse doesn't
City Manager Andy White explained the difference to council in August. He said some structures on the site "will have to be removed because of structural integrity issues." Then he added, "Thankfully, the structural bones of the old barn are solid." Under the agreement, Frontier Timber Framing will take the barn apart and catalog the materials. The company will also store them and later reassemble the barn. The city plans to reuse it as a community event barn with classroom space for parks and recreation programs.
The city took three bids and chose Frontier. The cost comes out of the city manager's discretionary budget. Assistant City Manager Jeffrey Tyler said other future buildings at the park could be candidates for grant funding. According to the city page, scrap and manure have already been cleared out of the barn, and the barn is being prepared for disassembly.
Where the barn goes back up hasn't been settled publicly. The preliminary concept presented in March showed the barn frame moved to a new spot on the property. In August, White described the materials as "catalogued for a redevelopment opportunity at a future site," without naming a location. The adopted master plan calls for a community event barn of about 3,200 square feet. So the plan is for the barn to come back as part of the park, but the exact spot is still open. When it comes down this fall, it will look like a loss. The contract says it's going into storage.
The path is the part you'll actually use this year
On September 15, 2026, Powell City Council gave Law General Contracting the path contract. Council passed it as an emergency ordinance so construction could start as soon as possible. The project covers more than 2,000 linear feet of 10-foot-wide asphalt path, plus grading and storm sewer work. It runs along the south side of East Olentangy Street and connects Bartholomew Boulevard to Arbor Ridge Park.
That route matters if you already walk or bike around here. The new segment ties the path from Bartholomew Boulevard into downtown to the existing shared-use path at Arbor Ridge Park. The city's Shared-Use Path Master Plan had already listed this connection as a high-priority project.
Here's what to expect on timing. Delaware Source's September 16 report said construction was expected to begin later this fall. The city expects the path to be finished by the end of 2026. That's a short window for a project that was only just awarded, so I'd watch for city updates rather than count on a specific week.
The money moved in an interesting way. The March concept estimated $940,000 for about 2,300 feet of path. The contract council approved is $449,319.09 for about 2,000 feet. The two figures came at different stages and cover slightly different lengths, so they don't line up exactly. Still, the awarded number is less than half the early estimate. On top of that, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is putting in $200,000 through its REALM program. The state money was set aside in Ohio's 2027-28 capital budget, which Gov. Mike DeWine signed in June.
Vice Mayor Tom Counts called it "lightning speed." He said, "In two years, we went from having no access to this property or residence to our residents actually having access to 32 acres of park land." The first phase of the path runs along the edge of the park. A second phase would branch off it and take people farther in. City Engineer Aaron Stanford said he's nearly done designing that piece and it will go to council soon.
The park in the middle is still a plan
Council approved the Bennett Farm Master Plan on July 21, 2026. The city was clear that adopting it sets a planning framework. It doesn't authorize construction or fund individual projects. The plan was prepared by MKSK and shaped by more than 1,000 community members through surveys and meetings. It describes a "nature-centered destination park" built around passive recreation. The proposed features include:
- An event lawn with meadow overlook swings
- Rolling and flat meadow areas, plus a trail network
- Wetland boardwalks
- Potential mountain biking trails
- The roughly 3,200-square-foot community event barn
- A new restroom building
- Updated Arbor Ridge play areas
- A potential dog park
- A 45-space parking lot, with room for about 50 more spaces
Building all of it would cost about $17.1 million if the city follows MKSK's recommendations. Compare that to what's actually in the budget. Powell's 2027–2031 capital improvement plan lists $342,800 for schematic design in 2027 and $225,000 for site maintenance across 2027 and 2028. The plan itself doesn't appropriate that money. Schematic design is the step where the concept gets checked against real site conditions and turned into an accurate final cost. So the swings, boardwalks and event lawn are still at the drawing stage, with design work budgeted for next year. You can read the full Bennett Farm Master Plan on the city's site.
The land itself is already paid for. Powell bought the farm in 2024. The city credits the income tax restructuring residents approved in 2021, known as Powell 2.0, with making purchases like this possible.
Whose farm it was
The city bought the property through a purchase agreement with Marjorie Bennett, a longtime resident. Her husband, Willard Bennett, started the farm. After he died in 1991, the family kept running it, and for decades the Bennetts raised sheep on the land. In its own FAQ, the city says the park will "likely" include a Bennett family memorial, along with paths and green space. That's still early-stage wording, not a commitment.
At the August meeting, a resident thanked the city for keeping the barn. "I can remember playing in that barn as a kid," she said. "I have so many good memories of sheep being birthed, petting the sheep." Another resident asked how the city would keep people informed if they don't go to council meetings or follow the city online. He suggested a sign at the property. Tyler said the city plans to put one up, and Mayor Karr pointed residents to the city website for updates.
Until that sign goes up, here's how the farm will likely change over the next few months. The barn frame comes down in cataloged pieces, and the farmhouse is demolished by late fall. If the city hits its target, a 10-foot path will be finished along the south side of East Olentangy Street between Bartholomew Boulevard and Arbor Ridge Park by the end of 2026. That path will be the first public way onto Bennett Farm.
I'll be keeping an eye on the Bennett Farm work all fall, especially the path schedule and where the barn ends up. If you live near Arbor Ridge or along East Olentangy and want to talk through what the new park could mean for your street or your plans, I'm always glad to compare notes. Sarah Moore is just a message away. Let's Connect.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
