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 commenters and several committee members said the layout affects business access, emergency vehicle routing and local boaters who depend on public slips and ramps.

Key facts and committee action

- The committee voted by voice to recommend Concept B to City Council; a committee member moved to forward the plan and Miss Halloran seconded the motion. A voice vote followed: “Aye” and no objection was recorded.

- Staff told the committee the project estimate used in grant applications is about $3,000,000. Staff said the city was awarded a Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant for $1,500,000 (award notification in Aug–Sep 2024) that requires a $1,500,000 local match; staff said the paperwork for that grant had not yet been received.

- Staff described a likely phased construction approach. Phase 1 would focus on the southern portion of the park, including the splash pad and playground, because some elements cannot be removed until replacements are in place.

Docks, law enforcement slips and floating dock feasibility

The plan preserves the Twin Piers and existing dock area while designating an element at the pier’s end to become a law‑enforcement dockage area. Brian stated there are approximately 26 docks at the site and that the law‑enforcement design would remove about six slips for that purpose, leaving roughly 20 slips for public use. The committee heard several residents urge alternatives: more floating docks that can be removed in storms, additional boat‑trailer parking, and larger docks at Yacht Club and Main Street.

On floating docks, staff said consultants are researching feasibility but cautioned that the park’s open‑water exposure to east‑northeast winds can produce a two‑foot chop that hampers floating‑dock performance. Brian cited a Martin County floating‑dock case study that was “not functionable” in similar conditions and said engineering and permitting (including FDEP requirements) will determine whether floating docks are viable. He said Main Street dredging is under design and that the city holds design‑phase grant funds for that work.

Public concerns and environmental input

Business owners and property representatives told the committee closing Harrison Street would reduce traffic counts that support commercial property value and create access and safety problems. One commenter, who identified himself as a licensed broker and property owner next to the park, asked for economic and traffic studies before permanent street closures and said some businesses had not received adequate notice of the earlier public workshop.

Several residents and an environmental commenter asked the city to prioritize low‑impact development techniques (permeable paving, native plant gardens, and tree preservation) because the park sits on the Indian River Lagoon and can serve as a model for shoreline projects. Karen Winn, a resident, praised the plan and urged use of permeable surfaces and native plantings near the boardwalk. Brian said native plantings and tree preservation would be woven into the design and that the boardwalk would be elevated through stormwater areas.

Funding, permits and schedule

Staff said the LWCF award requires a local match and that the city has applied for several additional grants, including a $100,000 design grant already awarded. Brian said the team had submitted “four to six” grant applications and estimated another $600,000 in pending grant requests. He said design and permitting for the Main Street boat‑ramp dredge must be complete by Sept. 16 (design/permitting milestone stated by staff) and that other permitting will involve FDEP and, for shoreline stabilization at Swing and Bench Park, the St. Johns (Saint John's) permitting process.

What’s next

The committee’s recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for consideration. If council approves the conceptual plan, staff said the project would proceed to detailed design and staged construction as grant funding and local match become available.

Residents and business owners asked for additional public outreach, traffic and economic analyses tied to any change in street access, and detailed schedules so the community can track proposed parking, dock and road‑closure changes.