Warmington Residential project moves forward after heated public debate over traffic concerns, orange grove preservation, and housing density in historic corridor.
Residents can help shape the future of Riverside's most visited park during a public visioning workshop tonight that aims to balance preservation with progress at historic Fairmount Park.
The “Fairmount Forward” planning session runs 5–8 p.m. June 26 at the Armory at Fairmount Park, 2501 Fairmount Blvd. Community members will participate in hands-on activities, including an interactive map exercise to identify areas for preservation, renovation or reimagining throughout the 158-acre site.
“This is more than a planning session — it’s a chance for the community to reflect on what makes Fairmount Park meaningful and to co-create a shared vision for its future,” said Pamela Galera, director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services.
The workshop operates under the theme “Preserving What Matters, Planning What’s Next,” acknowledging the park’s role as both a designated historic site and evolving community gathering space. Participants will weigh in on the playground, rose garden, amphitheater, pedal boats and historic train area.
Community input will guide future improvements to roadways, pedestrian access, gathering spaces and recreational amenities as part of a comprehensive master plan for the park, which opened in 1911.
Fairmount Park transcends its geographic boundaries, serving as what many residents consider a shared community treasure. The 114-year-old park has hosted generations of family gatherings, community events and quiet recreation that have woven it into Riverside’s identity.
Those connections take center stage in The People’s Playground: Riverside’s Fairmount Park, a new anthology from the Riverside Historical Society. The collection compiles stories and historical accounts offering multiple perspectives on how the park has served the community across different eras.
