POWELL — Land that has served as a sheep’s grazing pasture since 1855 is now one step closer to becoming the next outdoor destination for folks of all ages.
The City of Powell’s Development and Operations committees held a joint meeting Tuesday to learn how 32 acres of historic farmland at Bennett Farm could be repurposed into an $18 million public park.
Urban design studio MKSK — the city’s consultant team — presented a master plan for the property, including 19 unique features and the repurposing of the original barn.
However, before planning your next outdoor day, keep in mind the committees did not — and cannot — decide whether the project can move forward yet.
As it stands, MKSK is waiting for Powell City Council to pass a resolution allowing the project to enter schematic planning, the stage where designs are refined and cost estimates become more precise.
“We’re kind of at about 1,000 feet right now,” MKSK principal Andrew Overbeck said. “We need to get down closer to 10 feet.”
Once approved, Overbeck said MKSK typically spends 12 to 18 months on design and 18 to 36 months on construction, depending on the size of each phase.
Members of both committees heard Overbeck’s presentation and asked questions Tuesday. They will now take what they learned back to Powell City Council for further discussion.
Bennett Farm: A history rooted in Powell
The history of Bennett Farm dates back to the mid-19th century.
According to MKSK’s plan, the farm was first established around 1855 when John Lowry purchased the land and began farming what would eventually grow to nearly 300 acres.
For more than 50 years, the Lowry family worked the land, contributing to the area’s early agricultural identity.
Four owners, several decades and significant development later, Marjorie Bennett inherited the property from her late husband, Willard Bennett, in 1991.
For more than three decades, Bennett served as the land’s steward, “cherishing its history and maintaining its rural charm amid a changing community,” the plan adds.
Bennett passed away in 2023 at the age of 97, and in 2024, the city of Powell purchased the once-in-a-lifetime property.
“[The city’s purchase began] the next chapter in Bennett Farm’s long and storied history as it transitions from private farmland to a cherished public park,” the plan reads.
Below are a few historic photos courtesy of MKSK Studios:
What’s going to happen to the iconic barn?
While MKSK’s plan includes many elements, urban planners surveyed Powell residents and found the future of the main barn was especially important.
“The barn at Bennett Farm was constructed circa 1901 and originally served as part of the farm’s operational complex,” the plan states.
Naturally, Father Time has not been kind to the barn, but the heavy timber frame remains largely intact, according to MKSK.
“This frame could potentially be carefully dismantled and preserved for reuse in new applications,” the plan adds.
Overbeck said the company previously helped revitalize the Amelita Mirolo Barn at Langston Park in Upper Arlington, where timber from an 1838 farm barn was preserved and incorporated into a modern recreation facility through a community-led effort.
Additionally, MKSK’s plan details how crews relocated and repurposed the historic Wells Barn from Richland County to Franklin Park Conservatory in Columbus.
“The [Wells Barn] space is now an 8,000 square-foot facility that provides a dedicated space for the Conservatory’s expanding outreach and education programs,” the plan stated.
“The historic barn at Bennett Farm has the potential to offer more than 3,200 square feet of community event and education space. Its existing structure can be reclaimed and relocated on site to maximize views, circulation and programming.”
While a full-fledged park at Bennett Farm is a ways away, Powell city officials have already approved funds to extend a multi-use path along the North side of the property on Powell Road.
The estimated 10- to 11-foot-wide and 2,300-foot-long, $940,000 extension will connect to the existing path in front of Arbor Ridge Park along Powell Road, Powell City Engineer Aaron Stanford said.
Read MKSK’s full master plan for Bennett Farm below:
