PADUCAH — The City of Paducah invites the community to celebrate the completion of the Riverfront Infrastructure Improvement Project, also known as the BUILD Grant project, with a ribbon cutting celebration on Friday, September 18, from 4 until approximately 9 p.m.
The celebration will begin at 4 p.m. with remarks from elected and project officials, followed by the ribbon cutting ceremony. The ceremony will take place at the floodwall opening on Water Street between Broadway and Jefferson Street. This enhanced opening serves as a grand entrance to the riverfront and downtown and is one of the first features riverboat passengers will see as they disembark in Paducah.
“This is an exciting moment for Paducah as we celebrate the completion of a project that will continue to transform vital connections between our downtown, riverfront, and the broader Paducah and Western Kentucky community,” said Mayor George Bray, “This investment strengthens our riverfront as a destination for residents and visitors while creating new opportunities for recreation, tourism, and economic development. We are grateful to our federal and state partners, as well as everyone who helped bring this vision to life.”
Following the ceremony and beginning at approximately 4:30 p.m., the community is invited to enjoy an evening of family-friendly activities, including live music, mobile food vendors, and train rides for children provided by the Lone Oak Lions Club. At dusk, the celebration will continue with a free outdoor showing of Disney’s animated film, Finding Dory, on an inflatable screen along the riverfront near the transient dock.
The event schedule is as follows:
- 4:00 p.m. – Opening ceremony and ribbon cutting, floodwall opening between Broadway and Jefferson.
- 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. – Photo scavenger hunt.
- 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. – Live music on Wilson Stage featuring Daniel Neihoff.
- 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. – Mobile food vendors, near transient dock.
- 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. – Golf cart riverfront tours.
- 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. – Barrel train rides for kids.
- 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. – Live music featuring River Dust Duo and activities, riverfront park near transient dock.
- 7:15 p.m. – Movies in the Park, featuring Disney’s Finding Dory, near transient dock.
“The City encourages residents and visitors to attend the ribbon cutting and stay for the evening’s festivities as Paducah celebrates this significant milestone in the continued investment and revitalization of our riverfront,” added Mayor Bray.
The BUILD Grant project includes several improvements throughout the riverfront and downtown area. Several of the major features are as follows:
- Construction of a 500-foot-long excursion pier and excursion plaza, creating an inviting riverfront destination and enhanced arrival point for riverboat passengers.
- Intersection improvements at the entrance to the Paducah-McCracken County Convention and Expo Centers.
- Development of a multimodal pathway adjacent to the Quilt Murals, improving connectivity for pedestrians and other users.
- Creation of a compass rose feature and enhanced park space near the transient dock, including a terraced mound and seating areas.
- Installation of new bus shelters and crosswalks to improve pedestrian access, safety, and connectivity.
The project is funded primarily through a $10.4 million BUILD grant (Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development) awarded through the U.S. Maritime Administration, along with $3.5 million in State funding.
Construction on the project began in November 2024.
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