River Heritage Park now open; set for Memorial Day grand opening

The grass seeding took off a lot better than Zachary Peterson expected, so now there's a place to sit and throw a picnic for anyone visiting Davenport's River Heritage Park.

The park along River Drive near where 3rd and4th streets connect is open to the public just in time for this week's early spring weather. Peterson, a landscape design architect for the city, called it a "soft launch" at Wednesday's Levee Improvement Commission meeting.

The big-deal opening is scheduled for Memorial Day, when he said the city will dedicate the park with a boulder etched with the names of thethose who made it possible.

With a gazebo, river walk and railing designed to mimic the Centennial Bridge arcs, there's something for visitors to see now apart from the river view.

The Davenport Rotary Club invested more than $100,000 in the construction of the gazebo. The city and state are investing about $725,000.

"We're definitely getting bang for our buck here," Peterson said.

One project that remains undone is construction of a bioswale. The city and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continue to investigate clogged sewer infrastructure in the area.

"It's a real mess, but it's being worked on," Peterson said of the sewers.

Another future project that awaits private donations includes meandering paths through a prairie landscape on the west end of the park.

The Davenport City Council is expected to approve future plans at its April 8 meeting.

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River Heritage Park now open; set for Memorial Day grand opening