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Riverside Park reopens in Kernville after $2.2 million restoration
Summary
Riverside Park in Kernville reopened June 13 after repairs and upgrades following 2023 flooding. County supervisors, General Services and community members marked the reopening; the site received about $2.2 million for accessibility, courts, play areas and river access.
Riverside Park in Kernville officially reopened June 13 following an extensive restoration after historic flooding in 2023, county officials and community members said. First District Supervisor Philip Peters joined Kern County General Services and local residents to mark the reopening.
The rehabilitation included accessible parking and walkways, picnic tables and benches, a new basketball and pickleball court, exercise and play equipment with safety surfacing, barbecues, new turf and irrigation, and a raft launch area. The segment on the county’s public information program said the work was completed through a $2,200,000 investment to better serve residents and visitors.
Why it matters: Riverside Park is one of the county’s most visited parks and a focal point for recreation in the Kern River Valley. The restoration aims to return the park to service and improve accessibility and recreational features for both residents and visitors.
County and local leaders credited county staff for coordinating repairs after the flood. Supervisor Philip Peters said, “Really, I mean, the way that this all happened was, just a tremendous effort by, county staff, the way general services came together, even public works, to try and repair some of the damage up here.”
A resident who attended the reopening celebration said patience paid off: “We’ve waited patiently, and I always tell people patience being patient is, like, the greatest skill anyone can master. ... When they finish the park, we were just so happy having the park reopened.”
Background: The park was underwater during 2023 historic flooding. The county-provided segment did not specify the source(s) of the $2.2 million investment or whether the funding was county, state, federal, or a mix.
Riverside Park’s reopened facilities are expected to serve local families and visitors, with river access, new courts and improved accessibility.
