The city of Riverside had a busy 2025, but work will continue on into the new year.

Riverside City Administrator Cole Smith says one of the major accomplishments for the city in 2025 was the beginning of the town’s downtown revitalization project. The work was made possible by a CDBG Downtown Revitalization Grant that was awarded in 2024 for $590,000. That project is expected to be completed by Spring 2026 and includes the renovation of six buildings in the area.

Smith says other recent accomplishments for the city include the addition of pickleball courts to Hall Park, and the extension of Cherry Lane near Riverside Elementary to cut down on non-school traffic near the school. 

However, among all other achievements, Smith says the crown jewel of 2025 was the approval of an $8 million bond referendum to fund the city’s planned wellness center. The referendum passed with 74.7% approval rate. 

Smith says that several of the city’s major projects this year came from problems identified by the community, “As you can see, some of these projects were, they begin with a community-identified initiative or focus, and then we are actually able to implement that through our budget or our actual projects here.”

Along with work on the wellness center and downtown revitalization project, the city will continue work on its 10-year comprehensive plan in 2026. Smith says resident service and efficiency will be among the city’s priorities in the new year.