Council approves $200M Northside soccer stadium talks, Riverside Light Parade group adopts park for cleanups and National Senior Citizens Day celebrates our elders.
Riverside developer aims to create regional destination on former Ab Brown site with 5,000-seat expandable stadium and 1,148 housing units, forming major entertainment corridor alongside neighboring adventure park project.
A new Adopt-a-Park sign at Ryan Bonaminio Park marks the Riverside Light Parade’s formal commitment to monthly cleanup and maintenance of the community space.
The signs represent a concrete pledge by an organization to assist the city in keeping the park clean and functional, rather than serving as an award or recognition. Under Riverside’s Adopt-a-Park program, participating organizations commit to regular maintenance activities at designated parks.
When asked about the permanence of a sign with the RLP logo and the commitment it represents, GiGi Arnold said, “We just envisioned it and here it is, our footprint.”
John and GiGi Arnold, who co-founded the Riverside Light Parade with Rodney Johnson, signed the adoption papers as part of their expanded community engagement efforts. The monthly bike rides they organize now draw more than 600 participants, up from 300 earlier this year.
The growth prompted discussions with city officials about permitting requirements for large-scale events. “We’ve been getting away with it for three and a half years,” John Arnold said. “They were concerned about liability for us, you guys were a mile long. It’s gotten so big.”
Rather than scaling back, the Light Parade organizers deepened their community involvement through the park adoption program and a partnership with the city’s Blue Zones Project. The organization is incorporated and awaiting 501(c)(3) nonprofit status approval.
The Riverside Light Parade meets the last Saturday of each month at the Historic Riverside Courthouse. Participants decorate their bikes with lights for evening rides through the city. The Arnolds maintain it as a family-friendly event with no smoking or drinking allowed.
The organization also operates an e-bike rental and sales program through C&B Pack and Ship in Pine Center, offering $400 bikes to make participation more accessible. The Arnolds obtained a dealer’s license after companies approached them about sponsoring the growing event.
The Light Parade’s community engagement extends beyond cycling advocacy. As part of the Blue Zones initiative, the group works to raise awareness about outdoor activities and healthy lifestyle choices throughout Riverside.
Residents can report non-emergency maintenance issues such as broken sprinklers, graffiti or illegal dumping through the city’s 3-1-1 system to complement organized cleanup efforts by groups like the Riverside Light Parade.
