MOUNT VERNON — Riverview Park will receive a little extra attention over the next decade through a new partnership between the city and the Ariel-Foundation Park Conservancy.
Mount Vernon City Council approved a 10-year maintenance partnership between the city and the conservancy. The agreement supports the Downtown Mount Vernon Plan and aims to better connect Ariel-Foundation Park and the bike trail system with downtown.
Riverview Park, located at 404 S. Gay Street, overlooks the Kokosing River and serves as a connection point between downtown and the city’s trail system.
The previous lease included provisions for the CA&C Depot and a management agreement with Heritage Center Park. When the park was renamed, an endowment was established with A-FPC.
Safety Service Director Tanner Salyers said A-FPC still has maintenance and improvement funds on hold. The new agreement establishes a collaborative approach to putting those resources toward the park.
“Together, we created this shared agreement,” Salyers said.
The agreement passed unanimously at Monday’s council meeting.
“They’re going to help us out a bit,” Salyer said. “That was the vision of the donor. That’s how we’re going to keep that vision alive.”
Shared responsibilities
The agreement runs from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2035. The two parties will share general grounds maintenance while working toward a common vision for the space.
The agreement describes that vision as “connecting Ariel-Foundation Park and the bike trail system with downtown, while maximizing the view of the Kokosing River, and serving as a main thoroughfare for welcoming and connecting visitors with Downtown Mount Vernon.”
The Parks Department will handle trash collection, mowing, repairs to fencing, lighting, signage and bicycle racks. It will also address electrical needs, remove vehicles that exceed parking limits and provide snow and ice removal.
The city will coordinate riverbank care, invasive species removal and emergency-related needs along the Kokosing River.
Meanwhile, the conservancy will maintain flower bed and plantings, trim trees, control weeds and keep the park free of litter and debris.
It will also periodically clean the tiered river-viewing area and pedestrian walkways through blowing and power washing. The conservancy will support parking lot sealing and striping.
With approval from the city’s Parks Department, the conservancy can also add visitor-focused enhancements. Those improvements could help connect visitors with downtown and other local attractions.
The agreement requires the city and conservancy to review the partnership every two years. Those reviews will evaluate maintenance practices, anticipated capital needs and any adjustments to responsibilities.
Read the agreement below:
