Riverside's Plan to Reconnect Residents With Their River

City Council received an update Tuesday on a two-year feasibility study proposing to transform 250 acres of underutilized parkland along the Santa Ana River into a "vibrant public realm"—building on a vision first conceived more than 20 years ago to "put the river back in Riverside."

The River District aims to reconnect residents to the city's namesake waterway through a four-pillar framework: Engagement, Enforcement, Environment and Economics. The California State Coastal Conservancy supported the feasibility study, conducted by Economic Consultants Oregon, Ltd. under a $199,335 contract Council approved in October 2023. The draft study is now available online for public comment before finalization.

"Many people in the community didn't even know we had a river. They did not know how to access the river and they did not feel safe on the river," Parks and Recreation Director Pamela Galera told Council, framing the problem the district aims to solve.

The proposed River District would span the Santa Ana River corridor through the city, anchored by "bookend" destination sites at Fairmount Park on the west and Martha McLean-Anza Narrows Park on the east, with a network of gateway parks, trail access points and restored habitat between them.

But while the vision is expansive, the path to paying for it remains unclear. Galera stated during her presentation that "the River District's financial sustainability will be achieved through strong partnerships with private sector, nonprofit organizations and public organizations, as well as the use of a diverse toolbox of financial strategies."

The feasibility study document states the River District will be "planned for financial sustainability and be a catalyst for public and private investment" and function as a "self-generating entity that attracts private investment to help fund public amenities." However, the presentation did not detail projected revenue, timelines for financial independence or which funding mechanisms would be prioritized.

Ward 7 Councilmember Steve Hemenway, who co-chaired the Santa Ana River Working Group, emphasized the importance of incorporating Indigenous perspectives into planning. "We need to honor and respect the native peoples' connection to this land and this river," Hemenway said, referencing the city's meetings with local tribal representatives to discuss cultural stewardship of riverfront sites.

The study identifies environmental challenges including water quality issues, invasive species and fire danger, with strategies including using native plants and restoring habitat for endangered species. The study also identifies potential "catalyst sites" where private development could help activate the district, including areas around Fairmount Park and the Northside neighborhood, along with transportation connections through existing bike trails, potential rail stops and access points linking neighborhoods to the river.

The River District concept traces back to 2003 with the creation of the Santa Ana River Task Force. Major milestones include the 2014 creation of the Santa Ana River Conservancy Program by the California Legislature, Mayor Lock Dawson's 2021 creation of the Santa Ana River Working Group and Council's 2023 approval of the feasibility study contract.

Council took no formal action Tuesday, accepting the report as a workshop item. The draft study remains open for public review before staff finalizes the document and returns to Council with next steps for advancing the decades-old vision.