[1] When Columbus was founded, the only planned green spaces downtown were around the Ohio Statehouse and in front of the Carnegie Library.

The 1908 Columbus Plan urged the removal of the numerous factories, coal yards, boarding houses, and tenements stretching along the riverfront downtown.

In 1920, the city pushed for a remade riverfront, though its bond issue did not receive enough public approval.

The original Scioto Mile Promenade was planned around 2007, with only the park's street-level walkway to be developed from April 2008 to fall 2009.

The riverfront road Civic Center Drive was reduced from five to three lanes, and the park space along the entire Scioto River was redeveloped at this time.

"Columbiad", designed by New York artist Brian Tolle, was to be an hourglass-shaped steel sculpture built on the Prow portion of the park.

[7] Within the park lies Huntington Plaza, an open-air space directly across the street from the Ohio Judicial Center.