Paducah celebrates completion of riverfront improvement project

FOX23 News at 9 p.m.

PADUCAH, Ky., (KBSI) — Paducah officials celebrated the completion of the Riverfront Infrastructure Improvement Project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Sept. 18.

The project includes a new 500-foot excursion pier and plaza, improvements near the Paducah-McCracken County Convention and Expo Centers and a multimodal pathway beside the city’s floodwall murals.

Crews also developed a riverfront park featuring a compass rose, terraced mound and seating areas. New bus shelters and crosswalks were installed to improve pedestrian access and connectivity.

The project was funded primarily through a $10.4 million federal BUILD grant from the U.S. Maritime Administration, along with $3.5 million in state funding.

Construction began in November 2024. The city released a 24-minute video featuring comments from state and local officials, a ceremonial check presentation and the ribbon-cutting ceremony.