Paducah to celebrate completion of riverfront improvement project
FOX23 News at 9 p.m.
PADUCAH, Ky., (KBSI) — The city of Paducah will celebrate the completion of its Riverfront Infrastructure Improvement Project with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and community celebration Friday, Sept. 18.
The event will begin at 4 p.m. at the floodwall opening on Water Street between Broadway and Jefferson Street. Remarks from elected officials and project leaders will be followed by the ribbon cutting.
The improved floodwall opening serves as an entrance connecting downtown Paducah with the riverfront. It is also among the first features riverboat passengers see when arriving in the city.
“This investment strengthens our riverfront as a destination for residents and visitors while creating new opportunities for recreation, tourism and economic development,” Mayor George Bray said.
Family-friendly activities will begin around 4:30 p.m. and include live music, food vendors, a photo scavenger hunt, riverfront tours and barrel train rides for children.
Daniel Neihoff will perform from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. on the Wilson Stage. The River Dust Duo will perform from 5:30 to 7 p.m. near the transient dock.
The celebration will conclude with a free outdoor showing of Disney’s animated film “Finding Dory” at 7:15 p.m. near the transient dock.
The riverfront project included:
* A 500-foot excursion pier and plaza.
* Intersection improvements near the Paducah-McCracken County Convention and Expo Centers.
* A multimodal path next to the Quilt Murals.
* A compass rose feature and additional park space near the transient dock.
* New bus shelters and crosswalks.
The project was funded primarily through a $10.4 million federal Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development grant awarded through the U.S. Maritime Administration. It also received $3.5 million in state funding.
Construction began in November 2024.
