Parks advisory committee backs Riverview Park Concept B, keeps Veterans Memorial in place

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee on Monday recommended that City Council approve Concept B for Riverview Park, a roughly $3 million, multi‑phase master plan that preserves the Veterans Memorial in its current location, repositions a splash pad and playground, and reserves several boat slips for law enforcement use.

The recommendation followed a staff presentation and more than an hour of public comment from residents and business owners who raised concerns about closing Harrison Street, potential impacts to nearby commercial property and traffic flow, and boat‑ramp and dock access for the community.

Brian (staff member) presented the Concept B plan and said, “Veterans Memorial stays in the same place.” He described changes driven by public workshops, including a southern playground and splash‑pad area built with pour‑in‑place surfacing, expanded parking for trailers and improved organized boat‑trailer spaces, a larger pavilion and permanent stage, a raised boardwalk through a stormwater retention area and native plant landscaping, and additional handicap parking. Brian said the plan is conceptual and will move to phased construction and more detailed engineering if council approves it.

Why it matters: the plan combines a costly splash‑pad replacement with broader park improvements to increase the pool of grant funding and reduce the city’s up‑front expense. Public…