Benton City pursues $50,000 grant for Riverfront Park road; railroad bridge refurbishment via HUD grant is part of plan

At the March 31 Benton City Park Board meeting the chair said the city purchased about seven acres for Riverfront Park in 2020 and has applied for a $50,000 grant intended to fund a gravel access road, simple parking areas and signage so the property meets the acquisition agreement’s requirement to be an official park by 2026.

The chair showed a preliminary design that includes gravel parking, a restroom, a gazebo or small event area, unpaved trails and short pedestrian bridges across wet sections. The chair said the grantor told city staff that installing an access road and signage would be sufficient to meet the agreement’s minimum requirement and protect the city’s ownership of the site.

The chair also referenced a roughly $2 million HUD grant connected to plans to purchase and refurbish the nearby railroad bridge for a pedestrian/rail‑trail connection that would tie into Riverfront Park. Board members discussed liability concerns (people jumping from the bridge) and the complexity of wetlands and Department of Fish and Wildlife land in the area, which limit what the city can remove or develop without agency approval.

The chair said the $50,000 grant is the maximum available for the proposed access work and that the city will need other funding sources for broader development; the board discussed coordinating with county and state agencies and pursuing additional grants or city funds for future trail and amenity work.

The board did not take a formal vote; the chair said the city will continue pursuing grants and would present designs and updates to council.