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Riverside Park plans multipurpose field, dog‑park fencing under FRDA grant; senior center recovery progresses after flooding
Summary
City staff described FRDA‑funded upgrades at Riverside Park—including a raised multipurpose field, parking repaving and a fenced dog‑park area—and reported extensive flood repairs at the Riverside Park Senior Center with a phased reopening planned.
City staff briefed the advisory board on two linked topics at Riverside Park: a grant‑funded renovation of park amenities and an ongoing recovery and reopening plan for the Riverside Park Senior Center after storm flooding.
FRDA grant and park renovations Staff described a multi‑year FRDA grant to renovate a multipurpose field at Riverside Park that staff said currently floods for periods during summer rains. The grant scope presented includes raising and resodding the multipurpose field, updating irrigation, repaving the aging parking lot and installing a fenced, dedicated dog‑park area. Staff said the dog‑park fencing could generate mixed public reaction because many residents currently use the area as an informal dog area; the city plans signage and rules enforcement to help manage user expectations.
The presentation noted wildlife and safety issues along the riverbank where residents sometimes throw sticks into the water; staff said the city has previously removed large alligators from that location and recounted an incident in which a dog was injured and required veterinary care after a riverbank alligator interaction. Staff said they plan to emphasize signage and public education in the area.
Riverside Park Senior Center: flood damage and reopen plan Staff gave an extensive before‑and‑after briefing on flood damage from a recent storm event that left the Riverside Park Senior Center with water up to roughly 26 inches in places. The contractor and city reports show widespread damage to flooring, interior finishes, doors and specialized flooring in the racket‑ball courts. Staff said the city followed federal mitigation guidance early in the cleanup and used 3‑D mapping and mitigation vendors during remediation.
Work completed and remaining items Staff said the city has replaced tile and installed luxury vinyl tile in much of the facility, replaced warped and damaged interior and exterior doors, remediated mold and replaced damaged wall systems in the rackets courts. The rackets courts remained the longest remaining item because of special floor materials and a delay from a manufacturer; staff said custom doors and the final wall system were in production and expected within weeks. Other facilities—skate park, pools, and tennis courts—have reopened, and multipurpose fields have been usable since waters receded, staff said.
Senior programming and operations Staff said they are planning senior programming at the center with morning social hours, classes, fitness and computer instruction. The center’s hours for seniors were described as Monday–Saturday mornings through early afternoon; staff said pricing will be “a la carte” with drop‑in options and membership packages to keep costs low for seniors. Staff sought volunteers and suggested computer security classes as a priority for senior education.
Next steps For the FRDA grant, staff said engineering and site design are underway and that fencing, paving and field drainage work will follow the design phase. For the senior center, staff said final rackets‑court work and door installations should conclude in weeks and that staff will begin phased program roll‑out once interior work is finished.
Ending: Staff asked advisory board members to share program and volunteer leads and said the city will return with project timelines and vendor procurement details as the grants and construction schedules solidify.
