Parks advisory committee backs conceptual Riverview Park plan, elects chair and vice chair

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee voted unanimously to recommend the conceptual Riverview Park plan to city council and elected officers for the coming year at its meeting, while staff reported multiple park maintenance and improvement updates.

The committee voted to forward the conceptual Riverview Park plan after a discussion of the proposed changes, which include moving the Veterans Memorial to the west side of the park, relocating the playground next to the splash pad, adding a permanent band shell and formalizing overflow parking with paved spaces and stormwater controls. "One of the major changes to Riverview is that we will be moving the Veterans Memorial from where it is to the west side of the park," said Mister Blankenship, Parks and Recreation staff, during the presentation.

The recommendation will go to city council in March. "We'll go to council in March for their blessing," Blankenship said.

Why it matters: organizers said the plan is designed to increase usable festival space, add permanency for concerts and improve accessibility. Committee members pressed staff about accessible parking, noise from nearby US 1 at the new memorial location and the project timeline. "I like moving the Veterans Memorial up to the US 1 side. I think it gives it more visibility," said one committee member, while another urged attention to handicap parking near event areas.

Committee members and staff said funding is the primary determinant of timing. Blankenship said the city ranked third in the state for a $1.5 million Land and Water Conservation Fund grant and that the project will be built in phases. "If the Land and Water Conservation Fund grant comes through with between that and our match, we'll have over $3,000,000," he said, but added the city had not yet received a contract or award for that money. Committee members were told other planning and state grant awards are pending and that the project will proceed in phases to match funding as it becomes available.

Public comments at the meeting urged more tree planting and criticized recent tree limb removal at Hardy Park. Charlene Furman, a resident, asked, "Why move it all? Plant trees," and suggested alternatives such as additional play features and shade at other parks. Dale Moore, a local designer, recommended design cohesion across the park and more plantings to animate memorial features.

In other business, staff reported several project updates: Bryant Court Playground is complete with an ADA pad and poured walkways and is already in use; Barber Street ballfield backstops are complete and played on during opening day; and the city plans to present a contract to council for design and permitting to dredge the Main Street Boat Ramp. Staff also said the splash pad at Riverview requires upgrading because it is "not functioning well as it is." Regarding parking and circulation tied to the Riverview plan, Mister Benton, staff member, said the plan includes a new road through overflow parking to preserve access from Indian River Drive when Harrison Street’s east half is closed and that a traffic signal would require state DOT approval.

The committee also held its annual officer elections. By roll call, the committee reappointed the existing chair and vice chair unanimously among voting members. The committee approved the January meeting minutes earlier in the session.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to approve January meeting minutes — outcome: approved. (Mover: not specified; Second: not specified.) - Election of chair — outcome: elected by unanimous roll-call of voting members (Mister Morrow, Miss Drumheller, Miss White, Mister Halloran, Miss Webster voted yes). - Election of vice chair — outcome: elected by unanimous roll-call of voting members. - Motion to recommend conceptual Riverview Park plan to city council — outcome: approved (unanimous among voting members).

What’s next: staff will present the conceptual plan to city council in March and continue design and grant-seeking work; more detailed design and public outreach on playground design, memorial details and parking/stormwater design will follow in the planning phases.