City Promotes Big Expectations for Riverwalk at Groundbreaking

Dale Weidmiller, Riverwalk Project Manager

BRADENTON – A game-changer, something that will redefine the city; those were just some of the words thrown around by Dale Weidmiller at Monday's groundbreaking for Bradenton's $6.2 million Riverwalk project, while hundreds of residents celebrated the launch of the revitalization project at Rossi Park. Weidmiller, the project manager for Riverwalk communicated an enthusiasm shared by many.

Mayor Wayne Poston lauded the project as something bigger than a tourist attraction, a centerpiece that would promote the city as a relocation destination and catapult it to the level of other small cities that have made the most of their river front acreage.

The massive project is expected to be completed within a year. There are already rowing events and a world-class blues festival in planning to be staged at the location, which will include an amphitheater, a skate park, boat docks and launches, sand volleyball courts, picnic areas and public facilities.

Riverwalk will tie together the portions of the waterfront currently sliced into several disconnected areas by U.S. 41 and U.S. 301. It is hoped that increased connectivity will create a synergy with Old Main Street and Village of the Arts, to make downtown a much more dynamic location.