After years of planning, delays and construction, Portsmouth is ready to cut the ribbon on its nearly finished $34 million riverfront transformation.
The city will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 20, marking a major milestone for the massive Ohio River frontage project.
The project includes a new riverfront amphitheater, improvements at Alexandria Point Park, recreational paths and other upgrades designed to reconnect Portsmouth with the Ohio River and create a new destination for residents and visitors.
Most of the project is being funded through Ohio’s Appalachian Community Grant Program. The City of Portsmouth says the grant is being administered through the Ironton/Lawrence County Community Action Organization, with Allard Excavation awarded the construction contract.
A Long Road to the River
The ribbon cutting comes a little more than a year after city and county leaders joined Governor Mike DeWine to officially break ground on the project.
At the time, local leaders described it as a transformational investment in Portsmouth’s waterfront.
Plans called for a new amphitheater, an overlook at Alexandria Point, new walking and biking connections, improvements to river access and upgraded recreational opportunities along the waterfront.
The city has also been preparing for improvements connected to its riverfront campground as the project moves toward completion.
But getting to this point took time.
Before construction could fully move ahead, permits were needed from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers because of the project’s location along the Ohio River and Portsmouth’s flood-control system.
Local officials previously said the Corps wanted to review the project as a whole rather than approve individual pieces one at a time, contributing to the long wait before major construction became visible.
Not Without Controversy
The project has also faced some pushback.
One of the biggest public debates involved the removal of an older section of wall near the riverfront.
Resident Herman Morgan raised concerns that removing the structure could affect flood protection for nearby homes.
City Manager Sam Sutherland said the wall was not recognized or maintained as part of Portsmouth’s certified flood-control system and argued that attempting to certify it would create major delays that could jeopardize the grant-funded project.
The city has also faced additional construction costs along the way, including a recent request for more than $344,000 connected to ongoing riverfront work.
Despite those issues, construction continued through the fall and has now reached the point where city officials are ready to celebrate the project publicly.
Will River Days Come Home?
For many longtime Portsmouth residents, one question has hovered over the project since it was first announced:
Will River Days finally return to the river?
The new amphitheater and riverfront gathering spaces certainly create the kind of setting that could once again host concerts, festivals and large community events along the Ohio.
No formal announcement has yet been made about a River Days return, but the possibility has been part of the public conversation since the project was first unveiled.
And the timing of the ribbon cutting could hardly be more appropriate.
The riverfront is reaching its finish line just as Portsmouth prepares to launch another major downtown tradition — Winterfest.
After years of looking at renderings, waiting on permits and watching construction equipment work along the river, residents will soon get their first real look at what $34 million has built.
The ribbon gets cut November 20.
Then comes the bigger question: what will Portsmouth do with its new riverfront?
