Council taking up Riverfront Park again

BY ROBYN SIDERSKY

The City Council will discuss the future of Riverfront Park once again at its work session Tuesday.

At the last meeting, the council postponed a vote on awarding the contract for the design of the 3-acre park.

The topics some members of council said they wanted to discuss further include parking, the concept design and the qualifications of the members of the River Front Taskforce.

The council is looking at a $99,956 contract with design firm Rhodeside & Harwell, which was selected by the task force.

During the past five years, there have been two other designs for the park. Some council members have raised concerns over whether a third design is needed.

But much has changed since the last time there was a design in front of the council, including the land the city has purchased for the park. In late 2011, the city bought a roughly -acre site from Prince Hall Masonic Lodge 61 for $925,000.

Other concerns were about the cost of the park and how it measures up against the city’s other needs.

At its recent retreat, the council ranked completing the design for the park second on its priority list for the next two years. However, those goals are now being tweaked by the council.

The park was started a few years ago, but the work was put on hold because of the downturn in the economy.

The meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. in the second floor conference room of City Hall, 715 Princess Anne St.

Robyn Sidersky 540/374-5413

rsidersky@freelancestar.com

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