What's Being Built in Fairfield, Ohio: Marsh Park and More
A five-building industrial park is financed, the long-empty Forest Fair Mall site broke ground in June, and the city is finishing plans for a $12 million Marsh Park project. Here is what is moving in Fairfield in 2026, with the dates each project is working toward.
At a glance
| Marsh Park | About $12 million in changes to about 5 of the park's roughly 165 acres, including a 6,000-square-foot restaurant building. Final plans go to City Council in the fourth quarter of 2026. |
|---|---|
| New industrial park | Five speculative buildings, about 1.29 million square feet on 140 acres, about $130.7 million, about 530 projected jobs |
| Industrial track record | About $350 million of speculative industrial construction since 2020, all 12 buildings leased as of late 2025 |
| Former Forest Fair Mall | Hillman broke ground June 17, 2026 on a 715,000-square-foot facility, on the Forest Park side of the site |
| Closed | The Old Spaghetti Factory, 6320 Gilmore Rd, after 24 years, on May 3, 2026 |
Marsh Park: Fairfield's biggest park project
Marsh Park is built around a lake. The city's plan keeps the lake and changes about 5 of the park's roughly 165 acres, according to Mayor Steve Miller. Local 12 reported the cost at about $12 million.
The master plan, adopted by the Parks Board and City Council in April 2025, includes:
- Better lake access. Improvements to the boat launch, new shoreline features and an accessible kayak launch.
- Trails. Better trail connections. The city says a separate trail expansion project is already under way.
- A restaurant building. About 6,000 square feet, and the part of the plan that has drawn the most opposition from nearby residents.
Here is where the project stands, from the city's own timeline:
- April to May 2026: the city selected Prus Construction as construction manager.
- Summer and fall 2026: an ad hoc citizen advisory committee reviews the building plans and architectural concepts.
- Fourth quarter of 2026: final construction-ready plans, and a notice to proceed goes to City Council.
The city says the timeline depends on funding, permits and coordination with regional projects. It posts updates on its Marsh Park project page and on the FairfieldParks Facebook page.
A new industrial park, and the jobs behind it
NP Development plans five speculative industrial buildings in Fairfield, about 1.29 million square feet on 140 acres, the Cincinnati Business Courier reported in June. Speculative means the buildings go up before tenants sign. The project is estimated at about $130.7 million with about 530 projected jobs.
- May 26, 2026: City Council approved a 10-year, 75% property tax abatement.
- Late June 2026: bond financing for the project was approved as part of $264 million in Butler County industrial deals.
- Mid-2029: the target for completing all five buildings.
Fairfield has done this before. City documents cited by the Courier show about $350 million of speculative industrial construction in Fairfield since 2020: 12 buildings and 3.75 million square feet, all leased as of late 2025, with about 1,500 jobs created or kept.
The old Forest Fair Mall site
The mall that sat mostly empty for years on the Fairfield and Forest Park line is becoming a single 715,000-square-foot facility. The Hillman Group and developer Hillwood broke ground on June 17, 2026. Hillman, the hardware and fastener company, will fully occupy it and consolidate several Cincinnati-area operations there.
The building is in Forest Park. The City of Fairfield is one of the project's public partners, with Forest Park, the Butler County Land Bank, the Ohio Department of Development, JobsOhio and REDI Cincinnati.
A goodbye on Gilmore Road
The Old Spaghetti Factory at 6320 Gilmore Road served its last meals on Sunday, May 3, 2026. The restaurant had moved to Fairfield from downtown Cincinnati in 2002. The company told the Journal-News its lease came up for renewal and it chose not to extend it.
What it means if you live here
Most of the new building in Fairfield is industrial, and it is concentrated in business parks. For residents, the visible changes over the next two years are construction traffic around those sites, and a rebuilt Marsh Park if council approves construction this winter. We will update this guide as each project moves.
Looking for an apartment in Fairfield? Fairfield Square has two-bedroom apartments and townhomes at 2080 Woodtrail Dr. Take a 360° tour, check availability or call or text (513) 392-8074.
Questions
What is happening at Marsh Park in Fairfield, Ohio?
The city plans about $12 million in changes to roughly 5 of the park's 165 acres. The master plan includes lake access improvements, an accessible kayak launch, trail connections and a 6,000-square-foot building intended for a restaurant. The lake stays. Final construction plans and a notice to proceed go to City Council in the fourth quarter of 2026.
Will Marsh Park have a restaurant?
A 6,000-square-foot restaurant building is in the city's plan. It is the most debated part of the project, and some nearby residents have organized against it. The city says community review of the building plans continues through fall 2026.
What is being built on the old Forest Fair Mall site?
The Hillman Group and developer Hillwood broke ground on June 17, 2026 on a 715,000-square-foot facility that Hillman will fully occupy. The site is in Forest Park, and the City of Fairfield is one of the project's public partners.
Did the Old Spaghetti Factory in Fairfield close?
Yes. The restaurant at 6320 Gilmore Road closed after its last day on Sunday, May 3, 2026. It had been in Fairfield since 2002.
Sources
- City of Fairfield, Marsh Park Improvement Project, fairfield-city.org, read September 28, 2026
- WKRC Local 12, "Tri-State city presses ahead with costly park changes amid neighborhood backlash", local12.com, April 15, 2026
- Cincinnati Business Courier, "Developer plans $131M industrial park in Fairfield", bizjournals.com, June 8, 2026
- Cincinnati Business Courier, "Financing packages approved for $264M in Butler County industrial projects", bizjournals.com, June 29, 2026
- Hillman Solutions Corp., "The Hillman Group and Hillwood Celebrate Groundbreaking of New Multipurpose Facility", ir.hillmangroup.com, June 17, 2026
- WCPO and the Journal-News, "The Old Spaghetti Factory in Fairfield is closing", wcpo.com, April 2026
Published by Fairfield Square, managed by TLP Property Management. We check every fact in our guides against the sources listed above; business hours, prices and event dates change, so confirm with the business or organizer before you go. Spot something out of date? Call or text (513) 392-8074.
