The fountain and rose plantings at the Rose Garden in Fairmount Park, where Tuesday's community meeting will be held. (Courtesy of City of Riverside Parks, Recreation and Community Services/Facebook)
The City is hosting a community meeting Tuesday to gather public input on proposed parking, traffic, and circulation changes at Fairmount Park — issues that have been among the most debated elements of the ongoing master planning process.
The session runs 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Rose Garden, 2981 Dexter Dr. It is part of the Fairmount Forward series, organized by the city's Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department to guide development of the Fairmount Park Master Plan.
Parking and access at the 200-plus-acre park have long been pain points, particularly for events at the Bandshell. The master plan has proposed increasing the park's parking capacity from roughly 210 spaces to approximately 540 — a more than twofold expansion — through a combination of restriping, new surface lots, and a two-level parking deck south of the tennis courts.
Tuesday's meeting gives residents a chance to respond to circulation and traffic concepts before plans advance further.
The Fairmount Forward series launched in June 2025 with a visioning workshop at the park's Armory. The master plan developed from that process was presented to the Cultural Heritage Board earlier this year and addresses improvements to the park's historic core, including proposals for the Bandshell, the golf course, and pedestrian access.
More information: The Fairmount Park Master Plan is available at riversideca.gov. Details on Tuesday's meeting at the Rose Garden, 2981 Dexter Dr., 4:30–5:30 p.m., are posted at facebook.com.
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