City council approves 40-acre riverfront park after decade of debate

The city council voted 7-2 on Monday night to approve the long-contested riverfront park plan, ending ten years of hearings, redesigns and two failed ballot measures.

The 40-acre site, a former rail yard, will be converted into a public park with a flood-resilient promenade, a free outdoor stage and a restored wetland along the eastern bank.

Council member Dana Ortiz, who sponsored the final version, said the plan 'finally puts people, not parking, on the water.'

Construction is scheduled to begin in April. The first phase, covering the promenade and stage, is expected to open in 2028.

Opponents argued the $184 million price tag should have gone to road repairs. The two dissenting votes came from the north-side districts.

The parks department will hold three public design sessions before the end of the year to choose playground equipment and native plantings.