Downtown park projects edge toward completion but will roll into 2025

Major downtown park projects are taking shape and will be mostly done yet this year — but the full scope of work won’t be completed until 2025.

The third phase of River Greenway development, which goes from Sixth Street to Falls Park, is scheduled for a ribbon-cutting Nov. 13.

By that point, most major elements of the project are expected to be done, including Lloyd Landing, which will bring multiuse public space – a shelter for picnics or other gatherings, a multipurpose synthetic turf lawn, a small dog run, seating and a photo station.

The area also is planned for new public art and future activities such as outdoor fitness, food trucks and live music.

“We’re eager to get all of this done before the winter hits,” said Mike Dill, executive vice president of Lloyd Construction, which is building the Greenway project.

“We got the last staircase foundation put in, the rest of the landing is done, so we have one more to complete, and the plan is to get that done yet this year.”

It will take the next few weeks “to complete everything other than the low-head dam,” said Mike Patten, city parks planning and project manager.

The plan is to work on that throughout the winter and into the spring as the city continues to work toward necessary approvals from BNSF Railway to fully complete the project.

At nearby Jacobson Plaza, the goal is to finish the construction of the ice ribbon area, including the warming house and mechanical area, and turn it over to the city by mid-December for occupancy.

“The parking lot, curb and gutter is all done, and we’re getting the underground in for the splash pad and ice rink,” Dill said. “We’re still waiting on some specialty equipment over there, but the buildings are online and getting wrapped up.”

The city’s goal “is to start running it and building ice, and if all the equipment shows up on time, we’ll be able to do a February soft open to let people use the ribbon and skate a little bit and get a sneak peek into what it’ll be like fully complete,” Patten said.

“And then we have to turn the site back over in the spring to finish up the site features, grading, landscaping and planting grass.”

The completion for the dog park, playground and splash pad is scheduled for early June, he added.