Restore the beauty of Riverside so I can drive my gas guzzling 16MPG vehicle up a hill? Short memories forget about cycles & cars burning rubber, vandalism and vehicle damage happening every year at the park and golf course, now it will just be easier. You know what it costs to repair and maintain a green? The golf course is a source of potential profit for the city and draws people from all Southern Wisconsin. A revitalized park adds little or no money to Janesville coffers and we already have cut back on park services due to expense.
How about another place for the alternative lifestyle to meet? A secluded place to smoke a joint, do some meth and now I can drive there? Now thats who I want to share a view with.
I am a golfer but I'm also a Riverside park walker. What a great place to take my dog, walk a child and WALK for exercise including up those hills. The roads are narrow, they will need service and now you want vehicles moving up and down them? Pedestrian, bicycles and autos mixing on the hills? Was it that long ago that people forget there was a fatality accident driving an auto in the park?
I really think this is a mini-disaster waiting to happen and while I applaud Friend's of Riverside I just don't see where driving versus walking to enjoy these views changes anything. In fact it diminishes it. There is a reason there is also a locked road barrier before the boat launch besides the hills and it's not to keep from launching boats in December.
If this goes through, and I prefer it didn't, I hope there is a plan in place first that will allow at best, limited access by auto to the top and aesthetically pleasing barriers like rock or split rail fence to protect the golf course and not allow thru traffic all the way. Most of all, I hope we have intelligent commentary on all the ramifications of this well intentioned idea.

I for one do not care if people are there while I golf. "FOUR!"

tater, the "rowdy behaviour by youth" was way overblown by the course mgmnt. I dont remember anyone driving across greens at Riverside, but that has happened at Blackhawk more than once that I remember. I do remember seeing fast food bags on the upper circle, but it was mostly near the trash cans. At least it was a half-a$$ed attempt to put it in the trash cans. But also seen golf ball boxes, gloves and other golf accessory packaging laying in the grass.
When they reopen it they really need to make sure that theres a few street lights up there (even though we used to use that area to use telescopes). Problem people generally dont like light.

I'm not a golfer, but a nice golf course does bring in visitors and gives residents something to use and be proud of as well. So we really need to figure out how an open Riverside Park and the golf course can co-exist. I remember a few years ago when vandals drove right over the greens at Riverside Golf Course doing much damage. The article states that the road was closed "in response to rowdy behavior by youth". How will this threat be dealt with? Could/should the upper drive be blocked off after sun-down? Or could a citizens watch group be formed to monitor this park? I'm sure that the expense of extra police patrols necessary will be used when determining the re-opening of Riverside Park. I really want to see this park succeed and be restored to its former glory, but I also hope that our future tax dollars don't have to be spent for an inordinate amount of vandal control or cleanup.

it's not the golf course that shut down the road. it was the police and the city officials. remember, kids were having fun down there. thats a big no no in this town. kids aren't allowed to have fun in Janesville. thats also the same reason why the blocked the road off by the ball park section of the park. you can't enjoy a nice cruise through the park anymore. don't blame the cry baby golfers. blame the commy driven city officials.

Why are there no comments from the golfers who object to reopening the road? Could it be that even they want the road open and it's only the course management that objects? How about some feedback from the golf course that is bisected by Palmer Drive? The silence leaves us to suppose that an open road "works" by golf courses in other areas. No reason the Riverside Park road couldn't also function well when returned to use by and for the People.

Since when do the golfers run the parks department? If we provide more stuff for kids to do - like skateboard park(s) in several parks around town, then kids will have something to do. The golfers probably remember driving through the upper golf course in their cars after dark. Kids are kids. Open the road, the pool, the concession stand, the artesian well, the shuffleboard courts - put more docks in for boaters. It is the greatest park in town, and should be treasured.

I grew up in Janesville but moved away a long time ago. As a child I played in the pool at Riverside and I remember it and the upper park road vividly and fondly. The road up the hill by the pool seemed like a mountain to me as a boy. I hope they reopen the road and the pool.

I am grateful to the "Friends of Riverside" for all they are doing to restore THE park of my youth! Now it is past time for the city to open the road AND the wading pool. I urge everyone to flood city hall on April 28th so the council knows we want this great park restored.

I agree that the upper road in Riverside Park Should be reopend.Ater All Janesville is the city of Parks.The golfer at Riverside had no right to close that road in the frist place.Its another way for the special intrest to ruin this city like they have runied many of our city land marks.I Enjoyed going to Riverside when I was groing up cause it was always a fun place an there was something for kids to do as well as there parents.To keeep problems away from the golf course you can Put K rails up an a chin linked or a Privacy fence up like some Madison Golf Courses have in Place an they dont have a problem with Vandles at all.The special intrest in this town donot run Janesville we the people of Janesville run this town.An we want Reiverside Park Restored so everyone can Enjoy the Parks Natural Bueaty.An if Riversid Golf Course dont like it it can close cause the Park was there Frist.Id rather see our tax dollars goe towars the restoration of Riverside Park then towards a new hospitol.

Riverside Park should be refurbished and the road and the wading pool should be re-opened. Sorry, golfers, you're in the minority here. On a related note, I propose that if people were allowed to bring leashed, well-mannered dogs to all Janesville parks and trails year-round, you would see more people in the parks. Ticket irresponsible owners as needed, and put the proceeds toward the parks budget.

Open the road back up. Put concrete K-barriers between the park and the course. Sometimes it was easier to leave the pool area via the upper road than it was to drive all the way around the park if there was ball events going on. As was said before, theres TRAIN TRACKS right through the golf course that makes more noise than any car.

riverside park is the best park in janesville. I remember when I was a little kid my family would take me down there to the kiddie pool, or the play ground at the front of the park. we would always honk going through the tunnel. then as a teen my buddies and I would hang out there in our cars, it was fun. so what the cops harrased us, but it wasn't bad. I would like to take my kids down there now, maybe I can if the city fixes it up.

I am a member of Friends of Riverside Park and have been an advocate of reopening the road and the pool for the last 2 years. I have talked to hundreds of local citizens during this time and found alot of support for the park. On April 28 the City Counicl is giving us the opportunity to let them know we want that pool and road reopened. We need e-mails, phone calls to the council and better yet we want the council chambers over flowing on April 28th. Please attend this meeting. If this proposal is approved Riverside Parks revitalization has begun. Please support our efforts.

That's the smell of burning flesh.

I can smell a compromise here. Open the park.... and put up an electric fence.

couple quick comments.. Janesville the city of parks has many parks but none compare to riverside for just pure lay out.. city should make this a popular park again and it would keep the riff raff out on it's own..
On golfers.. they wear plaid pants and goofy looking hats and worry about the looks of a chain link fence.. someone is kidding right?

tater-Are you "Norm" ? And yes all the park projects need volunteers !

With cell phone use off the charts, I think if you see something going on there by the course-call the cops. They do work for the city and if I remember correctly, they liked driving around the park in the summer, wink/wink. This park is the one crown jewell we have left in this town. Seems to me the city wanted to give up on the Tallman Mansion too. We can save this park for our childrens children. Lets do this, and we can all go back to what once was a pastime.

And, while I'm at it, I would encourage all of you to go help out the Friends of Rockport Park, Friends of Riverside Park, Friends of Northeast Park as well as the Rock Trail Coalition who all need volunteers to help them out as they try to provide more places for us to enjoy.

I agree with all the posters and I sure would like to see this park fully re-opened and used. I sure hope that you aren't all just providing lip-service! I have been at Rockport Park on a picture-perfect Saturday or Sunday in the spring or summer and have been amazed how few other people were there. I've been on the hiking trails in Palmer Park and Happy Hollow Park (I know, county park, but still...) and rarely see anyone else. It seems that unless they can sit just around and eat, most Janesvillites wouldn't go and enjoy Riverside Park anyways. I'm hoping to be proven wrong, and at the same time I would encourage all you posters to properly use the parks that we already have as well!

Open the road AND the pool. Riverside is a good park. It used to be a fun summer Saturday afternoon for us kids to go there, use the pool, feed the ducks, and then take a drive around the entire park with Mom or Dad. Now who uses the park? Golfers and dudes cruising for a quick hook-up. Bring back the reasons people used to go to Riverside!

I have born in Janesville 60 years ago and have enjoyed Riverside Park many, many times. I was against the closing of the road years ago and I am still against it now. The park was here first. Golfers used this coarse for years and years with the road still open. They can do it again. Shame on the golfers for taking away part the nicest park in the city.

the city should have never closed the road to beginwith. anytime kids are having fun in this city it gets shut down. and boo-hoo for the golfers. you want privacy? become a member of the country club.

Oh and the wading pool should be reopened, the tennis courts repaired if they haven't been...I think you'd see a lot more family activity in the park. I know my daughter and I would go to Riverside and use the tennis courts vs. Palmer which is always busy.

The road should be reopened. And youth were hanging out at Riverside long before 1996, I was hanging out down there every day during the summer starting in 1987. With nothing else to do the park was free, friends could gather hang out, and enjoy the weather, park, etc. Back then the park store was open so we could get sodas and snacks. We'd have a group of anywhere from 5-30 people or more at any given time. Now Riverside Park sits there rotting away. Put some young life back in the park.

I think the road should be opened again!! I think the Friends are on the right track! When I lived in Janesville, Riverside was always a great place to go. They used to only close off the upper road in the winter and we'd sled down it in the evening-way scarey, but so much fun! (I'm sure now the PC people would have made us stop as we didn't have helmets, knee pads, and somebody would sue for something.) A couple of summers ago we brought our bikes into town for the day to ride some of the trail and we took a side trip into Riverside to show my husband. We were shocked how bad it looked. I was so glad to hear it had a group interested in restoring it. I plan to come and see the Lilac Circle now and maybe have family picnics there instead of Palmer.

What was there first ? The park ? or golfers ? Real simple.....

The key words "CITY OF PARKS",open the road and help the friends of Riverside Park. The city should be helping with this 100%.

Aww poor golfers...It's just not fair!

I think the road should be re-opened also. It is one of the nicer areas of the Park. The golfers can go play with thier little balls somewhere else.

I think the road should be opened back up if there is 1/3 of the park to see that we cant see now. the wading pool should also be opened again. what is the point of a nice "city of parks" )1 of the big 3-palmer and traxler )to be in such "ruins". again many have stated ax the"aquatics center " and take care of what we have. soory golfers is your park in in the city area youre going to hear traffic!!! the one by rotary gardens has traffic going by all day long. if you dont like the traffic join the country club and enjoy the best greens around

The name of the game appears to be money - those who can afford to pay user-fees for their recreation ("Golf courses today must be vigilant in trying to capture the golf dollar") vs. the general public who ALREADY pay taxes for public recreational areas. If noise-levels and safety were issues, why did the GOLFERS remove the fence that once stood between their land and the park? OPEN THE ROAD so the citizens of Janesville - not just golfers - can ALL enjoy all the amenities of our amazing resource known as Riverside Park!

Keep the road closed. If you want to see the view, walk up there.

I agree this road should be reopened. I would actually go spend time at riverside again.

Golfers do pay for the right to use the course but it is for the extra costs of maintaining the course whereas, all taxpayers own the land. It was a magnificent park long before the golfers and should once again return to its original intended uses.

The citizens of Janesville need to support the restoration of our beautiful and historic Riverside Park. Over the years, the park has lost so many of its important features and the park is not utilized the way it was intended when designed in the 1920’s. It has deteriorated to the point where it is no longer a fun family destination. What a loss to our City of Parks!

As a child, I spent many summer days at that park. We played in the wading pool, enjoyed the playground equipment, played shuffleboard, got treats at the concession stands and refreshing drinks of water from the artesian wells. I remember the park always being full of people, and we would have to arrive early in the morning to save a spot and tables for our family reunions and gatherings. The pavilions and bathrooms were in great, and usable, condition. It was a routine family outing for my parents to drive us though the park on a hot summer night. We would play near the river or enjoy the beautiful views, especially from the upper road.

My children also spent a good part of their summers at the park. They loved the pool when they were younger, and would ride their bikes to the park for a day of fun when they got old enough to do so by themselves. Such wonderful memories of that picturesque park!

When my grandchildren were born, I was excited to introduce them to the park where their parents and I enjoyed our summers. What a disappointment! The park was empty and unused, the pool was closed, and we couldn’t even drive them up to view the river from Lilac Circle. At that time, the playground equipment was in disrepair, the bathrooms were either closed or appalling, and there was no pool to play in.

Opening the upper road, reopening the wading pool, and repairing/restoring the bathrooms would be a good start to bring Janesville families back into the park. It would be a shame to waste this valuable resource of family entertainment.

The road should be open. It should have never been closed in the first place. Open the wading pool too. Riverside Park is the nicest and most scenic park in Janesville and if enough people yell this at the council, we should be able to bring Riverside Park back to its glory days. I run frequently through the park in the summer and I will say that a lot of moss has grown on that road leading up from by the wading pool and it is very slippery right now because it is so shaded from the trees. The road will need to have something done. If you were coming down the hill by the pool, you'd have a tough time stopping until you passed where the barricade is. Hope the upper part re opens. Many good memories from there as a youth.

The problem isn't the road itself. Other parts of the golf course are adjacent to unfenced roads including Business 14. The real problem has been the isolation of that part of the park.
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The lesson of the pedestrian mall seems pertinent. In the 1960s, as downtowns were facing competition with new shopping malls, some of them even indoors, the decision was made to turn certain downtown streets into pedestrian malls -- most famously, Chicago's State Street.
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The result was disastrous. The downtown retail districts continued to plummet. It seemed impossible to pick up or drop off anyone near a store, let alone park there. The vast, wide-open multi-block plazas seemed to have very few people in them. The downtowns looked empty, and as stores closed, got emptier still.
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Urban designers have learned tough lessons from this. State Street now has traffic again, and its "narrow" sidewalks bustle with people, giving the retail district energy and accessibility.
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It turns out that people like to come to places that look busy, and avoid places that look isolated and devoid of human activity. What happened to Riverside is probably similar. As the amenities in the park deteriorated and shut down, people lost a reason to come to the park. Unfortunately, negative activities are attracted to isolation. The park entered a vicious circle of seeming to be nothing more than a run-down teenage hangout, and became even more attractive to the teenagers in the process. The city had to use negative reinforcers such as chaining off the road.
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What the Friends are doing is increasing the attractiveness of the park to desirable guests. The more traffic the park gets from people coming to take in the view, hike the trail, or enjoy the garden, the less reason to worry about the inappropriate activities returning.
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We'll never get back to the days of the Riverside & Great Northern RR or the Silver Queen excursion boat, but the park should become a real recreation area instead of a big empty green space.