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.
Council approves $200M Northside soccer stadium talks, Riverside Light Parade group adopts park for cleanups and National Senior Citizens Day celebrates our elders.
Warm sunny morning atop Mount Rubidoux overlooking Downtown and beyond. (Luke LĂłpez)
Wednesday Gazette: August 20, 2025
Hello Riverside, and Happy Wednesday! Today is National Senior Citizens Day, a perfect moment to celebrate the seniors who enrich our community. If you know a senior who might enjoy a welcoming place to learn and connect, the Janet Goeske Center is a local gem. They’re launching California’s first senior-focused Digital Learning Hub, offering classes in everything from tech skills to art. It’s a wonderful opportunity for lifelong learning and connection.
See you tomorrow!
🧡
Meliia’s GoFundMe Update: So far, $1500 has been raised to help 9-year-old Meliia and her family visit Disneyland. Every contribution brings her closer to making this dream come true! You can still help here: Support Meliia’s Dream.
City Council Unanimously Approves $200M Northside Soccer Stadium Negotiations
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.
The proposed soccer stadium and entertainment complex (top) would transform the vacant former Ab Brown Sports Complex site, which has remained largely unused since 2018. (Rendering courtesy GCS Development/LaBella Associates)
The Riverside City Council unanimously approved an exclusive negotiating agreement with GCS Development for a proposed $200+ million sports and entertainment complex on the former Ab Brown Sports Complex site.
Driving the news: The ambitious project envisions a 5,000-seat expandable stadium, 1,148 residential units with 25% affordable housing, retail spaces, a 180-room hotel, and recreational facilities in the Northside neighborhood.
Developer Greg Scott aims to have the stadium operational by summer 2027.
Why it matters: The complex could transform Riverside into a major entertainment destination, complementing a nearby $200 million adventure sports complex also under negotiation.
The project aligns with growing civic ambitions for professional sports in Riverside.
The details: The stadium would use modular technology allowing expansion from 5,000 to 15,000 seats, hosting soccer, football, rugby, lacrosse, and concerts.
The development includes two community fields, an indoor sports facility, and a 25,000-square-foot concert venue.
What's next: The 12-month negotiation period includes community engagement, environmental analysis, and entitlement procedures before construction can begin.
City staff has already begun meeting with local soccer clubs and Northside community leaders to gather input.
Riverside Light Parade Adopts Ryan Bonaminio Park for Monthly Cleanups
Growing cycling group formalizes community commitment as membership swells to 600 riders.
John and GiGI Arnold, Eliza Quintero (Riverside Parks), and Rodney Johnson hold their new Adopt-A-Park sign. (Ken Crawford)
The Riverside Light Parade (RLP) has formalized its commitment to Ryan Bonaminio Park through the city's Adopt-a-Park program, marking a new phase in the organization's community engagement efforts.
Driving the news: RLP co-founders John and GiGi Arnold signed adoption papers, pledging to conduct monthly cleanups and maintenance at the park.
A new sign featuring the RLP logo now stands in the park, symbolizing the organization's long-term commitment.
Why it matters: The move comes as the RLP's monthly bike rides have grown to attract over 600 participants, up from 300 earlier this year.
The expansion has prompted discussions with city officials about permitting requirements for large-scale events.
What's next: RLP is awaiting approval for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status and has partnered with the city's Blue Zones Project to promote healthy lifestyles.
The organization now offers e-bike rentals and sales to make participation more accessible.
The bottom line: RLP's adoption of Ryan Bonaminio Park represents a deepening of its community involvement, extending beyond cycling advocacy to broader health and environmental initiatives in Riverside.
Ward 5 Councilmember Mill honored Casa Blanca Home of Neighborly Service during Tuesday's City Council meeting for National Nonprofit Day, recognizing the organization's nearly 30 years of providing vital support to the Casa Blanca community since its founding in 1995.
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Meliia’s Disneyland dream gets a boost, Christen Montero enters Ward 2 race, $20,000 in scholarships awarded and a call for better late-night dining in Riverside.
