The City of Porterville will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 8:30 a.m., celebrating the completion of the third phase in the Tule River Parkway Project. Photo via City of Porterville

The City of Porterville will host a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, Oct. 11 at 8:30 a.m., celebrating the completion of the third phase in the Tule River Parkway Project.

Phase three of the project, which was developed as part of an effort to clean up the Tule River and present accessible nature trails and features to the area, included the addition of a Class I bicycle and pedestrian trail between Main and Plano streets, extends the original 1.25 miles of trail eastward, continuing development that will provide alternate travel routes.

The trail includes solar lighting, bridges and a retaining wall, as well as signage and markings.

The Parkway is also home to more than 30 garden areas featuring California plants, which will be tended to by Tule River Parkway Association (TRPA) volunteers. The association is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving, restoring and developing the region for public use.

After its masterplan adoption in 1992, the initial phase of the project started in 2002, with a second phase taking place in 2005. A lack of funding saw the project on hold for nearly two decades, with the third and final phase completed this year.

In 2023 when flooding damaged homes, walkways, public buildings near flood zones and other pedestrian and vehicle infrastructure, the Rio Vista Community experienced significant damage, losing approximately 230 feet of riverbank behind homes south of Date Avenue, located in South Porterville between Main and Plano streets. The project was delayed significantly due to the flooding, with a portion of the parkway having to be redesigned to ensure the completion of the project.

The project received funding from a federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) grant and was completed by American Paving Co. The project also saw work completed in May to rebuild portions of the bank, as well as adding slurry rip rap and installing foundation footings for a pedestrian bridge, as well as the re-installation of a bridge damaged by flooding in 2023.

Following the Oct. 11 ribbon cutting, a benefit 5K run/walk will take place, with proceeds going to benefit the TRPA. Registration for the 5K event can be done online.