[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6179018,"mediaKeyId","5134399-78bc0ac5a59be68cf3181987932197cb","parentId",5134399,"title","Gadsden renames Riverside Park, touts successful events and upcoming concerts as city shifts event sites","audioSeconds",235,"startMs",101884,"endMs",337793,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5134399-78bc0ac5a59be68cf3181987932197cb&start=101&end=337","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5134399-78bc0ac5a59be68cf3181987932197cb/thumbnail_101884.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6179018/Gadsden-City/Etowah-County/Alabama/Gadsden-renames-Riverside-Park-touts-successful-events-and-upcoming-concerts-as-city-shifts-event-sites","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6179018-010342af086fb0ad7dc39fc3fcb46944/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201513&Signature=hHbiDcubxqA43S46b0HXlp1zyqghSYcUhzgBAJL8bMEnXNTWFfWD~8gF~mlJx84~JfcL8aFHcg3ZRmX0xBdK4PyY~7sn6-lhibtDKge4ZUyH1YvQiQ~VFCvMKOzqPV~nx26cGUZk8~7obRq9-nrbt9CenUyLoTGX3VTwvCa9xkO5mwuS5E9L9NMLZJ-LJ3db3KW8GdfUlRSljGZPd7p4b1qAfnFbLvAxDnqm~zeXvQLulfpEpHNyrUvC0OHfme78pr9Fs1Mq6vvtKVu9YCbdIaGa5q3iURXlmk9FWTctVsMcNFgjMuYGvmKHSRQTOlY~~8i2snHUvCZYfYCQhXABgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Gadsden City, AL","date","2025-07-03T00:30:16Z","article","Mayor Craig Ford said the city has renamed the former ice-rink site Riverside Park and described a series of events and facility improvements the city plans to use for future programming.

Ford said a recent Tacos and Tequila event drew about 2,000 people after Parks and Recreation staff traveled to Chattanooga to scout ideas. \"We had 2,000 people. I mean, it was phenomenal,\" he said. The mayor credited the band Paris and food and beverage vendors for the turnout.

He also said the Barbarian Challenge increased participation by about 300 people compared with last year, and that roughly 80 to 90 city employees volunteered to help staff that event and were given comp time. Parks programming now includes adult softball and coed leagues and a kickball team made up of city employees; Ford said they have 15 teams in the recreational leagues and are using two newly opened turf fields at Gadsden State.

Ford announced a change in use for West Meagan Boulevard: \"No more events will be held on West Meagan Boulevard. So we're about to announce something that you'll love to hear. We're gonna have a new vision for that facility and that site over there, and we'll be announcing that soon,\" he said.

Separately, Ford promoted a Taylor Swift tribute concert scheduled for July at 7 p.m., with $10 tickets available through the City of Gadsden website; he said the fire marshal has limited capacity and advised residents to buy tickets early. He compared ticket pricing to a prior Prince tribute event and said the city-priced concert was far cheaper than a comparable show in Birmingham.

Ford thanked staff and volunteers for their work on events and said the city will continue to use parks and the Gadsden State complex for community programming.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","The Mayor's Minute for July 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Mayor Craig Ford highlighted the city's renamed Riverside Park and recent successful events — Tacos and Tequila drew about 2,000 people, the Barbarian Challenge grew by roughly 300 participants, and two new turf fields at Gadsden State are in use. He also announced a Taylor Swift tribute concert in July with $10 tickets and limited capacity.","taxTitle","Gadsden City, Etowah County, Alabama","taxId",53910,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6179022,"Gadsden council approved matching funds for Highway 411 relocation; public hearings, route proposals coming",31,254420,285620,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5134399-78bc0ac5a59be68cf3181987932197cb&start=254&end=285","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5134399-78bc0ac5a59be68cf3181987932197cb/thumbnail_254420.jpg","/articles/6179022/Gadsden-City/Etowah-County/Alabama/Gadsden-council-approved-matching-funds-for-Highway-411-relocation-public-hearings-route-proposals-coming","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6179022-b2f644fc01bf8a2a26b83d15be984767/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201513&Signature=BULIeSdxmP79rJzikszV2O8RVFFOr~UuISBIbhfPoo5gPNPXLKF59nNfFgvZiFZ3puRpPGzM~ChoeZvbkzL3ra695BqAVfuVsSNCqR8xsCg3S3V7lR6T9qt9c57YC1fw7RVYNntam7EepZ0aANyYOdWhvdgdwz7EBieeI2jTuuIQa-CfrT8LfNscbfQA8z99qoOQjIq4xl9N4~9Gk6Uu9P4je--EyeFzJ7Y9qiBEODx0kA1N560I2LSkNmSpwwMwGd25w-dHu5cV9w-yKRllIVgHW~Sa7fmLhyXIKpt~G8vNplQEKLxLvQ0O41azG1ZDHJiwOZPvmKFYdeouDLqssg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Craig Ford said the Gadsden City Council approved matching funds in the city's recent budget to comply with a federal grant for relocating Highway 411, and that the city will soon propose a route and hold public hearings.

\"We passed some money in the budget, this last council's, our matching funds for our federal grant we got for the relocation of Highway 411,\" Ford said. He added that the relocation is \"happening, and it's moving,\" and that officials are preparing a proposed route and public hearings that could result in adjustments.

Ford said the city expects the relocation to \"open up the whole riverfront,\" a long-sought element of the mayor's campaign. He emphasized that public hearings will allow changes to the proposed route after community input.

The transcript did not include the amount of matching funds approved or a timeline for construction. Officials said more details about the proposed route and the schedule for hearings will be released as the planning process advances.","Mayor Craig Ford said the city approved matching funds in the recent budget for a federal grant to relocate Highway 411, a move officials say will open the riverfront for development; the city will propose a route and hold public hearings before finalizing plans.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6179027,"Gadsden moves July 4 fireworks to Broad Street Bridge; Highway 411 to close for safety",63,10400,73875,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5134399-78bc0ac5a59be68cf3181987932197cb&start=10&end=73","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5134399-78bc0ac5a59be68cf3181987932197cb/thumbnail_10400.jpg","/articles/6179027/Gadsden-City/Etowah-County/Alabama/Gadsden-moves-July-4-fireworks-to-Broad-Street-Bridge-Highway-411-to-close-for-safety","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6179027-735cfe10ffc3cdd238e187c76e045b12/orig.mp4?Expires=1771201513&Signature=pA~ffgQhuPspWbCPTY6cDRYlOMhSiETeaWP5nanDU2XlC-6X0XxLSkXjGEoy6sMzAeES-j1hn9~wXzbM9tUCIG1CM58VqSdA-muJfm45fB-hBCMcPUHatoyScDqHWRQdUbfWL9oC8lpG9wVywX53fALCy1Mlvd5wXpeGLPS8lr4zFZrFT0VfrmiMMR8VicfPHYj6x7H2EB-abUwYw1R~DG~7es~bPsA8t60hiyss6VpcL2BNuhb~TBukX-nbxEwHM8zF2lWIH8VuiyX~MOU7YTDbiWpWGjlNwxBIcvbg3jhuZyQvmdpSC5GX2xwUS5h6gyl-ZBOhvAVCUkRI30UYAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayor Craig Ford announced that Gadsden’s July 4 fireworks display will be moved to the Broad Street Bridge and said the city will close Highway 411 and set up a police command center for public safety.

The move is intended to accommodate a larger crowd and improve safety. \"We're gonna shut down 04:11. The highway department's worked with us on shutting it down. We're gonna have a police command center because we're expecting the largest crowd we've ever had,\" Mayor Craig Ford said. He added that marine patrol will position boats to keep spectators safe on the water.

Ford said the fireworks show will follow music and food trucks at what the city is calling Riverside Park, the site of the former ice-skating rink. There will be bands, food trucks and beverage vendors nearby; Ford said the fireworks will begin at 9 p.m. and urged residents to plan for crowd-related delays.

City officials have coordinated with the highway department and marine patrol on closures and boat placement; Ford said those agencies will work with police to reduce risk from dehydration or other medical issues during the event.

Details on parking, road-closure maps and specific safety protocols will be released before the holiday, Ford said.

For planning purposes, residents should expect Highway 411 to be closed in the affected stretch during the event and to follow directions from public-safety personnel on site.","Mayor Craig Ford said the city will relocate its July 4 fireworks to the Broad Street Bridge, close Highway 411, use marine patrol to clear boats and establish a police command center to handle what officials expect will be an unprecedented crowd.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Gadsden renames Riverside Park, touts successful events and upcoming concerts as city shifts event sites

Gadsden council approved matching funds for Highway 411 relocation; public hearings, route proposals coming

Gadsden moves July 4 fireworks to Broad Street Bridge; Highway 411 to close for safety