An update to the Riverfront Park Master Plan is underway. You can get the latest news by signing up for the Riverfront Park Master Plan update email list.

Riverfront Park is the City’s premier urban event park, located along the Willamette River and in close proximity to businesses, restaurants, entertainment, and other parks and trails. The park is also home to a number of Salem’s annual events, including The World Beat Festival, 4th of July Celebration, Summer Movies in The Park, Holiday Tree Lighting, and many walk/run events.

The 26-acres of existing parkland is the result of industrial land conversion. Paper, flour, and woolen mills, as well as a coal gasification plant and an auto junkyard formerly occupied the site. Today, it features large grassy areas, an amphitheater, play equipment, a splash pad, and a covered Rotary Pavilion. A dock provides access to the Willamette River and the Willamette Queen Sternwheeler.

Riverfront Park is also home to Salem’s Riverfront Carousel, A.C. Gilbert Discovery Village, and the EcoEarth Globe. It connects to Minto-Brown Island Park by the Peter Courtney Minto Island Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge and to Wallace Marine Park by the Union Street Railroad Bridge.

Park location map

Riverfront Park Master Plan update project

This beautiful park in downtown Salem has seen a lot of changes since the last master plan was completed back in 2001. Some of the most recent improvements include the completion of the Peter Courtney Minto Island Bridge and the temporary placement of a seasonal winter ice rink. A 3.8-acre property has also been added to the southeast corner of the park. In response to these changes, an update to the Riverfront Park Master Plan is underway.

Draft master plan available soon

After hearing from the community through over 1,600 survey responses and two previous public meetings, the City and the project consultants are preparing a draft master plan. The draft plan will be posted to this web page in mid August. Please check back soon or sign-up to the project email list to receive a notice.

You can also join us for a presentation of the draft master plan on September 18, 2018 – meeting details are listed below.

Concepts included in the draft plan will enhance river access, restore the river bank, maintain the openness of the meadow and views of the bridge, provide new bathrooms, add parking, and create a new performance area with a covered stage and amphitheater.

Community meeting #3

On September 18, City staff and the project consultants will present the draft master plan for Riverfront Park. Please join us!

Date:           Tuesday, September 18th

Time:           6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

Location:      Pringle Community Hall, 606 Church Street SE

Next steps 

A process will soon begin to adopt the proposed draft master plan for Riverfront Park. The draft plan is scheduled to be presented to the Salem Park and Recreation Advisory Board on October 11, 2018. It is then expected to be forwarded to City Council in November. Adjustments and refinements to the draft plan occur through this process.

Once approved by the City Council, the updated park master plan will provide a comprehensive vision for Riverfront Park over the next decade. This vision will guide future park improvements, enhancements, rehabilitation projects, and grant applications.