by

Fred Swift

Hamilton County Reporter

(NOTE:  Commentaries by Fred Swift are posted on LarryInFishers.com through a partnership with the Hamilton County Reporter.  Views expressed are those of Mr. Swift)

The Riverwalk is completed. It’s been a long time in the making, but it’s finally done. The official opening Friday morning marked the successful completion of a project envisioned by County Commissioner Steve Dillinger more than 15 years ago.

For those not familiar with the Riverwalk, it is a pedestrian walkway along the east bank of White River running six blocks from approximately Clinton Street on the north to Division Street on the south skirting Noblesville’s downtown area.

At the north end the walk connects to the pedestrian bridge over the river and State Road 19 where walkers enter Forest Park. There hikers can access trails north to Potters Bridge or west to Morse Dam. At the south end, near Division Street, Riverwalk will connect to the planned Midland Trail, an east-west linear parkway that will eventually allow joggers, bikers and walkers a route as far as Westfield.

Dillinger had the idea after seeing what other communities have done with their riverfronts. The most attractive in the state is probably the Ohio Riverfront walkway at Madison. While White River doesn’t compare with the Ohio, you have to work with what you’ve got. A Riverwalk Committee was formed to spearhead the project, investigate funding possibilities and generally plan the campaign.

Not so many years ago Noblesville’s riverfront was far from a scenic attraction. Longtime residents will remember that the backside of a lumber yard, National Guard Armory vehicles, a tire store and a gas station were among the sights you saw along the east bank. The river was not regarded as an asset.

Today, there is still work to be done, but progress can be seen. A city “pocket park” is found near the former lumberyard. The west lawn of the county Government and Judicial Center takes up the block from Logan to Conner Streets, and Riverwalk now goes along the park-like Riverside Cemetery.

The project has been a joint venture by the city and county. It’s worked well, and now more is planned. The county will expand the Judicial Center with a pleasing new west front and a firefighters’ memorial. Riverview Hospital plans a new building on the west side of the river, and of course there is the city’s Federal Hill Commons just across Road 19.

So, now we can expect to see local residents enjoying a walk on the riverfront where a few years ago no one would have dreamed of visiting.

That was a very good idea, Steve.