SARDIS, Ohio (AVC News) — Gov. Mike DeWine celebrated the opening of the Appalachian Ecotone Riverfront Amphitheater in Sardis as part of a statewide tour highlighting completed community revitalization projects funded through Ohio’s Appalachian Community Grant Program.
DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine and Ohio Department of Development Director Lydia Mihalik visited Sardis in Monroe County to mark the completion of the project, supported by a $4.4 million grant through the program’s Wonderful Waterfronts Initiative.
Monroe County purchased the former Fairways Riverside Golf Course to develop the amphitheater and walking trails along the Ohio River. Grant funding also supported renovations to convert the former golf clubhouse into a visitor center.
DeWine said the new riverfront destination will provide families and visitors with opportunities to enjoy the outdoors while highlighting the Ohio River’s role in the region’s history and character.
During the visit, DeWine also participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the county’s new Inland Waterways Maritime Academy, which will be located next to the visitor center. An Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources is supporting the design and construction of the academy’s future Deckhand Training Center.
The governor also visited Ashtabula to celebrate the completion of its downtown revitalization project. Supported by a $1.9 million Wonderful Waterfronts grant, the project added sidewalks and streetlights, updated wayfinding signs and improved the facades of 22 buildings.
The Wonderful Waterfronts Initiative was announced in 2024 and awarded $204 million to help communities improve access to waterways, revitalize historic waterfront downtowns and create tourism and recreational opportunities.
The initiative is one of three programs funded through the $500 million Appalachian Community Grant Program, established in partnership with the Ohio General Assembly.
DeWine said the investments are intended to benefit Appalachian communities for decades, with the Ashtabula project expected to create a more inviting downtown environment and support the local economy.
Last Updated on October 20, 2026 by AVC News
