57 / 190
The City of Dayton | 17
the most bike-friendly cities in America.
The area waterways have also been made
more accessible. While Dayton’s river sys-
tem is indeed beautiful, these same waters
have figured in some rather ugly history. The
Great Flood of 1913 put Dayton at the epi-
center of one of the worst national disasters
in history, with human lives, commercial en-
terprise and city infrastructure decimated in
the process. In the wake of that tragedy, an
elaborate levy system was created to mitigate
the potential for such flooding ever again.
While those efforts have proven protective
over time, it also resulted in diminishing
opportunities for recreational activities on
the water. Sorrell says Dayton has recently
invested more than $3 million in renewed
dam infrastructure, designed in such a way as
now allow for a new extensive kayak course.
As Sorrell says, “People can now use the river
instead of just looking at it.”
A SENSE OF PLACE
Biking and river kayaking, along with col-
legiate and career opportunities, are mak-
ing Dayton an increasingly popular draw for
what Rodney describes as “bright, young,
energetic professionals.” To that point,
downtown Dayton presently has the lowest
residential vacancy rates in its history (a 95%
occupancy rate), and Sorrell credits sustain-
ability practices as helping to promote new
“sense of place.” And that’s a point not lost
on Shelley Dickstein, Assistant City Manag-
er for Strategic Development. Dickstein says
beyond the safeguarding of the environment,
beyond the improvements in water conser-
vation, waste recycling and energy consump-
tion which have reduced costs for operating
businesses and the city alike, beyond all this;
sustainability practices have added to the
creation of new jobs, new businesses and a
new quality of life for all who call Dayton
home. In time, Dickstein believes such prac-
tices will also prove helpful in driving future
economic growth.
Air quality, water quality and prudent use
of tax dollars to protect, preserve and pro-
mote the beauty of its natural environment
can certainly add to the allure of a commu-
nity recognized for its business-friendly pro-
fessional environment. In Dayton, the con-
tinuing drive for “green-friendly” will cast
an excellent emerald hue to this Midwestern
gem of American cities.