Park opening planned for February

florence - River Heritage Park, the city's newest park which includes a playground area, a pavilion, a festival lawn and an interactive fountain, will soon open.

As the $6.2 million park starts to look less like a construction site and more like fun for the family, the public will have to be patient until the park's opening, which is planned for February.

"We're trying to keep the general public off the property until we can turn it over to the city," construction superintendent Kevin Weeks said. "Maybe they'll give us another few weeks and then they can have it."

Until then, residents and visitors can ogle, at a distance, the playground that includes climbing areas shaped like a locomotive, a giant wave, a steamboat paddle wheel and a castle.

The play area is surrounded by a porous rubber surface in shades of aqua that will protect the little ones from falls.

People also can view the 4,000 square foot pavilion that officials are negotiating terms for how it may be rented in the future for wedding receptions, corporate picnics and family reunions.

Visitors also can see the 30-foot light towers of the circular interactive fountain, which is planned to have a five-story maximum water spout, highest in the center, that will be coordinated with lights and music, according to Weeks.

Testing on the fountain, about a third of the size of a football field, will begin mid-December, said Fred Boughner, park superintendent.

Its operation, however, will be far from clicking an "on" button. Boughner said training on how to operate the fountain takes 40 hours and that several staff members will be trained.

"I don't know much about that fountain and it's kind of intimidating," Boughner said. "It'll be a showcase."

That hope is shared by Florence Lauderdale tourism.

"Having a park like this will be another tool to attracting people to the Marriott or the conference center," said Alison Stanfield, assistant tourism director.

"This area has just recently been able to break into the conference and meeting area," said Stanfield. "This is one more reason why they should choose to have their meetings and conventions here."

The River Heritage Park could act like potential candy to the children of conference attendees, candy that includes red climbing bars, blue slides and plenty of climbing pegs.

But the park won't be limited to the playground. "A lot of people will be able to use the park for more than a day at the playground," Stanfield said.

She said she hopes that families might begin to plan their reunions in the park.

The whole river heritage project started as a vision of former city planner Barry Broach in the 1980s, said current city planner Melissa Bailey. Broach died in January 2005.

The Florence Harbor was the first part of that vision, the Patton Island overlook was second and now the River Heritage park makes up the third part.

The 70-acre park, permanently leased to the city from the Tennessee Valley Authority, has views of Wilson Dam, the Shoals Marriott Hotel and Spa, the conference center and the Renaissance Tower.

Eventually, a river walk will extend from McFarland Park to the west to River Heritage Park to the east.

"It appears that the park is finished when you drive by, but it isn't done yet, landscaping and the fountain needs to be finished," Bailey said.

"There are a lot of folks that wish that Barry could see it," Bailey said. "But he probably has a better view than any of us."

Trevor Stokes can be reached at 740-5728 or trevor.stokes@timesdaily.com