EH Young Park now features pickleball courts, much more
Welcome to the reimagined EH Young Riverfront Park, where playgrounds have ziplines, pickleball courts are lighted and off-leash dog parks bring Fido great joy.
On Saturday, Riverside Mayor Kathy Rose welcomed visitors to the revamped 40-acre recreational destination.
Twenty-one years ago, city officials dedicated the park to EH Young, who founded Red X. Over the years, the greenspace and amphitheater have served as a recreational hotspot for outdoor concerts, community events, and large social gatherings.
But excessive flooding along the Missouri River last year prompted its closure. City officials did not cower. They got to work and made sure their new park master plan came to fruition.
Parents pushed strollers, kids waited in line at the Melt Box ice cream truck and pickleball players broke in the new courts.
It was quite a deserved occasion to witness.
“This park will serve as the largest and most significant park inside the Riverside park system,” said Rose at the ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday morning.
The playground, encompassing a three-story climbing tower and zipline, catapult this adventure playground into the largest and most entertaining in the entire county.
Adults have not been left out. The park features eight pickleball courts, a natural landscape area and expanded 1.3-mile walking trail. Even man’s best friend has a new park amenity.
“This is what a park is supposed to be,” said Rose.
Besides being provided some financial assistance from the Platte County Outreach Grants, the City of Riverside funded most of the new park amenities.
Rose personally thanked Gunter Construction, Wilson & Company, McConnell Associates and Applied Ecological Services.
“All these new amenities under one sprawling landscape near the Missouri River is quite astonishing,” said area resident Mike McCarty. “And this couldn’t come at a better time.”
“We are in troublesome times right now,” said Rose, referring to the COVID-19 pandemic. “I want everyone to know that everyone is welcome at this park and all the parks in Riverside.”