Arguably Riverside’s most interesting park, Fairmount Park is staging a comeback. After several years of neglect, the city recently completed various park improvements, including new gazebos, picnic tables and playgrounds as well as refurbishing of the boathouse, itself a 1995 replica of the original 1911 boathouse. One of the most expensive improvements was the dredging…
After several months of public meetings, the 22-member Library/Museum task force held its final session this past week, producing what it calls “guiding principles” for the planned expansions of downtown’s Central Library and Riverside Metropolitan Museum. The key recommendation calls for separate expansions of both facilities, with enough space for each to meet their needs….
A City Council-appointed task force assigned with revising Riverside’s library-museum expansion plans issued its draft recommendation this week calling for separate expansions for both institutions. The recommendation, which would reverse the city’s earlier combined expansion proposal, comes after several recent public meetings on the issue. Most critics of the original $25 million proposal — part…
After nearly 2 years of construction and renovation, Riverside’s Arlington Branch Library reopened to the public this past week following an 8,000 sq. ft. addition to the 99-year-old building. The new wing nearly triples the size of the current library to 13,000 sq. ft. The new addition mimics the original building’s Greek Revival styling, which…
In the midst of planning an expansion for the downtown branch, news surfaced recently regarding the future of another branch within Riverside’s library system, this time involving the possible relocation of the tiny, but unique, Marcy Branch. Located on Central Avenue just west of the Riverside Plaza, the Marcy Branch opened in 1958 replacing the…
This past week saw the first meeting of the city’s newly-formed “blue ribbon” task force for the combined downtown library-museum expansion project, which stalled in recent months following public comments questioning the viability of joint-use expansion. Members of the committee, comprised of seasoned Riverside civic leaders, have been given the task of formulating a plan,…
Last week saw the beginning of the multi-phase renovation of the Main Street Pedestrian Mall in downtown Riverside. The nearly $10 million dollar project, which is currently underway on two blocks between Tenth Street and University Avenue, is the first overall makeover in the 42-year history of the pedestrian mall. Completion of the 4-block project…
One of the best examples of Mid-Century Modernism in Riverside is receiving a makeover. Though some — or even many — may not see this as a big deal, particularly on account it involves a parking garage, we feel otherwise. The garage in question is one of two, nearly identical parking structures that opened* in…
After only a few weeks in office, we’re glad to report Riverside City Councilmember, Mike Gardner, has reversed course on his stance regarding the Main Street Pedestrian Mall in downtown Riverside. Gardner, who defeated Ward 1 incumbent Dom Betro by 7 votes in the November election, had voiced his opinion against the upcoming renovation of…
Have you ever walked through an art museum and said to yourself, “Wow, I wish I could purchase that right off the wall.” Well, this week you can during the annual “Off The Wall” fundraiser at the Riverside Art Museum. Designed as both an exhibit and a fundraiser, the event showcases over 1,200 pieces from…
