JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Southbank Riverwalk is set to open Thursday but concerns have been raised in the last 10 days about how narrow the newly designed Riverwalk is in some places.
Some benches were so wide (pictured below), it was difficult for more than one person at a time to walk by them when someone was sitting on them.
One city councilman called it a safety hazard.
But now changes are being made to the Riverwalk to make it easier for people to use. Crews removed a section from each of the benches, creating an extra two feet of space.
Councilman Don Redman, who brought the issue to Channel 4's attention 10 days ago, said the changes are a start but may not be enough.
"It's not what we had hoped for," Redman said. "But at this point it's probably the best we can get."
Throughout the day Monday, construction crews were making last-minute changes to the Riverwalk, working on lighting and other small projects that the city said will make this much better than the old Riverwalk. And the changes should not cost any more than the $17 million that taxpayers were already paying.
"We made some adjustments in the seating. The good news is we had a guaranteed maximum price for this and so any changes were done under that," city spokesman Dave DeCamp said. "We were able to make a more enjoyable experience and that is the ultimate goal."
Some viewers posted concerns on on the News4Jax Facebook page about accessibility to the Riverwalk, particularly for the handicapped. There are fewer ways to get onto the Riverwalk than before because it's set out over water, and not right up against the bulkhead.
"Keep in mind we believe that this is a very good design to improve accessibility to the Riverwalk and its use," DeCamp said. "We have done inspections and based on initial review it's ready to open."
"It's going to look good, but it's not quite as wide as we thought we were paying for when we came up with the $17 million," Redman said.
The opening is set for noon on Thursday, depending on weather. Council members who complained last week that they weren't invited to the ribbon-cutting were sent invitations Monday morning.