Boat Ramp Closed For Upgrades. Bank Damaged In Truck Crash.
Walnut Boat Ramp at Hoover Reservoir Closed for Major Upgrades Until 2026
The Walnut Boat Ramp at Hoover Reservoir, one of the most heavily used access points on the lake, is now closed for a major renovation project that began September 16. The work will stretch through the winter and keep the site shuttered until the start of the 2026 boating season.
The most visible change will be a new ADA-accessible docking and launching system. The existing docks, which measured 5 feet across, will be replaced with new structures built at 8 feet wide. That added width not only improves stability but makes boarding and launching safer for boaters of all abilities.
For years, the Walnut ramp had only a single dock after an older second dock was removed. This project restores that missing piece, adding a second dock to improve traffic flow. On summer weekends, Walnut can be crowded with a mix of paddlecraft, fishing boats, and larger vessels waiting to launch. The new layout is designed to ease those backups.
The adjacent parking lot will also undergo targeted updates. Several new ADA parking spaces are being added, along with a reworked drop-off lane that provides smoother access to the ramp. These changes reflect the city’s broader effort to modernize facilities across Hoover Reservoir, striking a balance between capacity and accessibility.
Just beyond the asphalt, the project tackles a different challenge: the shoreline itself. Years of water and weather have eroded the edges of the drive and drop-off, leaving a steep slope where rocks frequently slide down toward the water. That section will be rebuilt with reinforced stone and new bollard posts for safety. The aim is to protect both the infrastructure and visitors who move between the parking lot and the water’s edge.
For boaters, the closure comes at the tail end of the season. Walnut will remain fenced off until spring 2026, but the reservoir is not entirely off-limits. Other launch sites around Hoover remain open and accessible for the remainder of this year, though they lack the size and parking scale of Walnut.
City records do not provide clear information on when the existing ramp and parking lot were built, but it is clear that the infrastructure had reached a point where upgrades were overdue. With the improvements now underway, the Walnut Boat Ramp is expected to serve boaters well into the future.
Box Truck Destroys Bank Canopy—Again—Days After Land Swap Announcement
The Middlefield Bank drive-through in Uptown Westerville sustained significant damage Friday afternoon when a rented 10-foot-6-inch box truck drove through the structure’s nine-foot clearance canopy. The impact peeled back the metal overhang, exposing beams, insulation, and lighting fixtures. No injuries were reported.
This is far from the first incident at the site. The canopy has been struck nearly annually, usually by delivery trucks misjudging its height despite posted warnings. Friday’s crash, however, appears to be the most severe to date, rendering the canopy structurally unsound and leaving debris scattered across the drive-through lanes.
City officials and bank representatives were not immediately available for comment, but police cordoned off the area, and a cleanup crew began assessing the damage within hours. The empty truck was heavily damaged and needed to be towed from the scene.
The timing is notable. Earlier this year, the city of Westerville finalized a deal to acquire the bank property through a land swap. Under the agreement, Middlefield Bank will relocate to a newly constructed facility being built on Cleveland Avenue near Polaris Parkway. The city’s proposal for renovation of the parking lot behind the bank potentially transforms the drive-through into a public green space as part of broader Uptown redevelopment efforts.
Critics have long questioned why the bank didn’t modify the canopy or add more visible height warnings, given the frequency of crashes. Some have suggested that the structure’s low clearance and tight approach angle make it inherently prone to such accidents, especially for drivers unfamiliar with the area.
Whether the building will be repaired or cleared ahead of the move remains unclear, but with its future already sealed by the land deal, Friday’s incident may be the last straw for a drive-through that’s become a magnet for mishaps.
As of Friday evening, the alley and drive-through are closed, limiting access to the drive-up ATM.
For more on the bank’s upcoming relocation and the land trade details, read:
Land Trade Moves Bank from Uptown – The Westerville News
The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
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