Results tagged “parks” from Raincross Square

Ron Redfern and Mayor Loveridge


Walking the walk


Mayor Loveridge pointing
out city landmarks

This past weekend saw about 50 participants show up early Saturday morning at the base of Mt. Rubidoux for the first of four "Walk with the Mayor" events.

The informal gathering allowed guests an opportunity to talk one-on-one with Riverside Mayor Ron Loveridge while taking in the scenery and getting a bit of exercise. The Mayor made a valiant effort to meet and talk with many of the guests as the group walked the newly-repaved trail.

Special guest Ron Redfern, CEO/Publisher of The Press-Enterprise newspaper, walked and chatted with guests as well, answering general inquiries and questions. Also on hand was Councilman Mike Gardner.

Three more "Walk with the Mayor" gatherings, each with a special guest, are currently scheduled:

• July 18 - Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park - Central Avenue entrance. Special guest: Timothy White - UCR Chancellor
• August 15 - California Citrus State Historic Park - 9400 Dufferin Ave. (near Van Buren Blvd.). Special guest: Rick Miller, RUSD Superintendent
• September 19 - Hidden Valley Wilderness Park - 11401 Arlington Avenue. Special guest: Stan Morrison, UCR Athletic Director

Guests are asked to meet up at 7:30 a.m. with the "walk" beginning promptly at 7:45 a.m. The events are expected to last approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours each.

Last Sunday, we had the chance to "ride the rails" at Hunter Hobby Park, one of Riverside's most unique attractions.

2008
Hunter Hobby Park


2008
7 1/2 gauge steam trains


2008
Kids particularly enjoy the trains

Located in northeast Riverside, the 40-acre park began life in the late 1950s as an adjunct "backyard" of sorts to local engineer -- and steam train enthusiast -- Joseph L. Hunter, who laid track down for a personal, small gauge steam engine. The track, which was initially 4,300 feet in length, soon began attracting other train enthusiasts.

Following the 1965 death of Joseph -- who, along with his brother Edwin, built Hunter Engineering, a pioneer of several key, industry-leading patents in the manufacturing of aluminum products -- the park was donated to the city of Riverside. Not being experts in the area of steam engines, the city set up a partnership with local train enthusiasts -- led by Dr. John Creighton of Riverside -- to maintain the system, while the city maintained the park.

Formed in 1966, this all-volunteer group -- Riverside Live Steamers -- immediately began operating, maintaining and expanding the facilities. The club also started providing free rides on selected days each month (currently, the trains operate on the 2nd and 4th Sundays each month).

Today, with a track length of approx. 1 1/2 miles consisting of several switchable configurations, the club includes both personal- and city-owned, 7 1/2 gauge (1/8-sized) engines, with the overriding requirement being "steam-only." Recently, the club built a new "car barn" to augment an already impressive workshop facility.

On the drawing boards -- as part of the city's Riverside Renaissance Initiative -- are several major park improvements, including a new boarding station, train themed playground and a lake for remote-controlled boats. New restrooms, picnic facilities, a concession stand, expanded parking, tennis and basketball courts and improvements to the nearby ball fields are also part of the plan.

So, if you have a couple hours free on an upcoming "run day" Sunday, take a trip to one of the area's most unique attractions for a bit of railroading.

Related

• Riverside Live Steamers

2008
Steam only

2008
Leaving the station

2008
Passenger cars

2008
Caboose

@1960
Jim Keith
(w/ one of J.L. Hunter's
original workshops
in background)*

@1973
Carl Allen
(w/ view of
Columbia/Iowa
in background)*

@early 1980s
Barney Root and
John Stroud (standing)
(w/ Columbia Ave.
in background)*

* B&W photos courtesy of Riverside Live Steamers

A small curbside swath of University Avenue in downtown Riverside was turned into an impromptu park earlier today as part of National Park(ing) Day.

Trust for Public Land

What began in San Francisco in 2005 aimed at bringing awareness to the need for more parks and open space, particularly within urban environments, has grown into a nationwide event. For one day each year, a few parking spaces in cities across the nation are temporarily replaced with tiny "public parks."

The local event was sponsored by Community Works Design Group in Riverside and, to our knowledge, is the first time Inland Southern California has participated in the 3-year-old event.

Related

• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Temporary parks spring up in downtown Riverside parking stalls | Photos | Video


• Official Site - National Park(ing) Day


• Trust for Public Land - National Park(ing) Day


• Flickr - National Park(ing) Day

2008
Main entrance


2008
Fairmount Lake


2008
Lake Evans


2008
Plenty of shade

Arguably Riverside's most interesting park, Fairmount is staging a comeback. After several years of neglect, the city recently completed various park improvements, including new gazebos, picnic tables and playgrounds as well as refurbishing of the boathouse, itself a 1995 replica of the original 1911 boathouse.

One of the most expensive improvements was the dredging of both Lake Evans and Fairmount Lake, which were last dredged in 1983. The city spent $2 million to clean and remove 50,000 tons of silt that accumulated at the bottom of the lakes. Both lakes were then restocked with two tons of catfish.

Fairmount Park originated in smaller form as early as 1898 on land near the Santa Ana River on the northwest edge of downtown. But it wasn't until land donated in 1903 by longtime Riverside businessman S.C. Evans Sr. in which the park of today began to take shape. Evans' donation allowed for the creation of the park's first lake -- Fairmount Lake.

A major expansion in 1911 saw elements from an Olmsted Brothers plan added, including a boathouse and Japanese-style lotus garden with arched, wooden bridges (later replaced with cement versions). Although at least two bridges remain, damaging floods over the years have wiped out the lotus garden. It's too bad the city found neither the money -- nor the will -- to replace it.

A 1924 expansion added another 60 acres, this time donated from S.C. Evans Jr. The additional acreage allowed for the creation of the park's second lake -- the much larger Lake Evans. Future expansions would eventually give the 180-acre park its current landscape that now includes a third lake.

Hailing from a different era, Fairmount is chock full of old-school park features, including forest-like trees and foliage, a bandshell, rose garden, lawn bowling club, boathouse, and of course, the three rustic lakes. At various times, the park also sported a small petting zoo and amusement area -- with a carousel (1947) and later a tiny roller coaster -- but these have long-since been removed.

Today, the park is seeing a rebirth thanks in part to the recent improvements funded from the city's $1.8 billion, 5-year Riverside Renaissance plan.

We're glad to see the city's flagship park regaining back some of its former glory.

Related

• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Fishing derby to mark completion of cleanup of Riverside's Fairmount Park (June 19)


• City of Riverside - Parks & Recreation


• National Association for Olmsted Parks

2008
Park map

2008
Boathouse

2008
New paths

2008
Resurfaced

2008
Entrance

2008
Rose Garden

2008
Pier

2008
Leisure time

2008
View looking east toward downtown Riverside from atop Mount Rubidoux just prior to sunset. In the immediate background is Box Springs Mountain with the San Bernardino Mountains looming in the distance.

Situated approximately 1 mile west of downtown Riverside is Mount Rubidoux, a small but impressive hill overlooking the city. Rising 1,364 feet above sea level, the rocky hill gets its name from Jurupa Rancho owner Louis Robidoux (note the different spelling) who settled in the area during the mid-1800s.

2008
Mount Rubidoux

In 1906, Mount Rubidoux was acquired by Frank A. Miller of the Mission Inn. A year later, Miller and railroad magnate Henry E. Huntington partnered up to build two, single-lane roads allowing for motorized vehicles to traverse the summit.

Atop the summit sits the Serra Cross, placed in honor of Father Junipero Serra who is credited with founding the California Missions. The cross is the site of the nation's oldest continuing outdoor Easter Sunrise service, which began in 1909.

Also located on the mountain is the World Peace Tower and Friendship Bridge, erected in 1925 to honor Frank Miller. Miller, who co-founded the Institute of World Affairs (later to become the World Affairs Council), was a staunch advocate for world peace. As such, Miller's connections brought the likes of President Taft and social activist Booker T. Washington to Riverside, both of whom made the trek up Mount Rubidoux.

In 1955, the Miller family deeded the entire park to Riverside. The original wooden cross was replaced with a cement version in 1963.

Although severe rains during the 1990s washed out parts of both roads forcing their closure, the granite outcropping remains a favorite recreational activity for pedestrians, joggers and cyclists alike.

Related

• Friends of Mount Rubidoux

2008
World Peace Tower
& Friendship Bridge

@1940s
Downtown Riverside

2008
Colorful hues

2008
Serra Cross

2008
Vista point

2008
View southwest
over Riverside

The past two weekends saw us at opposite ends of Riverside. Last weekend, we had the chance to take in the reopened Arlington Branch Library. While there, we took a few photos of the nearby Arlington Village commercial area. This weekend, we spent some time downtown checking in on the refurbishing of the Main Street Pedestrian Mall.

Flash: Out & About slideshow


1907
Riverside & Arlington Railway
1962 Interurbans Magazine


1907
Riverside & Arlington Railway
1962 Interurbans Magazine

About 5 miles southwest of downtown Riverside sits Arlington Village. Located at the corner of Magnolia Avenue and Van Buren Boulevard, the village hails from what was originally known as the Town of Arlington. Founded in 1877 by prominent Riversiders S.C. Evans and William Sayward, Arlington was in many ways Riverside's first suburb, with streetcars* running between the two towns. As such, it was included within Riverside's boundaries upon official incorporation in 1883.

By the early 1900s, the area contained a library, fire station, newspaper office, two-story commercial building, local schools, churches and several businesses. The commercial area thrived well into the 1960s, partly on account of being the nearby home to Riverside County General Hospital, a place where it would remain for 100 years before a new county hospital opened in Moreno Valley in 1998.

About a mile south of Arlington Village is the land that sprouted much of Riverside's famous Washington Navel orange groves. Today, the area still includes large swaths of groves thanks in part to the Arlington Heights Greenbelt citrus preserve. It also includes the 377-acre California Citrus State Historic Park -- an actual working citrus grove, museum and park.

Fifty years after the Riverside Freeway and nearly 40 years after the nearby Galleria at Tyler reduced the importance of the area as a major commercial center, Arlington Village is staging a comeback. Recent street and sidewalk improvements and refurbished storefronts have given the neighborhood new life. Besides the newly-expanded library, a recent addition to the village is a large wall mural composed from photographs depicting Magnolia Avenue at Van Buren Boulevard during the 1940s.

With a bit of vision and planning -- and a small residential townhome/condo component -- the village could easily sprout into a nice, semi-urban landscape consisting of more restaurants and shops all within easy walking distance.

Elsewhere in Riverside, work is progressing on the makeover of the Main Street Pedestrian Mall in downtown. New low-lying retaining walls have sprung up on the mall between Ninth Street and University Avenue as has framework for a new fountain. The next phase will include the blocks between University Avenue and Sixth Street. The $10 million project began in March and is expected to be completed in spring 2009

Concurrent work also continues on the old Rouse Building -- the soon-to-be UCR/Culver Center of the Arts -- as well as the reopening of Ninth Street through the mall adjacent to City Hall. Nearby, foundation work is moving along at the Regency Tower site, located at Tenth and Orange streets.

Flash: Out & About slideshow

Related

• California Citrus State Historic Park

Previous

• RaincrossSquare.com - Arlington Branch Library reopens (June 2008)


• RaincrossSquare.com - Pedestrian mall renovation begins (March 2008)


• RaincrossSquare.com - Ground broken for downtown office building (Feb. 2008)


• RaincrossSquare.com - Then & Now - Main at Mission Inn (March 2007)

Luke tops MacKay

Back in February, the City of Riverside asked which downtown parking meters you preferred -- Luke or MacKay? To our delight, 54% of those who voted preferred Luke (the decidedly smarter, full-featured meter).

2008
Luke


2008
SmartStop


2007
Site of Tequesquite Park

The results of the poll, which were publicized a few weeks back, have been forwarded to the city's Downtown Parking Committee for further review. The new meters are expected to replace those installed in 2006 as part of the city's SmartPark program, which we've previously posted about.

The city had already selected Luke to replace older, existing meters within the downtown Justice Center. These new meters are currently being installed near the County Courthouse and Hall of Justice.

Real-time bus info

The Riverside Transit Agency recently added satellite-fed electronic reader boards to a few local bus stops, offering passengers real-time information on arrivals. Passengers waiting at the stops no longer need to guess whether the bus is running late (or whether they may have already missed it).

Thus far, 5 "SmartStop" locations in Riverside -- including the downtown bus terminal -- are equipped with the GPS monitors, with a dozen more to follow this summer in Moreno Valley. RTA officials say up to 70 stops within its service area -- which stretches to the Banning, Hemet, Temecula and Corona areas -- will get the "SmartStop" reader boards.

The GPS program is part of a $4.3 million effort at improving overall transit service, including an Internet-based "BusWatch" service.

Riverside Transit Agency began service in 1977 as a joint-powers authority providing transit services for western Riverside County. The agency covers approximately 2,500 square miles and services 7 million passengers annually.

Planning for city park moves forward

Earlier this week, the City Council approved $550,000 to begin design and environmental planning for the long-promised Tequesquite Park near downtown Riverside. Beginning of the master plan follows recommendations outlined by a 15-member task force created specifically to help design the 43-acre park. Their objectives include converting the vacant land into a mixture* of open space and recreational facilities, including two lighted ball fields:

Riverside-based landscape architect Ian Davidson (of the downtown pedestrian mall rehab) has been selected to draw up the plans, which will then be reviewed by the task force before heading to the city's Parks & Recreation Commission and City Council for final approval.

The city says it has $6.5 million of the estimated $15 million needed for the park, which is now part of the Riverside Renaissance capital improvement plan. Completion of the park is tentatively set for 2010.

* City of Riverside

Update: Riverside OKs park (The Press-Enterprise - 01/24/07)

It appears a long-promised park for a downtown neighborhood may in fact materialize after all.

Overview of Tequesquite Park site
Google


2007
View north toward Mt. Rubidoux
from Palm Ave.


2007
View south toward Palm Ave.
from near San Andreas Ave.

Last week, Riverside City Councilman Dom Betro announced a proposal to remove a semi-contentious land swap involving 43 acres of undeveloped parkland in Tequesquite Arroyo from the city's ambitious Riverside Renaissance project list. The land swap was expected to net $10 million toward developing parks elsewhere in Ward 1 as part of the $780 million, citywide Renaissance plan.

We feel the proposed change is good news. Though the city itself has large swaths of open parkland, including the 1,500 acre Sycamore Canyon Wilderness Park, when it comes to city parks and ballfields it has fallen behind many of its municipal neighbors.

Moreover, roughly half of Riverside's 50 parks are less than 10 acres in size, which partly explains why the city has been short of its stated goal of 3 acres of parkland per 1000 residents for many years (the city currently has approx. 2 acres/1000). And yet, 7 city parks comprising just over 200 acres remain undeveloped (though the 18-acre Andulka Park is currently under construction -- nearly 25 years late, however).

Fortunately, as the long-delayed Andulka Park signals, it appears the Renaissance has begun:

Although we fully support the Riverside Renaissance Initiative, we agree that swapping long-promised parkland in a neighborhood without an existing park in order to improve parks elsewhere is simply misguided. We're glad to see Councilman Betro now understands this. We now hope the rest of the City Council as well as the City Manager does likewise.

Related

• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Tequesquite could become genuine park (Jan. 20)


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Councilman fields questions on Tequesquite land-swap plan (Jan. 16)


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Vote nears on land swap (Jan. 12)


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Riverside readies for renaissance in amenities (Dec. 31)


• City of Riverside - Park Facilities

Previous

• Riverside council OKs $780M capital improvement plan

In a proposal city officials say will produce long-planned projects and make up for previously deferred upgrades, the Riverside City Council is set to vote this week on the initial plans for a $780 million citywide proposal for municipal facilities and infrastructure.

Called the "Riverside Renaissance Initiative," the spending plan outlines funding for new parks, libraries, sports fields and senior centers; refurbishment of existing parks and facilities; traffic improvements, including signal synchronization and railroad grade separations at key intersections; new sidewalks, parkways, trails and medians; citywide beautification projects, including the downtown pedestrian mall; public safety improvements, including a new police/fire command center; and upgrades to electrical, water and sewer systems.

Also planned are essential cultural upgrades, including a retrofitted Metropolitan Museum, expanded Convention Center, rehabilitated Municipal Auditorium and a completely refurbished Fox Theater -- which is probably the most forward-looking aspect of the plan. Not only will it restore one of the city's historical gems, it will finally give Riverside a first-class performance arts facility -- a venue that was in the original plans for Raincross Square Convention Center over 35 years ago (see: 1970 - A, 1970 - B, 1971 - A, and 1972 - A).

PDF: Riverside Renaissance
The Press-Enterprise


PDF: Downtown Revival
The Press-Enterprise

To fund the plan, the city has split it into two, nearly-equal parts:

Though neither the funding nor the full project list has yet to be finalized -- and it's likely some changes will occur as the plan evolves -- the city says funding is already in place for nearly half of the plan. Such funding involves several different sources and mechanisms, including federal, state and county funds, plus the sale of some surplus properties. Property owners will also be tapped to help with what City Manager Brad Hudson says will be future upkeep. He says voters will be asked to create a "maintenance district" program, resulting in a $20 - $30 annual parcel tax. Considering the number and scope of projects involved, we hope voters see this as being a more than reasonable amount.

All in all, we like the plan, both for its projects (Fox Theater, libraries, etc.) and scope (transportation, public safety, recreation, cultural, etc.). And we love its timeframe. -- 5 years as opposed to the typical 20 or 30. However, for such an ambitious, forward-looking plan, we see at least one major element missing -- a large, multipurpose community events/sports arena.

With nearly 4 million residents in the two-county metropolitan area -- and no existing events/sports arena -- the region is long-overdue for a major multipurpose venue. Moreover, if cities the size of Des Moines, Iowa (2005 - *city pop. 194,000 / **metro pop. 522,000), Spokane, Washington (196,000 / 440,000) and Omaha, Nebraska (414,000 / 813,000) have recently built -- and support -- large, multipurpose arenas, then indeed, so too can Inland Southern California's largest city -- Riverside (290,000 / 3.8 million).

Two great examples for Riverside to follow are recently-built arenas located in similarly-sized California cities -- Bakersfield (295,000 / 756,000) and Stockton (286,000 / 664,000). Both are modest 10,000 seat, multipurpose arenas. And just as important, neither broke the bank -- a reported $38 million in Bakersfield (1998) and $68 million in Stockton (2005). Thus, such an arena is indeed within financial reach for Riverside, particularly when considering the natural financing/operating partnership available with UC Riverside.

Thus, we feel in order for this to be a true long-term plan -- one which not only addresses vital municipal facilities and infrastructure, but cultural facilities as well -- then Riverside needs to also address the lack of a regional events/sports arena within Inland Southern California. Just as city officials are saying now is the time for this "renaissance" plan, we too say now is the time to finally step up and become a major-league city/region and build a major-league events facility.

Regardless of the arena issue, we fully support the ideas behind this plan and urge residents and property owners alike to voice their support as well. Indeed, Riverside needs such a plan if it wishes to stay ahead of the curve and atop its game as Inland Southern California's largest city.

Related

• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Riverside Renaissance
• PE.com - Flash: City officials discuss citywide spending plan
• PE.com - Slideshow: Riverside's Fox Theater - Restoring a Legend
• PE.com - PDF: Outline of Capital Improvement Program to be submitted to Riverside City Council
• City of Riverside
• Cinema Treasures - Fox Riverside
• Riverside Convention & Visitor's Bureau
• Riverside Municipal Auditorium
• Riverside Metropolitan Museum

*Census Bureau - Population Finder
**Census Bureau - 2005 Metropolitan estimates (Table 1)